KAUP - The company
The KAUP GmbH & Co. KG is the worldwide leading independent producer of forklift trucks attachments. Stationary attachments as well as container spreaders for forklifts and cranes also extend the KAUP product range.
KAUP - Helping hands for your Forklift truck
Innovation with tradition:
KAUP has its origins in Leider, an urban district of Aschaffenburg. In 1894 a smithy was founded which later specialized in repairs in the field of ship and harbour equipment and was the forerunner of today's company. In the beginning of the 1960s the company, headed by Otmar Kaup, began with the manufacturing of attachments for forklift trucks. Later production was extended to include container spreaders and stationary equipment for material handling. With various trend-setting innovations and designs KAUP succeeded, over the last six decades in offering its customers optimized solutions for specific task requirements in material handling. Therefore many forklift trucks today fulfil their jobs with KAUP know-how. The wide variety of KAUP products is made possible by the high range of production and the sophisticated KAUP-modular system which can be used to configure any individual customer requirement.
KAUP - today:
Today the family run business, certified to DIN EN ISO 9001, is one of Europe's leading manufactures of attachments for forklift trucks. It's managed in the fourth generation by Holger Kaup. The company is active worldwide with twelve own subsidiaries, 20 independent representatives and a powerful export department at the company headquarters.
Innovations for the future:
At our headquarters in Aschaffenburg more than 30 design engineers are actively employed in further improving our attachments. Their object is to develop attachments with innovative, reliable technology, which allow our customers to conduct virtually every handling task. The resources for this purpose are currently being expanded by KAUP.
KAUP production:
KAUP annually produces around 40,000 attachments with a high level of quality and a good price-performance ratio at three production facilities - in Aschaffenburg on around 47,000 sqm in 10 production halls, on 12,000 sqm in Xiamen, China and on 1,100 sqm in Brisbane, Australia to serve the Asian-Pacific markets.
State-of-the-art manufacturing equipment (24 welding robots and 58 CNC-drilling-centres in Aschaffenburg) and worldwide more than 900 high qualified employees - of whom around 60 are apprentices for whom we run an own training centre - guarantee the high quality of our attachments. Regardless of whether it is small series, serial production or the manufacturing of large devices such as Container-Spreaders or Stationary Handling Equipment.
The service-friendly design and the nearly 100 per cent availability of spare parts ensure trouble-free daily operation. For this purpose, a service centre of 3,200 sqm in Aschaffenburg is available for KAUP customers.
Additional information about KAUP
Purchasing
Our suppliers are important partners for the company’s long-term success - in the past and the future.
Proven safety
KAUP is regularly examined carefully by renowned and independent examiners, e.g. TÜV.
Where we come from
Our long history and local roots still shape us today. Discover some milestones on the way to becoming the largest independent manufacturer of attachments for forklift trucks.
1. Origins
1894 - Master blacksmith Peter Kaup founded a smithy in Leider, at that time a rural suburb of Aschaffenburg.
1927 - The son of Peter Kaup, Kilian Kaup specialised the smithy in repairs in the area of ship and harbour equipment.
2. Foundation
1962 - Otmar Kaup founds, together with his father Kilian, the Kilian Kaup KG to produce attachments for forklift trucks - it was the birth of today's Kaup GmbH & Co KG.
3. Expansion
1971 - KAUP prospers and grows. Accordingly the company moves and now manufacturers on 3,000 sqm. A further expansion of the production capacity follows in 1976.
1980 - A modern administration building is built on the existing company premises.
1995 - About 400 employees produce for the first time more than 25,000 attachments per year.
4. Innovations
1998 - KAUP is the first manufacture to put attachment capable of handling up to 8 euro pallets on the market.
2005 - KAUP produces superlatives: the worldwide largest rotator (32 tons) and the worlds biggest tyre handler and fitting tool (for tyres with a diameter of up to 4,6 metres).
2020 - It gets even bigger: KAUP produces two 60-ton rotators - in record time. These are currently the largest attachments for forklift trucks.
5. Investments
1998 - Production capacities in Aschaffenburg are expanded once again as part of a long-standing extensive investment program - among other things 16 new welding robots start up their work in a new factory building.
2008 - In November a new assembly and production hall with 16.500 sqm is put into operation in Aschaffenburg.
2013 - 2019 - Various energy-related refurbishments of existing properties.
2019 - KAUP grows once again at the Aschaffenburg site. From now on, production will take place on 46,000 m², distributed over nine assembly and production halls.
6. Internationalisation
1997 - In the Chinese town of Xiamen KAUP puts a second production plant into operation - exclusively for the Asian Market.
2008 - KAUP continues to expand in China, and manufactures in a new 12.000 sqm sized assembly and production hall on a 20.000 sqm area.
2012 - A further base in Asia: KAUP opens its own branch in India for individual support on the subcontinent.
2017 - Now an even dozen! With KAUP Australia Pty Ltd. joining as 12th foreign branch office, KAUP has consolidated their position on the 5th continent.
2022 - KAUP and its long-standing Brazilian partner SAUR Equipamentos S.A. have founded a joint company: KAUPSAUR SpA. The aim of the joint venture is to distribute attachments for forklift trucks in the target market of Chile.
7. Future
1993 - Holger Kaup becomes second general manager. He represents the fourth generation in the KAUP-management.
2012 - Kaup GmbH & Co KG celebrates its 50th company anniversary. Over 800 employees produce worldwide more than 40.000 attachments.
2018 - KAUP presents the 1. 'e-attachment' - a fully electronically driven fork positioner with patented control system.
2020 - 'Smart Load Control' is launched - the first autonomous system for load-dependent clamping force control.
2023 - KAUP has electrified the most important implement functions. Sideshifter, Fork Positioner, Rotator and Double Pallet Handler are available in versions with electric drive and without hydraulic components.
Our info-center
Find out even more about KAUP - here you will find information on new products, catalogue downloads, trade fair dates and much more.
