Konecranes' history dates back to 1910 when the electrical motor repair shop KONE Corporation was founded. Konecranes has grown over the years mainly organically but has a strong acquisition track record as well.
Konecranes history | |
|---|---|
1933 | KONE Corporation started to build sizeable Electric Overhead Traveling Cranes. The main customers were at first mainly from the pulp and paper and power industry. |
1936 | The company started to manufacture Electric Wire Rope Hoists. Harbor cranes were added to the product range in 1947. |
1950's | The harbor cranes business line experienced strong growth in the post-war economy. |
1962 | The first crane Preventive Maintenance Contract was signed. |
1973 | The company began to expand internationally and makes a first acquisition in Norway (Wisbech-Refsum). |
1983 | In 1983 the company establishes its first foothold in the U.S. (R&M Materials Handling) in Springfield, Ohio. |
1986 | In 1986 Konecranes acquires a company in France (Verlinde) headquartered in Vernouillet. (A detailed M&A History is available under Investor information) |
1988 | In 1988 crane operations were organized into the KONE Cranes Division of KONE Corporation. From 1990 onwards the company has kept a high focus on establishing technical leadership. |
1991 | The company established its own offices in the UK by acquiring the company Lloyds British Testing with operations in the UK and Australia. A large restructuring program was launched which carried on until 1994. Among other actions, crane production facilities were cut from 19 to 4. |
1994 | KCI Konecranes was formed on April 15, 1994, when KONE Corporation, a Finland-based group was listed on the Helsinki Stock exchange, as part of structural changes which involved disposing of all its operations, excluding its elevator business, sold the operations of its crane division. |
1996 | In 1996 KCI Konecranes was listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange. KCI Konecranes is an internationally broadly held company. |
1997 | In 1997 KCI Konecranes made its first acquisition in Germany when MAN SWF Krantechnik, was acquired. KCI Konecranes has experienced high organic growth in Germany and continued with several bolt-on acquisitions in year 2000. |
2000 | In 2000 KCI Konecranes launched a new CXT wire rope hoist for the up to 80t lifting capacity range, that immediately became an industry benchmark worldwide. The totally new design concept of the range allowed KCI Konecranes to strengthen its position to the high-volume market for standard cranes, enhancing safety and improving the use of factory space. |
2002 | In 2002 KCI Konecranes was the first foreign crane company in China to receive a complete range of business licensees including import and export. The same year we succeeded in creating a bridgehead in Japan by establishing a joint venture agreement with Meidensha Corporation. |
2004 | Reach stackers and Lift trucks added to the product range through the acquisition of SMV Lifttrucks AB of Markaryd, Sweden. |
2005 | KCI Konecranes' acquisition of R.STAHL AG's material handling division, R.Stahl Fördertechnik of Germany, brings together some of the crane industry's strongest brands and most innovative technologies. Stahl is a significant player in the field of specialized lifting applications. |
2006 | KCI Konecranes acquired MMH Holdings, Inc and expanded its product range. The acquisition also brought new opportunities for growth in Maintenance Services through the large installed base of MMH cranes. |
2006 | KCI Konecranes launched a new refocused and unified global master brand strategy and identity, and drops the KCI from the brand name. At the same time the slogan Lifting Businesses TM, emphasizing productivity enhancing lifting solutions and services, was launched. |
2007 | The straddle carrier was added to Konecranes’ product range through the acquisition of all products rights from German straddle carrier manufacturer Consens Transport Systeme GmbH and starts straddle carrier manufacturing |
2007 | Konecranes strengthens its position in the machine tool service (MTS) business by acquiring MTS companies Kongsberg Automation AS in Norway and Reftele Maskinservice AB in Sweden. |
2008 | Konecranes increased its share holding in Meiden Hoist System Company Ltd (MHS) in Japan from 49 to 65 percent. By increasing its shareholding in MHS, Konecranes targeted to increase its presence in the large Japanese hoist market. |
2008 | Konecranes expanded its activities in Spain through the acquisition of Spanish crane, hoist and service companies Eydimen 2000 S.L. and Ausió Sistemas de Elevación S.L. |
2008 | The machine tool service business was further expanded through acquisitions in Scandinavia and in the UK. |
2009 | Konecranes moved into a new business segment by making two acquisitions for load-handling solutions with aluminum rail systems and manipulators. |
2009 | Konecranes introduced an industry shaping industrial crane, SMARTON®, which can reduce power consumption and energy cost by up to one third. |
2009 | Konecranes acquired 65% of Sanma Crane manufacture Co. Ltd., one of the leading hoist and crane manufacturers in China. |
2010 | Konecranes announced six acquisitions related to Machine Tool Service (MTS) in Denmark, in the UK and in the USA. |
2010 | Konecranes and Kito Corporation (Japan) entered into a strategic alliance. Konecranes owned 24.4% of the share capital and voting rights in Kito. |
2010 | Konecranes’ new RFID based NearGuard System for heavy lift trucks and reach stackers won the IMHX Design 4 Safety award in the UK. |
2010 | The world’s most compact polar crane and cask transporter for spent fuel were developed by Konecranes for nuclear power plants. |
2011 | Konecranes acquired 100% of the shares in WMI Cranes Ltd. (WMI). The acquisitions marked an important step in strengthening Konecranes’ position in Indian market. |
2011 | Konecranes launched a new highly ergonomic cabin for port cranes and industrial process cranes. |
2011 | Konecranes launched the first products under TRUCONNECT® remote services. |
2011 | Konecranes acquired 100% of the Saudi Arabian crane manufacturer Saudi Cranes & Steel Works Factory Company Limited (“Saudi Cranes”). |
2012 | Konecranes introduced a new-generation CLX chain hoist that speeds up the work cycle and maintenance, improves safety and energy efficiency. |
2012 | Konecranes opened a new Reliability Center in Jingjiang, China. |
2012 | Konecranes has completed a full range of power options for RTGs, which includes Hybrid Power Pack, Diesel Fuel Saver, Cable Reel and Busbar. |
2012 | The Smarter Cabin by Konecranes won Fennia Prize 2012. It is used in our EOT cranes, RTGs, RMGs, Straddle Carriers, and BOXRUNNERs. |
2013 | Konecranes presented the world’s first hybrid reach stacker for container handling. |
2013 | Konecranes launched TRUCONNECT® Remote Monitoring and Reporting services for lift trucks. |
2013 | Konecranes launched Agilon, a new materials management solution for managing, storing, picking and replenishing components in manufacturing. |
2013 | Konecranes delivered its first busbar RTG to Turkey. |
2013 | Konecranes China was awarded the “Automobile Manufacturing Industry Top 50 Excellent Equipment Supplier” prize. |
2013 | Konecranes and KION Group closed a transaction to collaborate in container handling lift truck business. |
2014 | Konecranes’ material management solution Agilon received Fennia Prize Honorary Mention 2014. |
2014 | Konecranes Agilon received Red Dot Award: Product Design 2014. |
2014 | Konecranes launched the new revolutionary container handling crane BOXHUNTER. |
2014 | The generation C series of Konecranes lift trucks were presented at CeMAT 2014. |
2014 | Konecranes signed a historic order for an Automated RTG system to Indonesian state-owned terminal operator PT Pelabuhan Indonesia III (Persero), “Pelindo III”. |
2014 | Konecranes increased its ownership in Chinese hoist and crane manufacturer SANMA to 100 percent. |
2014 | Konecranes and its Danish lift truck distributor NC Nielsen delivered the world’s most powerful reach stacker, a 100 metric ton capacity reach stacker to Jutlandia Terminal in Denmark. |
2014 | Konecranes launched the CXT UNO overhead crane in Pune, India. |
2014 | The Morris S5 Series wire rope hoist was launched under Konecranes' Morris Crane Systems brand. |
2014 | The upgraded Konecranes CLX chain hoist crane was introduced. |
2014 | Konecranes presented a complete range of lift trucks with EU stage 4/EPA 4f engines. |
2014 | Konecranes’ CLX electric chain hoist received Special Mention in 2015 German Design Award. |
2015 | Konecranes Agilon won the Quality Innovation 2014 Award. |
2015 | Konecranes hosted two IndustryHack Hackathon events for programmers to develop and build new applications and services. |
2015 | In April 2015, President and CEO Pekka Lundmark announced that he has decided to leave Konecranes. |
2015 | In July 2015, Mr Panu Routila was appointed President and CEO or Konecranes Plc. |
2016 | Konecranes presented the CXT Explorer, the CXT electric overhead travelling crane mounted on a steel frame and two standard ISO shipping containers, to create a powerful, adaptable, fully mobile industrial crane. |
2016 | Konecranes introduced the BOXPORTER RMG crane. |
2016 | Konecranes received an order for a new 1,200 ton Goliath crane from Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. |
2016 | Konecranes presented a new Static Weighing System for lift trucks. |
2016 | Konecranes sold its Kito Corporation shares. |
2016 | Konecranes and the Georgia Ports Authority celebrated Konecranes’ 1000th RTG crane. |
2016 | Konecranes received an order from the Virginia Port Authority for 86 Automated Stacking Cranes. The order is the largest deal ever won by Konecranes in its history. |
2016 | Konecranes signed an agreement with Columbus McKinnon Corporation regarding the divestment of the STAHL CraneSystems business. |
2017 | Konecranes acquired Terex’s Material Handling & Port Solutions business. |