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About Basler
Basler AG is a German technology company headquartered in Ahrensburg, near Hamburg, and one of the global leaders in machine vision solutions. For more than 35 years, the company has been developing technologies that enable machines to capture and analyse images, providing industrial cameras, software and related components used across manufacturing, logistics, robotics, healthcare and electronics. The expansion of its Kraków operation forms part of Basler’s long-term strategy to strengthen its global engineering and technology capabilities.
The challenge
In 2021, Basler began evaluating the possibility of establishing operations in Kraków. Knight Frank was engaged at an early stage to support the company in assessing the market’s potential and developing its market-entry strategy for Poland.
From the outset, the project went far beyond a conventional office search. The priority was not simply finding office space, but gaining a comprehensive understanding of the local business environment, talent availability and the practical considerations involved in operating as a foreign investor.
Building the foundations
During the first phase of the project, Knight Frank coordinated a range of activities designed to provide a complete picture of the Kraków market. These included meetings with HR specialists, legal advisors and organisations supporting foreign direct investment.
This enabled Basler to assess Kraków’s potential and make an informed decision to establish its presence in Poland.
As a result, the company launched its first serviced office in 2022. The flexible workspace solution allowed Basler to begin operations quickly, initiate recruitment and scale its team without committing to a long-term lease at an early stage.
At that point, the objective was not to secure a permanent headquarters, but to create a solid foundation for future growth and test business assumptions in the new market.
Adapting to changing business needs
Over the following years, Knight Frank continued to support Basler in evaluating various growth scenarios and developing an optimal real estate strategy. Regular reviews were conducted to assess business growth, team requirements, and readiness to move into a long-term office location.
In 2024, the process came close to completion, with a preferred office location identified in one of Kraków’s most sought-after business districts. However, shortly before the lease was due to be signed, changes in the client’s business circumstances led to the project being temporarily paused.
Rather than ending the process, the change created an opportunity to reassess priorities and adapt the strategy to new business realities.
Advisory beyond the transaction
Knight Frank remained involved throughout the following months, providing ongoing strategic advice, monitoring the market and refining recommendations to reflect the company’s evolving needs.
The project required flexibility, patience and a long-term perspective. Maintaining continuity despite shifting business priorities and changing timelines proved critical to achieving the right outcome.
The result
The culmination of the multi-year collaboration was the signing of a lease agreement at Lubicz Park in Kraków.
The decision was driven by several key factors:
- excellent public transport connectivity,
- flexible lease terms,
- the ability to tailor the office space to organisational needs,
- infrastructure supporting employees’ day-to-day experience.
The new office is scheduled to open in July 2026 and will support the continued growth of Basler’s operations in Poland.
Key takeaways
The Basler project demonstrates that the role of a real estate advisor often begins long before office space is selected.
In this case, Knight Frank supported the client throughout the entire decision-making journey — from assessing Kraków’s investment potential and launching initial operations in Poland to securing a long-term office solution aligned with the company’s strategic objectives.
It is an example of a project where value was created not through a single transaction, but through a long-term partnership supporting business growth in a new market.
Photos: Lubicz Park | Globalworth
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact the expert who has been advising the tenant in Poland from the outset:
Aleksandra Markiewicz
Associate Director
+48 609 038 568
aleksandra.markiewicz@pl.knightfrank.com
