The multinational KION Group chooses the DFactory to install its Digital Hub for intralogistics innovation

• The new Digital Hub of the Industrial Trucks & Services division (KION ITS) of KION Group was born with the mission of developing digital products for the group’s brands.

• Andreas Krinninger, President of the Kion Group’s KION ITS EMEA, accompanied by Paulina Juárez, the company’s Senior Vice President in Spain and Portugal, and Víctor García, Director of the Digital Hub of KION ITS EMEA, were received by Pere Navarro, Special Delegate of the State at the CZFB, and Blanca Sorigué, General Director of the entity, who thanked them for making this important global commitment to DFactory.

• The company has chosen DFactory Barcelona ahead of other international locations due to its privileged location and for being an open, flexible space designed to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing among many technology companies

Barcelona, 8 January 2025.- DFactory Barcelona, the internationally renowned industry 4.0 ecosystem promoted by the The Consorci de la Zona Franca (CZFB), has been the place chosen by the German multinational to install the intralogistics innovation Digital Hub of KION ITS EMEA. The special delegate of the State at the CZFB, Pere Navarro, and the General Director of the CZFB, Blanca Sorigué, welcomed the entire team at the DFactory facilities, which was headed by Andreas Krinninger, president of KION ITS EMEA of the Kion Group, who was accompanied by Paulina Juárez, Senior Vice President in Spain and Portugal of the company and Víctor García, director of the Digital Hub of KION ITS EMEA.

World leader in intralogistics

KION Group is a leading German multinational in the manufacture of products and services for the management of material flow in intralogistics. The company develops cutting-edge solutions to optimize supply chains, including forklifts, automated warehouses, and advanced software systems. Its products and services are marketed through a portfolio of well-known brands, such as Linde Material Handling, STILL, Baoli and Dematic.

The multinational reinforces its commitment to innovation and technological collaboration by establishing its Digital Hub of the Industrial Trucks & Services division (KION ITS) in DFactory Barcelona, the company’s first center outside its country of origin, Germany. The Digital Hub’s professional team contributes to innovation in digital technologies that help the brand’s customers to improve their performance, efficiency, safety and sustainability of their material flow in intralogistics through new capabilities in sensors, connectivity and artificial intelligence in its portfolio of industrial vehicles.

In this regard, the new operations center will play a key role in pioneering projects such as the development of a new vehicle fleet management platform for intralogistics, scheduled for launch in March 2025. In addition, it will be an incubation engine for technological innovation projects focused on customers around Spain.

At the welcome ceremony, the special delegate of the State at the CZFB, Pere Navarro, stressed that “the incorporation of a multinational such as KION Group in DFactory Barcelona demonstrates the uniqueness and importance of the ecosystem itself, which has excellent connections, a great capacity to generate opportunities and a boost of specialized tech talent. Navarro added that “DFactory’s commitment as a world benchmark for industry 4.0, together with the attractions of Barcelona, as a city connected to the world that has a rich technological, research, innovation and training ecosystem, being an outstanding pole of attraction and retention of talent, have been decisive for KION Group to make this commitment in our territory”.

In addition, as the public company managing the Zona Franca industrial estate in Barcelona, it is a challenge and commitment to continue strengthening the logistics sector in the country, a sector of vital importance for the global economy”.

For his part, the Director of the Digital Hub of KION ITS EMEA, Victor García, said that “DFactory Barcelona provides a privileged location for the launch and expansion of our initiative. An open, flexible space designed to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing, placing us in an ecosystem of technology companies with which we share many interests and with which we hope to establish collaborations”. García  also pointed out that “Barcelona stands out as an ideal setting to host technological ecosystems, thanks to its long history of commitment to innovation and its ability to attract talent and companies that are leaders in digital transformation”.

International benchmark in industry 4.0

DFactory Barcelona has become the industry 4.0 ecosystem of international reference with the presence of 35 multinational, medium and small companies and research centres that develop pioneering projects in the field of robotics, sensors, 3D printing, cybersecurity, augmented and virtual reality, artificial intelligence, Blockchain and nanotechnology.

It has 17,000 m² facilities that promote open and collaborative innovation between companies, which develop projects and solve challenges together. It currently has 85% occupancy, and the technological ecosystem has two international certifications, the LEED Gold of the US Green Building Council that recognizes the design, construction, maintenance and operation of buildings with high energy performance and sustainability; and recently with the WELL Gold certification, which certifies that the different spaces in the building have an impact on the health and well-being of its occupants.

The Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona is working on the second phase of execution of the DFactory Barcelona, a boost that will allow it to reach 100,000 m² of surface area in the coming years, being one of the largest industry 4.0 ecosystems in the world.