Representatives from both companies recently met in Xiamen, China, to sign a distribution agreement as well as a memorandum of understanding on their joint development plans. Under the agreement, and effective immediately, Quicktron products are to be distributed via the global sales and service networks of the KION brands Linde Material Handling, STILL and Dematic. The arrangement expands KION Group’s global product offering of automated warehouse solutions. The intralogistics group also plans to acquire a minority stake of less than 10 percent in Quicktron.

“We are delighted to be forming this strategic partnership with Quicktron. We can offer our customers an even more extensive product range in the automated truck segment,” said KION GROUP AG CEO, Gordon Riske.

Quicktron was established in Shanghai in 2014 and currently employs around 400 individuals worldwide. It offers smart intralogistics solutions using technology based on artificial intelligence.

“Quicktron is a leading AMR manufacturer in China and has been steadily growing,” adds Ching Pong Quek, KION GROUP AG Executive Board member and Chief Asia Pacific & Americas Officer. “It perfectly complements our skills and experience in our mobile automation business.”

“It is an historic day for Quicktron,” notes Yang Wei, Quicktron's CEO. “I am looking forward to our collaboration with KION Group. With our combined strengths, we can exploit market opportunities in China and around the world even more effectively.”

The market for automated supply chain solutions is rapidly growing in both the Asia-Pacific region as well as around the world. E-commerce growth is a significant driver of demand for supply chain solutions. Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and AMRs are becoming increasingly common. KION Group’s Mobile Automation business brings together all activities relating to the future trend of mobile automation and self-driving vehicles. And automation is one of the action fields in the Group's strategy, KION 2027, which also includes energy, digitalization, innovation and performance.