The history of KUKA
The history of KUKA begins in 1898 with Johann Joseph Keller and Jakob Knappich in Augsburg. Since then, the company has stood for ideas and innovations “Made in Germany”. Today, KUKA is one of the leading suppliers of intelligent automation solutions.
1898: KUKA turns on the lights
Johann Josef Keller and Jakob Knappich founded an acetylene gas plant?in Augsburg, thus enabling cost-effective operation of domestic and street lighting.
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1905: Prices fall, the product range expands
Just a few short years after the company’s founding, however, electric light sources hasten a drastic fall in prices for acetylene gas.
For this reason, Keller und Knappich GmbH extends its production to embrace a new invention: oxyacetylene welding. From this time onwards, KUKA continuously sets new standards in welding technology.
As early as the start of the 20th century, Keller and Knappich increasingly use a telegram abbreviation: formed from the initial letters of “Keller und Knappich Augsburg”, the KUKA brand is born.
1920 - 1970
1920: Portfolio and market expansion
KUKA soon begins to apply its expertise gained from welding and cutting, both for craftsmen in small trade enterprises and on an industrial scale, in other areas.
Among other things, the company manufactures large containers and superstructures for vehicles.?
Just a few decades later, KUKA has established itself as the market leader in the field of municipal vehicles in Europe.
1939: Innovative spot-on solution
KUKA expands its portfolio and constructs the first electrical spot welding system in Germany in 1939.
1949: KUKA knits and types its way into new product areas
The product range is extended beyond welding systems and large containers.
Measuring just 64 mm in height and weighing five kilograms: the compact “Princess” portable typewriter – a marvel of precision mechanics – is born.
The Selecta circular knitting machine is also launched onto the market and enables faster, more flexible production in the textile industry.
1956: Success through automation?
The first automatic welding system for refrigerators and washing machines is market-launched by KUKA.
KUKA also delivers the first multi-spot welding transfer line to Volkswagen AG.
1966: Innovative welding technologies
KUKA establishes a new welding technology: friction welding. Numerous other innovations follow in the ensuing years, such as short-cycle welding and defined-angle friction welding.
1970 - 2000
1971: Taking a strong line with KUKA robots.
Europe’s first robot-operated welding transfer line is built for Daimler-Benz.
1972: More reliable, faster and more durable
The first Magnetarc welding machine is presented by KUKA.?The process is continuously optimized. To this day, it remains one of the fastest and most reliable processes for joining components which have to permanently withstand extremely high loads.
1973: Famulus, the robotics pioneer
KUKA wrote history as a robotics pioneer with the world’s first industrial robot with six electric motor-driven axes.
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1989: Quality pays dividends
KUKA is the number 1 welding systems manufacturer in Europe.
The plant founded in North America at the start of the 1980s is also flourishing.
1996: Robot control by PC
KUKA is the first robot manufacturer to risk the paradigm shift to the PC-based robot controller.
1998: Into the Middle Kingdom
Robots are delivered to the Audi plant in Changchung.?KUKA is one of the first companies with worldwide operations to export robots to China.
In the following years, KUKA opens a number of subsidiaries and production facilities of its own in China.
2000 - today
2001: Robots in medicine
KUKA robots are used in the world’s first robot-controlled radiation surgery system – the “Cyberknife”. The system enables the treatment of inoperable, surgically complex tumors.
2006: KUKA as complete solution
On behalf of the Chrysler Group, KUKA establishes KUKA Toledo Production Operations?in North America for the integrated production of the body of the Jeep Wrangler.
2007: World record holder with six axes
Payload capacity exceeds the magic mark of 1,000 kg.?The KUKA KR 1000 TITAN receives an entry in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s strongest six-axis industrial robot.
2010: Flexible high-flyer
With its unique payload range, the KUKA KR QUANTEC quickly becomes the world’s best-selling robot series.
2013: Hand in hand with the robotic colleague
The LBR iiwa is the world’s first series-produced sensitive robot approved for direct human-robot collaboration (HRC).
The success story of cobots continues with the LBR iisy. It can be used both in industrial series production and in dynamic, unstructured workstations.
2014: KUKA continues to grow
KUKA AG merges with Swisslog Holding AG. Through Swisslog, KUKA gains access to attractive growth markets in the logistics and healthcare sectors.
2018: KUKA120 – Thinking Orange
KUKA celebrates its anniversary in 2018. Johann Josef Keller and Jakob Knappich turned the lights on 120 years ago – today, KUKA is one of the world’s leading suppliers of intelligent automation solutions for Industrie 4.0.
2019: Automation - simpler and more intuitive
More and more people are working with robots - automation is also becoming increasingly attractive for SMEs. The demand for intuitive and easier-to-use robots is growing. KUKA recognizes this trend early on and is working on simpler and more intuitive access to robotics - for employees of large industrial companies, but also for SMEs and tradespeople.
2020: The pandemic keeps the world in suspense
The coronavirus pandemic is keeping the world on tenterhooks. KUKA is also feeling the effects of the global standstill. However, the pandemic is also highlighting the opportunities offered by automation, robotics and digitalization - many customers are increasingly turning to new technologies and solutions for their production.
2022: Record year for KUKA
Despite geopolitical crises with a serious impact on global supply chains, the year becomes a historic financial year: for the first time, KUKA records an order intake of around four and a half billion euros, the highest in the company's history.
2023: 125 years Keep on Moving
KUKA is celebrating its 125th anniversary - under the motto “Keep on Moving”. Because since 1898, KUKA has constantly reinvented and transformed itself. Around 50 years ago, KUKA developed the first industrial robot with a great deal of German engineering spirit. This makes us the cradle of industrial robotics - the #HomeofRobotics. Today, KUKA is helping to shape the future of work with innovations in automation and robotics, driving forward the digitalization of industry and counteracting the shortage of skilled workers in a wide range of industries.
2024: A new business area
Software is playing an increasingly important role in mechanical engineering. What used to be mostly solved mechanically is now done by electronics and the associated software. With KUKA Digital, the long-established company is expanding its software and digital business. The goal: the end-to-end digitalization of a wide range of machines and systems in production, from the first 3D simulation to networking and data analysis through to the use of artificial intelligence.
2025: Making Automation Easier
KUKA's innovations in the areas of digitalization, artificial intelligence and simple operation are all based on the motto ‘making automation easier’ - because the industry needs simple and practical solutions, especially in challenging times. An important milestone: the scalable, flexibly adaptable iiQKA.OS2 operating system together with a new all-in-one software suite and the latest generation of controllers. AI-capable and cyber-resilient, the new operating system makes digital manufacturing future-proof. Thanks to the web-based user interface and the possibility of using both your own operating devices and proven KUKA counterparts, robot control with iiQKA.OS2 is easier and more accessible than ever.
