• SKS company history

Company History

Where we come from

The introduction of robots into the automotive industry brought fundamental changes in welding technology: Manual welding lost its relevance – welding with robots was the future. We were there from the beginning: With successful market introductions and our own product developments, we made a difference in the industry.

Over the years, SKS increasingly broke away from its original position as a specialized distributor of innovative welding technology. We realized that selling welding technology alone would not enable us to meet the growing requirements of the market. Today – and in the future – we convince the market with our own product concepts and developments.

Dieter Klein, Managing Director SKS
„As entrepreneurs and pioneers in robotic welding technology, we have a responsibility to our customers and employees worldwide. We are a family business from the Palatinate region in Germany. We think and act for the long term. What makes us special is our attention to detail and dedication to the technological development of our products, to which we devote all our energy and innovative spirit.“
Dieter Klein, Founder SKS
  • New SKS robotic welding lab with laser-assisted MIG process

    2022

    Installation of the new SKS robotic welding lab with laser-assisted MIG process

  • 2020: Foundation SKS subsidiary in India

    2020

    Foundation SKS subsidiary in India 

  • 2019 SKS extends worldwide network of subsidiaries with foundations in South Africa and Spain

    2019

    SKS extends worldwide network of subsidiaries with foundations in South Africa and Spain

From left: Markus Klein (Managing Director SKS Welding Systems GmbH, Germany), Peet Claasen (Managing Director SKS Welding Systems (Pty) Ltd, South Africa),
Omar Madero (Managing Director SKS Soldadura Robotica Arco Voltaico S.L., Spain)

SKS production hall – doubling of production capacities
SKS production hall – doubling of production capacities

2017

Space for innovation:
SKS extends its headquarters in Kaiserslautern (incl. the doubling of production capacities)

  • From left: David Aguirre (Managing Director SKS Welding Systems, S. de R.L. de C.V., Mexico), Thomas Klein (Managing Director SKS Welding Systems GmbH, Germany), Dave Marsh (General Manager SKS Welding Systems Inc., USA)

    2016

    SKS extends worldwide network of subsidiaries with foundations in USA, Mexico and China

From left: David Aguirre (Managing Director SKS Welding Systems, S. de R.L. de C.V., Mexico), Thomas Klein (Managing Director SKS Welding Systems GmbH, Germany), Dave Marsh (General Manager SKS Welding Systems Inc., USA)

SKS Welding Systems Frontpull 8 welding torch

2015

Market launch Frontpull 8

Frontpull 8 technology for robots with outer cable dress

2015

Market launch Frontpull 8

Frontpull 8 technology for robots with outer cable dress

  • Serdar C. Arıcan (Managing Director SKS Welding Systems Makina San. Ve Tic. Ltd. Şti., Türkiye) and Dieter Klein (Managing Director SKS Welding Systems GmbH, Germany)

    2014

    Foundation SKS Welding Systems Türkiye

  • SKS Welding Systems torch system Frontpull 8i Lite and cleaning station eReam

    2014

    Market launch eReam and torch system Frontpull 8i Lite

    First fully electric driven torch cleaning system. Market launch of torch system Frontpull 8i Lite

Serdar C. Arıcan (Managing Director SKS Welding Systems Makina San. Ve Tic. Ltd. Şti., Türkiye) and Dieter Klein
(Managing Director SKS Welding Systems GmbH, Germany)

  • The water-cooled SKS Welding Systems Water Joint welding torch

    2013

    Market launch torch system Water Joint

    Introduction of the Water Joint torch system: endless rotation, now also with water cooling.

  • Der wassergekühlte SKS Welding Systems Schweißbrenner Water Joint

    2013

    SKS market launch torch system Water Joint

    Introduction of the Water Joint torch system: endless rotation, now also with water cooling.

  • The new SKS head office in Kaiserslautern

    2012

    An investment in the future:
    The new SKS head office in Kaiserslautern

  • Gründung SKS Welding Systems Kft. in Ungarn

    2012

    Foundation SKS Welding Systems Hungary

SKS Welding Systems weld process microMIG-cc

2011

Welding process microMIG-cc

New welding process with the Frontpull 7 torch

  • SKS weld process controller Q84r and Semi Automatic Machine SAM mobile for hand welding

    2010

    Market launch weld process controller Q84 and market launch Semi Automatic Machine SAM – manual welding with the precision of a robot

  • Markus Klein (CEO) in the SKS booth at Euroblech 2012

    2010

    Booth at Euroblech 2010

  • Gründung SKS Welding Systems in Tschechien

    2009

    Foundation SKS Welding Systems in the Czech Republic

  • 2009

    Welding process microMIG
    for heat-reduced welding
    with defined penetration

  • Market launch of SKS Welding Systems 2008 welding torch series

    2008

    The new welding torch series

    Development and market launch of the SKS welding torch series

  • Extension of the SKS Welding Systems torch series in 2013 by adding the water-cooled torch systems Water Joint, Water Joint Lite and Power Clutch water-cooled

    2013

    The new welding torch series

    (Market launch Water Joint, Water Joint Lite and Power Clutch water-cooled)

  • Extension of the SKS Welding Systems torch series in 2014 by adding the Frontpull 8i and Frontpull 8i Lite torch systems

    2014

    The new welding torch series

    (Market launch Frontpull 8i and 8i Lite)

  • Extension of the SKS Welding Systems torch series in 2015 by adding the Frontpull 8 torch system

    2015

    The new welding torch series

    (Market launch Frontpull 8)

2006

SKS Welding Systems Synchroweld for robots and welding machine
Robot and welding machine united: MOTOMAN robotec, Leipold and SKS develop Synchroweld

  • Dieter Klein, Managing Director of SKS, during the market launch of SKS Synchroweld in 2006
  • Dr. Klie, Managing Director of Motoman/Yaskawa, during the market launch of SKS Synchroweld in 2006

2003

Power Joint and Power Feeder

Robot-oriented development: The perfect match for process arm robots with hollow wrist – Power Joint welding torch and Power Feeder

 

SKS Welding Systems Power Joint welding torch and Power Feeder PF5 wire feeder

2001

Power Source LSQ

The LSQ power source with second-generation
digital technology enters the market

1999

Air-cooled welding

The revolution: Market shift from water-cooled to air-cooled welding torches in Europe

 

1996

Introduction of our dual-wire torch for high welding speeds and deposition rates

1993

First fully digital welding system

Market launch of the first fully digital welding system for reproducible welding parameters with data documentation

1989

Year of founding

Foundation of SKS Schweiß- und Schneidsysteme GmbH