These specialist machines are in operation all over the world, from China to Brazil and Russia. The company exports more than 90% of its production. Kranunion is an association of three crane manufacturers that specialise in lifting and transporting heavy loads: Kirow, Ardelt and Kocks. Kirow is the international market leader for railway cranes and slag pot carriers. Ardelt is the world’s leading maker of double jib level luffing cranes, while Kocks is a global leader in Goliath cranes and container cranes used in shipbuilding. Together, the trio have a 400-year history. The three companies were acquired by the Koehne family after German reunification. “We had to take some tough decisions to make the business competitive, which included cuts in Leipzig,” says Koehne.
Pictures: (c) Dirk Brzoska