Research and development
Total spending on research and development, including capitalized development costs, went up by 4.5 percent year on year to reach €127.9 million (H1 2020: €122.4 million), which equates to 2.6 percent of revenue (H1 2020: 3.1 percent). R&D costs totaling €86.3 million were expensed in the income statement (H1 2020: €77.7 million). There were also amortization charges on capitalized development costs of €48.8 million (H1 2020: €51.3 million), which are reported under cost of sales.
in € million |
Q1 – Q2 |
Q1 – Q2 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
Research and development costs (P&L) |
86.3 |
77.7 |
11.1% |
Capitalized development costs |
41.5 |
44.7 |
–7.1% |
Total R&D spending |
127.9 |
122.4 |
4.5% |
R&D spending as percentage of revenue |
2.6% |
3.1% |
– |
Focus of R&D in the first six months of 2021
The fundamental strategic direction of research and development, which is defined in the KION 2027 strategy, did not change in the period under review and continued to center on the growth areas of automation, digitalization, and energy-efficient drive solutions. The focus remains on providing long-term support for the KION Group’s position as a leading global supplier of integrated, automated supply chain solutions and mobile automation solutions. The KION Group is boosting the innovativeness of its portfolio by concentrating heavily on automation and robotics solutions that are based on a cross-segment software platform.
Energy
The development and refinement of energy-efficient drive solutions, from internal combustion engines to various electric drive systems and fuel cells, continued to be a focus of research and development. Additions to the product range included developments in the area of lithium-ion batteries.
The new Linde X20–X35 electric forklift truck models with a load capacity of 2.0 to 3.5 tonnes match the performance and robustness of the Linde hydrostatic systems for the first time but also offer the environmental and efficiency advantages of battery-powered trucks.
The RX 20-16P/lithium-ion electric forklift truck from STILL was awarded the top accolade VR Forklift Champion in the category of electric forklift trucks up to 3.5 tonnes in the forklift truck tests conducted by VerkehrsRundschau (VR). It was rated highly for characteristics such as precise and safe steering and very good handling rates.