CALL US Contact menu CONTACT US Mobile menu (combined) - Full STORE History Breadcrumb Home About History Our future has a history 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. Scroll down the timeline to see our history or click here for a detailed view of the company history 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 of 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. 2019 Konecranes reinforced its lifting leadership by launching three new products: the S-, M- and C-series. 2019 Konecranes announced the appointment of Mr Rob Smith as new President and CEO as of February 1, 2020. 2020 Konecranes strengthened its market position in Southeast Asia by buying full ownership of MHE-Demag. 2020 Konecranes and Cargotec Corporation announce that their respective Boards of Directors have signed a combination agreement and merger plan to combine the two companies. Completion of the agreement is expected to take place on 1 January 2022 given all conditions and approvals for completion are fulfilled. Contact us Get connected View all social media Chat Konecranes Public © 2021 Konecranes. 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