Mutual benefits matters more than sources of investment: industry expert

FRANKFURT - It is more important for investment to bring mutually beneficial results for both parties, rather than where an investor comes from, Gordon Riske, Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Kion Group, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

The head of the leading industrial trucks manufacturer and supply chain solutions firm, headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany, spoke highly of Kion's Chinese shareholder Weichai Power as an "anchor investor" since 2012.

Important acquisition

"The faith that Weichai has in Kion's management team is demonstrated by the fact that it has gradually increased its shareholding from 25 percent to its current level of around 43 percent," Riske told Xinhua.

In fact, Kion has benefited from Weichai Power's support in its recent acquisition of the Luxembourg-headquartered automation and supply chain optimization company Dematic. Kion thus extended its product portfolio ranging from forklift trucks to fully automated material handling systems.

"The group is therefore ideally placed to tap into the attractive and profitable growth that is being driven by mega trends such as Industry 4.0, digitalization and e-commerce," Riske said, adding these ideas were advancing in China too."

Presence in china

Kion has been present in China for over 20 years through its brand company Linde with more than 3,000 local employees. "China is part of the DNA of the Kion Group," said the CEO.

Riske said the partnership improved access to the Chinese market, "the biggest individual market for our products anywhere in the world."

The firm has begun installing Weichai engines into the trucks of its Chinese brand company Baoli.

Win-win partnership

The partnership with Weichai has been very positive and German politicians at both national and regional level have been very interested and supportive of the process, Riske said.

After the announcement of Weichai's investment in Kion, the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Bavaria, called the partnership a win-win for both parties.

"It is generally not important where an investor comes from. The key question is whether the investment brings mutually beneficial results for both parties, as is the case with the partnership between Weichai Power and Kion," Riske said.