KION GROUP AG, Germany, announced plans to expand its production site in Pune, India, with the construction of a new industrial truck production facility.

The 94,000-square-meter plant is expected to create more than 100 additional jobs in Pune, and is due to open in early 2020. It will incorporate a cutting-edge production facility, a research and development center, a training center for service personnel and space for future growth of Dematic in India. KION acquired Dematic, Grand Rapids, Mich., in 2016.

The KION Group is aiming to leverage growth in the Indian intralogistics sector, particularly through its OM and OM Voltas brands.

"We want to harness the potential of this fast-growing market even more effectively with our new plant while further strengthening our leading position by increasing capacity in Pune," says CP Quek, chief Asia Pacific officer.

"The new leading-edge plant and R&D center will allow us to better serve our customers in the rapidly expanding Indian market," adds Eike Böhm, chief technology officer.

"We want to be even more efficient in production and after sales. Our current workforce and the anticipated 100 new employees will benefit from the latest work environment while the new R&D center and the market launch of Dematic will open up further opportunities," says Sunil Gupta, president of KION India.

In addition to the OM and OM Voltas products, KION India sells industrial trucks, warehouse technology and services from Baoli in China and the German brand, Linde. KION also launched new automated supply chain solutions from Dematic on the Indian market.

KION India currently employs around 400 employees.