The history of KUKA

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.