Objectives and Strategy

Industrial Control Systems will achieve consistent sales growth by intensifying its acquisition of new customer-specific projects that will enable the business unit to draw on its strengths. Industrial Control Systems’ focus on its core competencies not only enables the business unit to provide added value and fulfil its unique selling points but also enables the business unit to offer to improve the added value its products provide the customers. Industrial Control Systems’ reduction of development times, technological integration processes and engineering at target cost will enhance the business unit’s position in the market, increase its penetration of and access to markets, and will create additional value for both Industrial Control Systems and the business units’ customers. Industrial Control Systems’ new role in the Kendrion Group, with an extended geographical spread, will enhance the business unit’s position with existing customers and improve its attractiveness for new business relationships.

Industrial Control Systems strives to continually improve its financial position by reducing costs and expanding its operations at Sibiu’s production facility. Industrial Control Systems will also need to reorganise the sales force to provide for future growth. Distribution via third parties will play a lesser role than marketing via the Industrial Magnetic Systems and Industrial Drive Systems business units’ existing sales organisations.

Market and Market Position

Industrial Control Systems’ markets are widely distributed in terms of both industry segments and, increasingly, their geographical spread. In addition to the turnover generated in the business unit’s main market, Germany, favourable developments were recorded with customers active in high-technology areas in Scandinavia and North America markets.

History

1928 
Company founded by Hellmuth Kuhnke and Friedrich-Wilhelm Berger in Kiel

1944 
Bombed out in Kiel, moved to Malente and Sielbeck

1948 
First universal relay; start of construction of new plant in Malente

1958 
Start of production of rotary solenoids 1960 Launch of the miniature pneumatics program

1972 
Build-up of electronics, expansion of production in Malente (Plant 2)

1992 
Merger into Kuhnke GmbH, shares purchased of KUHNKE Pneumatic, Limena, Italy

1998 
KUHNKE Production founded in Sibiu, Romania 2001 Industry orientation with the Automotive and Automation divisions

2003 
Relaunch of KUHNKE, relocation of linear solenoids to Romania 2004 Sale of the relays division

2006 
KUHNKE becomes a stock corporation (AG), founding of four operating companies

2007 
Fit for the future,
Conclusion of the KUHNKE social agreement,
"sale & lease back" (real estate in Malente)

2008 
KUHNKE becomes 80

2009/2010 
Economic crisis with decline in sales and steep recovery in the following year with an increase of 40%

2011
Sales exceed € 100 million for the first time!

2012 
Implementation of a new industry-related organizational structure by integrating production processes into the operative sections,
News positioning of KUHNKE's presence in Italy and the USA,
Completion of a third production hall in Sibiu (Romania)

May of 2013 
Acquisition of the Kuhnke AG by Kendrion N.V., a company headquartered in Zeist, The Netherlands, which is engaged in the development and production of electromagnetic systems and components