On the evening of October 12, 2022, the 10th anniversary of Weichai Germany Kaiao and the activity of lighting up the landscape tower of Kaiao's "China's second hometown" Jinan headquarters were held in Laiwu Kaiao Forklift Base in Jinan, Shandong Province. The two sides jointly lit up Kai'ao China Landscape Tower, and reflected with Kai'ao Germany Headquarters Landscape Center, fully demonstrating Kai'ao's determination to take root in China's "second hometown". Yu Haitian, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Jinan Municipal Committee and Mayor of Jinan, Tan Xuguang, Chairman of Shandong Heavy Industry Group and Chairman of Weichai Power, and Rob Smith, CEO of Kaiao Group, attended the event and delivered speeches to jointly light up the landscape tower.

Representatives of Shandong Heavy Industry, Weichai Power and the management team of Kaiao Group jointly witnessed the historic moment when Weichai and Kaiao achieved great results in the past decade and embarked on a new journey through the video connection of "Jinan Main Venue in China+Kaiao Headquarters in Germany".

Ten years of marriage to create a win-win model for Chinese and German enterprises

KaiAo Group is a world leading supplier of industrial vehicles and supply chain solutions. Its products cover industrial vehicles such as forklifts and warehousing technology equipment, as well as integrated automation technology equipment and software solutions used to optimize the supply chain. In 2012, Weichai Power strategically reorganized Kaiao Group and its subsidiary Linde Hydraulic Company, setting a record for the largest acquisition of Chinese enterprises in Germany. With the strong support of Weichai Power, CAO Group quickly got out of the operating difficulties and successfully listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in 2013. In 2016, Weichai helped CAO acquire all shares of Dematic, a leading global provider of automated warehousing and logistics solutions. At present, Kaiao has international famous brands such as Dematic, Linde, Steele and Baoli, and its business covers more than 100 countries and regions around the world.

Relying on the powerful industrial chain resources of Weichai Power, the operating performance of Kaiao has soared. In the past 10 years, its operating revenue has doubled from 4.6 billion euros in 2012 to 10.3 billion euros in 2021, and its revenue and net profit have both reached the best in history.

Forklift, warehousing and logistics and other businesses are mainly driven by consumption. Weichai Power has entered Kaiao, Germany, to build a global leading intelligent logistics gold industry chain, jointly expand the booming global logistics market, become a new strategic growth pole of Weichai, and establish a more balanced cross cycle business structure and dual cycle business layout.

The integrated development of Weichai Power and Kaiao Group can be regarded as a successful example of win-win cooperation between Chinese and German enterprises, which has benefited greatly from the ten years of two-way travel.

Rooted in Shandong and Deeply Cultivated in China's Second Hometown

At present, China is in the vent period of the logistics market, and forklift demand accounts for about one-third of the global share. China is one of the fastest growing markets of CAO Group. Driven by Weichai, Kaiao has actively settled in China, explored the Asia Pacific market and shared the high-quality development achievements of China's economy.

In 2020, Kaiao (Jinan) Forklift Co., Ltd. was registered in Laiwu District, Jinan City, Shandong Province to invest in building a high-end new energy forklift R&D and manufacturing base, while building a global R&D center. The forklift project will be carried out in two phases. The first phase will be commenced on August 17, 2020 and put into operation on December 16, 2021. The Dematic project in the United States started construction at the same time, mainly producing automation equipment and solutions such as pallet stacker system and box stacker system, which are expected to be completed and put into production in the first quarter of next year.

The two major projects were settled in Jinan, Shandong Province, which further demonstrated the confidence of KAIO Group in China's economic development. The two sides will also continue to deepen cooperation in the integration of information technology and manufacturing, new energy power industry chain and other fields, continue to develop more green and intelligent material handling products and supply chain solutions, and promote the upgrading of China's logistics industry.

At the event ceremony, Rob Smith, CEO of CAO Group, said that CAO is growing up in China. From Weichai CAO to CAO's listing in Germany, to the deep integration of Dematic, to CAO's Jinan Smart Factory's production, CAO is based on China to further build a product technology center and provide more flexible product portfolio and material solutions for the Chinese market, It also provides a powerful engine for the sustainable development of Kaiao in the world.

"The ten years of cooperation between Weichai and Kai'ao fully proves that the win-win cooperation brought by economic globalization is beneficial to all our Chinese and foreign enterprises! It fully proves that the domestic and international double circulation is a powerful weapon for us to always maintain high-quality development! It fully proves that our management team has the excellent ability to control global operations! We will spare no effort to promote Kai'ao Group to become an important leader in the global industry and fully support Kai'ao The development of "China's second hometown" provides leading solutions for the high-quality development of China's logistics industry! " Tan Xuguang, chairman of Shandong Heavy Industry Group and Weichai Power, said in his speech.

Rooted in Shandong and cultivated deeply in China. This 24 meter high, 6-story landscape tower firmly stands at the foot of Mount Tai and the Yellow River, witnessing Weichai's efforts to forge a brighter future with Kaiao.Editor/Ma Xue