Research and development
Total spending on research and development (R&D), including capitalized development costs, went up by 17.3 percent year on year to reach €150.0 million (H1 2021: €127.9 million). Expenditure was concentrated on developments in the new energy, automation, and digitalization fields. R&D spending equated to 2.7 percent of revenue (H1 2021: 2.6 percent). R&D costs totaling €96.4 million were expensed in the income statement (H1 2021: €86.3 million). There were also amortization charges on capitalized development costs of €52.8 million (H1 2021: €48.8 million), which are reported under cost of sales.
in € million |
Q1 – Q2 |
Q1 – Q2 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
Research and development costs (P&L) |
96.4 |
86.3 |
11.6% |
Capitalized development costs |
53.7 |
41.5 |
29.3% |
Total R&D spending |
150.0 |
127.9 |
17.3% |
R&D spending as percentage of revenue |
2.7% |
2.6% |
– |
Focus of R&D in the first six months of 2022
The cross-brand and cross-region R&D activities secure the KION Group’s market position as one of the world’s leading providers of integrated, automated supply chain and mobile automation solutions. Reflecting customer requirements, R&D activities remained focused on new energy, automation, and digitalization in the first half of 2022. Further objectives are to reduce the complexity and diversity of the product range and to shorten development times for new products.
Energy
In the new energy field, the KION Group is forging ahead with the development and refinement of energy-efficient drive solutions, from internal combustion engines to various electric drive systems and fuel cells. Experts in the KION Group are working on solutions for the entire lithium-ion battery lifecycle, including charging management, reconditioning, and recycling. KION Battery Systems (KBS) launched a second production line for 24-volt lithium-ion batteries in April that will be used to power mobile warehouse trucks. Through a minority stake in software specialist ifesca GmbH, the KION Group also continued to develop AI-based energy management solutions.
At the same time, the KION Group’s brand companies broadened the use of lithium-ion batteries to include additional load ranges and applications. Linde, for example, launched new extra heavy-duty trucks in the 10–18 tonne load range and began marketing the T14–T20 series of pallet trucks in the 1.4–2.0 tonne load range with a fully integrated lithium-ion battery. Electric tow tractors that can tow up to 35 tonnes and electric platform trucks that can move up to 3 tonnes of payload are now also available. In May, STILL unveiled the new and compact RXE 10-16C electric forklift truck, which can move loads of up to 1.6 tonnes. For the volume segment, Baoli brought out the EP 15-03 hand pallet truck with a lithium-ion battery drive.