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Today, KUKA is one of the leading suppliers of intelligent automation solutions. 1898 - 1920 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. 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. Jakob Knappich (left) and Johann Josef Keller are the founders of KUKA. 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. The development of the KUKA logo from 1898 to today. 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. A KUKA municipal vehicle from the year 1920. 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. Portfolio expansion: “Selecta” circular knitting machine. 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. A multi-spot welding transfer line from the year 1956. 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. A Magnetarc welding machine in operation. 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. 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. Ahead of its time: the FAMULUS industrial robot of 1973. 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. The “Cyberknife” radiation surgery system can be used for the effective treatment of tumors. 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. The world’s strongest six-axis industrial robot: KUKA KR 1000 TITAN. 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. The KUKA LBR iiwa makes human-robot collaboration possible. 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. Due to your cookie settings, this content is not available. Video about the history of KUKA celebrating the 120th anniversary. KUKA Aktiengesellschaft Germany KUKA AG, Zugspitzstraße 140, 86165 Augsburg, Germany Contact us +49 821 797-0 +49 821 797-5252 Subscribe to the KUKA Newsletter Your email address © KUKA AG 2021 Imprint Privacy Cookie settings English - Belgium This website uses cookies (find out more) in order to offer you the best service online as well. If you simply continue to use our website, we will only use cookies required for technical purposes. If you click on “OK and discover KUKA”, you are also agreeing to the additional use of marketing cookies. You can select which cookies we use by clicking on “Cookie settings”. OK and discover KUKA Cookie settings