A company on the move: 125 years of KUKA

In the early years, KUKA was based in the Augsburg district of Oberhausen and manufactured acetylene generators. Not only have the locations multiplied since then, but so has the portfolio. Today, KUKA offers everything from a single source: from robotic components to networked production. And it has remained true to its Augsburg location.

A briefcase-sized typewriter, 64 millimeters high, weighing ten pounds: the "Princess" is one of KUKA's first successful products and became the best-selling flat typewriter in the Federal Republic of Germany in the early 1950s. Today, robots dominate the assembly halls at the Augsburg site.

In 1973, KUKA made history as a robotics pioneer with the introduction of the Famulus. It was the world's first industrial robot with six electromechanically driven axes. Today, 50 years later, humans can work directly with KUKA robots, such as the Cobot LBR iisy.

Robot development has shaped the company's history. Today, more than 300,000 KUKA robots support a wide range of industries worldwide. They can withstand extreme cold and heat and handle payloads of up to 1,300 kilograms. Some things, on the other hand, have hardly changed at all, such as loading into trucks.

Plant engineering is an important part of the KUKA Group. Since the 1950s, many major automotive brands as well as medium and small manufacturers have relied on KUKA's expertise in body manufacturing. Above is a welding line from 1983, below an automotive system from today.

Tomorrow's skilled workers: Training at KUKA has always met high standards. Above 1987 versus today at the Augsburg training center. There, all workbenches are equipped with tablets: Via them, trainees and students can access their teaching materials and the internal learning system at any time.