PR85029

FRANKFURT, Germany and XIAMEN, China, Aug. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

- KION Group signs a distribution agreement and a memorandum of understanding

on plans for joint development with the Chinese manufacturer, with the aim of

expanding the offering of mobile automation solutions

- Intralogistics group is seeking a minority stake in the Chinese company

- KION Group CEO Gordon Riske: "The collaboration with Quicktron is going to

further strengthen our position in the market for automated trucks"

KION GROUP AG has entered a strategic partnership with Quicktron, a young

Chinese manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots (AMR) based in Shanghai.

Representatives from both companies recently met in Xiamen, China, to sign a

distribution agreement and 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

leading intralogistics group also plans to acquire a minority stake of less

than 10 percent in Quicktron. The partners have agreed not to disclose the size

of the investment.

"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, at the signing, adding,

"The collaboration with Quicktron is expected to further strengthen our

position in the automated truck market."

"Quicktron is a leading autonomous mobile robot manufacturer in China and has

been growing steadily," noted Ching Pong Quek, KION GROUP AG Executive Board

member and Chief Asia Pacific & Americas Officer. "It perfectly complements our

skills and experience in the KION Mobile Automation business. The collaboration

unlocks additional opportunities to participate in this global growth market

and provides our customers with a unique product offering."

"This is a historic day for Quicktron," said Yang Wei, Quicktron CEO. "I look

forward to our collaboration with the KION Group. It will enable us to harness

our combined strengths to exploit market opportunities in China and around the

world even more effectively."

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 (AI).

The market for automated supply chain solutions is growing rapidly worldwide.

The growth of e-commerce is a significant driver of demand for supply chain

solutions, including warehouse automation and solutions for sorting and for

automated goods transport. Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous

mobile robots (AMRs) will thus become increasingly common. KION Group's Mobile

Automation business brings together all activities relating to the future trend

of mobile automation and self-driving vehicles. Automation is one of the fields

of action in the KION 2027 strategy. The strategy is designed to guide the

company on a path towards profitable growth and the expansion of its position

as an industry leader.

SOURCE  Quicktron