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100 years of Reifenhauser

30 Sep '11

4 min read

In 1911, locksmith Anton Reifenhäuser founded a small forge in Troisdorf and laid the cornerstone of a company that ranks among the worldwide leading technology companies in the plastics machinery industry today: Reifenhäuser.

This year, the wholly family-owned enterprise celebrates its 100-year history true to the motto “Preserving our values. Shaping the future. Reifenhäuser turns 100.“

From a forge to an innovation forge: The rise of the company

In 1948, the sons Hans and Fritz Reifenhäuser started the manufacture of extruders. The development of the following years reflects the typical German economic miracle: Thanks to their entrepreneurial farsightedness, the two brothers were able to turn the forge into a forge of innovations in mechanical engineering. They entered into the plastics industry which was completely new at that time. During the course of a few years they shaped a company that forwarded the extrusion technology in a decisive way. Reifenhäuser laid the foundation for the processing of thermoplastic materials with trend-setting developments and numerous patents.

From Germany into the world: Quality made in Germany

The early focus on export made the company rapidly wellknown across the globe as a highly valued technology partner in the plastics industry. Reifenhäuser developed into one of the largest employers in the Cologne/Bonn region.

The company recognized very early that its strength is in the know-how, precision and innovative power of its employees. This is the reason why greatest importance has been attached to training and further education from the very beginning. An own vocational training workshop enables young talents to be promoted and trained in theory and practice to commit them to what Reifenhäuser stands for and what shaped the image of the company abroad: “Quality made in Germany“.

From a company to a group of companies: A strong family

Today, the company is a worldwide active group with six subsidiaries, eight branch offices and over 50 agencies worldwide. The product portfolio includes machines and complete extrusion lines for the production of films, nonwovens, tapes and monofilaments in addition to a 365/24h quality service. More than 80 % of these machines and lines are delivered overseas.

The company has remained true to its original location until today: It develops and produces in Germany, at its headquarters in Troisdorf and in Worms and Lampertheim – a conscious decision of the Reifenhäuser family.

The three brothers Bernd, Klaus and Ulrich Reifenhäuser who manage the family business for the third generation consider the location in Germany a particular advantage: Here, Reifenhäuser with its more than 1000 employees, concentrates the most comprehensive know-how in plastics extrusion worldwide, in one language at one location. Here, values such as intrapreneurship, innovativeness, high quality awareness, social responsibility, integrity, open-mindedness and passion for plastics extrusion have grown over many years and characterize the companies of the group until today.

These values, in addition to an extensive network, a key focus on plastics extrusion, and the associated synergies in know-how, production and innovative force, are the potentials that make the enterprise a strong family.

From ideas to innovations: Shaping the future

Economic success through innovation leadership always was and is still the target of the company today. The prerequisites to reach this target are created by investing in training and further education, high-potential programs, premises and production machinery as well as research and development.

Over the past five years, Reifenhäuser has spent more than 30 million Euros on the expansion of the world's largest film technology center and the construction of the world's largest nonwovens technology center. These are ideal conditions for the Reifenhäuser employees to continue shaping the next 100 years of plastics extrusion.

Reifenhäuser