Our History
1966, a year to remember: The Beatles performed together for the last time, the famous “Wembley goal” caused quite a stir, Star Trek premièred – and Hans-Josef Kitz founded his own machine construction firm in Troisdorf, Germany.
2023
Stephan Kitz leaves the sole management of Maschinenbau Kitz GmbH to Sascha Krebs.
2022
Founding of the subsidiary mk Kitz France SAS in France.
2020
With the acquisition of E-M-M-A GmbH (now mk Austria GmbH) and Promec AG (now mk Swiss AG), the mk Technology Group strengthened its presence in the D/A/CH region. The new branches now represent the Group’s extensive product portfolio in Austria and Switzerland.
2016
mk celebrates its 50th anniversary.
2011
The 100,000th conveyor is produced.
2008
The mk Technology Group becomes the umbrella brand for the Maschinenbau Kitz GmbH headquarters and its subsidiaries and sales partners worldwide.
2005
With the aquisition of mkf Automation GmbH, now mkf GmbH in Thuringia, competence in factory automation is strengthened.
2004
Son Stephan Kitz takes over operational management of the company. Founding of the subsidiary mk Kitz Hispania S.L. in Spain.
2003
mk’s operational processes were certified by TÜV Rheinland in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001. Since then, this certification has served as official proof of mk’s effective and reliable processes.
2001
Construction of the technical centre for product development is completed. In the conveyor technology division, the number of standardised conveyor systems increases significantly – and the firm wins awards for design.
1994
First expansion in Europe with the founding of the subsidiary mk Products B.V. in the Netherlands.
1991
On the company’s 25th anniversary, the number of employees increases to 100 and the plant is extended to 4,500 m². The linear technology and factory equipment divisions are added to the portfolio, as are custom transfer systems for factory automation.
1988
The globalisation of mk begins with the founding of its first subsidiary mk North America Inc. in the USA. Additional subsidiaries are to follow, along with numerous sales and service partners.
1984
Maschinen- und Apparatebau H.J. Kitz becomes Maschinenbau Kitz GmbH. The company passes the benchmark of 1,000 conveyors built.
1982
The 2000 system profile is introduced, laying the cornerstone for today’s profile technology construction kit – containing more than 200 profile cross sections – and establishing the profile technology business unit. The first conveyors built using mk profile technology appear the same year.
1978
Space has run out – the firm moves into what is now Plant 1 in the Troisdorf-Bergheim industrial park. Complete machines and various conveyor systems are designed and produced in a 1760 m² facility.
1973
Total production area is increased to 500 m² with the addition of locations in Niederkassel Mondorf. With 25 employees, the company also fulfils its first international orders.
1971
The first mk conveyor is assembled and delivered. In the years thereafter, the conveyor technology division continues to expand. The result is the company’s first series of standardised conveyors.
1966
Hans-Josef Kitz and his wife, Doris Kitz, found the company “Maschinen- and Apparatebau H.J. Kitz”. With just a single employee, the firm focuses on contract manufacturing, while also producing machine parts and its own simple machines and apparatuses. The business quickly outgrows the garage, and a small production hall is rented.
