Complete management control of Baoli assumed
In 2010, the KION Group assumed complete management control of the KION Baoli joint venture, which it had established with Jiangsu Shangqi Group (formerly Jiangsu Baoli Group) and Jingjiang Baoli Forklift in January 2009. Following this, Baoli was fully integrated into the KION Group's business operations.
The fifth KION brand, Baoli is globally positioned in the economy segment. Its product range encompasses IC trucks, electric lift trucks and warehouse equipment with loading capacities of between one and ten tonnes. Baoli has an extensive distribution and service network in all provinces of China and in 80 other countries, enabling it to deliver competitive products and services to customers in China and overseas.
Because of the market recovery, particularly in China, the KION Group will invest further in Baoli. The comprehensive integration plan focuses on sales, service, product development and the production system, enabling Baoli to cater to customer requirements even better.
The additional capital expenditure on Baoli lays the strategic foundations for consolidating the position as number-one international provider of material-handling products in China. Moreover, Baoli – with its competitive product portfolio – is a mainstay of the strategy for expanding in the world's high-growth markets.
STILL expands its sales activities in France
At the start of 2010, STILL acquired the outstanding shares in the French dealer SAMA SAS, thereby stepping up its sales activities in its second most important market.
Global alliance with Eaton boosts Linde Hydraulics
KION's Linde Hydraulics division has entered into a global strategic alliance with Eaton, the international industrial manufacturer.
Eaton is a diversified manufacturer of power management solutions and posted annual revenues of some US$ 14 billion in 2010. Its Eaton Hydraulics division is a global market leader for hydraulic components and drive systems.
The joint aims of the two companies, which remain independent, are to expand their global market presence and strengthen their competitiveness. This is enabling the KION Group to take a significant step towards one of the main objectives of its hydraulics strategy, namely to expand business with external customers. The alliance with Eaton gives the KION Group direct access to an extremely powerful global distribution network.
Both companies benefit from the alliance because the product portfolios and regional presence of Linde Hydraulics and Eaton complement each other perfectly. KION Group customers in the construction, agriculture, commercial vehicles and manufacturing sectors gain greater access to hydraulic system technologies and services through the new alliance.
Eaton is adding Linde Hydraulics' comprehensive range of high-pressure piston pumps, motors and valves to its portfolio, and Linde Hydraulics is offering Eaton's medium-pressure piston products.
In the Americas and Asia Pacific, Eaton supplies Linde Hydraulics products through its extensive sales and services networks and distribution partners. Linde Hydraulics continues to operate in these regions by providing application support, technical services and support for major international customers. In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, sales organisations and distributors for both companies continue to focus on their core businesses with the mutually expanded product range.
