KUKA Industrial Robots

Founded in 1898 in Augsburg, Germany, KUKA (Keller und Knappich Augsburg) began as an acetylene gas lighting company before evolving into a world leader in automation and robotics. For over a century, the brand represented the backbone of German engineering, specifically within the automotive manufacturing sector where its signature orange robots became iconic.

In 2016, a significant shift in ownership occurred when the Chinese home appliance giant Midea Group launched a takeover bid. By early 2017, Midea had acquired a majority stake, and by 2022, they completed a full squeeze-out of minority shareholders to take KUKA private. Today, while KUKA maintains its corporate headquarters and primary research and development hub in Germany, it is an integral part of the Midea Group's robotics division, combining European design with Chinese global logistics and market reach.