KION Group
Kion Group AG (styled as KION Group) is a German multinational manufacturer of materials handling equipment, with its headquarters in Wiesbaden, Hesse, Germany. Its principal products are forklift trucks, warehouse equipment and industrial trucks. KION Group was founded in 2006 by the demerger of The Linde Group's materials handling equipment operations. It is the world's second-largest manufacturer of forklifts measured by revenues (after Toyota Industries).
Name
"Kion" is an invented name derived from the Maasai word "Kiongozi", which means "take leadership".
History
On 6 September 2006 Linde AG announced a new structure following the completion of its acquisition of The BOC Group, with the gas and engineering businesses of the combined entity operating as The Linde Group and the materials handling businesses (Linde Material Handling, STILL, and OM Carrelli Elevatori S.p.A.) operating as KION Group. Linde AG sold KION Group to a partnership of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners for approximately €4 billion.
