The chronicle of the KGM Kugelfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
1913
Foundation of the Walter Gebauer ball factory
On 13 May 1913, the entrepreneur's son Walter Gebauer (left) and the Swedish engineer Thor Möller (right) found the Walter Gebauer ball factory in Frankfurt am Main.
In a workshop in the Nordend district, the founders are working on mechanising the production of balls for ball bearings, many of which are still made individually. Their products are in demand and space will soon be in short supply.
1919
Relocation to Fulda & change of name
After the First World War, the company moves to Fulda and acquires a larger factory with hydroelectric power.
- Change of name to Kugelfabrik Gebauer & Möller, (KGM).
- Introduction of the "Athlet" trade mark.
- The company manufactures high-precision steel balls and ball holder rings that are specially customised for the bicycle industry.
- KGM is particularly proud of its miniature balls, which are a true speciality.
Successful through the global economic crisis
The company goes through difficult times with inflation, the global economic crisis and near insolvency. A few years later, rebuilding and expansion measures are carried out again.
1933
Thor Möller leaves KGM
The co-founder leaves the company. In 1933, Thor Möller leaves KGM and returns to his home country. Walter Gebauer takes over his duties and takes KGM forward.
1939-1945
Massive changes
The Second World War brings drastic changes. In 1940, the Reich government orders the 400-strong company to produce spherical plain bearings for the aircraft industry under the brand name "KGM".
In the final days of the war, the nearby Hornungsbrücke bridge is blown up, causing extensive damage to buildings and machinery, and the ball factory lies almost in ruins. Reconstruction proved to be difficult. Despite numerous challenges, Gebauer does not give up, and KGM is finally able to experience a new upswing in 1948 thanks to the currency reform.
1945-1953
Reconstruction and renewed destruction
In 1953, a major fire destroys large parts of the ball factory. Walter Gebauer loses large parts of his company for the second time in 10 years, but the insurance pays out.
Gebauer rebuilds the factory facilities and expands them with two additional buildings to a total of 1,750 square metres. The company is more efficient than ever before.
1963
Company anniversary - KGM celebrates 50 years
50 years of hard work and tireless commitment have paid off - KGM has reason to celebrate as it celebrates its 50th anniversary with 300 employees.
1966-1972
FAG Kugelfischer takes over
After the death of 82-year-old company founder Walter Gebauer in 1966, his heirs are unable to pay the inheritance tax and sell the majority of the ball factory to FAG Kugelfischer.
FAG sends the industrial and mechanical engineer Johannes L. Richter to manage and modernise the company together with the nephew of the company founder, the businessman Walter Gebauer Jr. The new company name is Kugelfabrik Gebauer & Co KG.
The years 1968 to 1970 are characterised by constant construction and conversion work as well as overhaul work on buildings, machines and the turbine house. KGM, commonly known as the "Gebauer company", not least because of the agility of its managing director, changes its legal form again in 1972 and trades under the name KGM Kugelfabrik Gebauer GmbH. The athlete is back as a trademark.
1973-1993
KGM as a subsidiary of FAG Kugelfischer
KGM remains the exotic company within the FAG Group. Within the walls of the ball factory, "special balls" are produced under the technical management of Johannes L. Richter.
The special balls produced in Fulda are usually small batches, for which the production facilities of FAG's sister companies, which are designed for mass production, are only suitable to a limited extent. In this way, KGM has acquired the expertise to process special materials of all kinds and to produce all technically feasible ball sizes. Internal cohesion is good, the employees of the ball factory are a close-knit community.
1981
New old management
In 1981, the enterprising Walter Gebauer Jr. dies unexpectedly. The long-standing technical manager and authorised signatory, Johannes L. Richter, is offered the management of the entire company by the parent company.
Johannes L. Richter continues to expand the Fulda ball factory with the backing of the FAG owners, Georg and Otto Schäfer. In contrast to many other locations, Fulda shines with "black figures" even during economic crises. The machinery is gradually expanded and further construction phases are added to the factory site. KGM is also very successful in terms of product technology.
1988
75th anniversary
KGM charters a special train to Rüdesheim, the whole company embarks on an unforgettable Rhine cruise.
1993
Sale and takeover
In 1993, the parent company FAG Kugelfischer gets into financial difficulties and puts its subsidiary KGM up for sale.
One year later, Johannes L. Richter and his closest managers take over the Fulda ball factory through a management buyout. At the age of 64, Richter takes the plunge into self-employment.
1994-2007
KGM finally catches up with the world leaders
Thanks to the extensive ball experience of its management and workforce, Kugelfabrik maintains its market position as an independent ball specialist on the global market even after leaving the Group.
The loans for the company takeover are repaid faster than expected, and by the turn of the millennium KGM is largely debt-free.
In 2001, the three authorised signatories Joachim Kapp, Franz Meixner and Horst Sattler retire almost simultaneously, and other shareholders also leave the company. KGM is reorganised and rejuvenated. In 2007, Johannes L. Richter's son, Matthias Richter, joins the company.
The next milestone in KGM's success story is the attainment of international certificates in order to be approved as a supplier for the demanding automotive industry. In 1998 KGM is certified to DIN ISO 9002 for the first time, four years later it is certified to ISO/TS 16949, followed in 2007 by the "environmental standard" DIN EN ISO 14001, putting KGM firmly among the world leaders on paper as well.
2008-2013
KGM Kugelfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
In 2008, Johannes L. Richter falls seriously ill and is absent for months. Matthias Richter joins the management and, supported by an experienced management team, steers KGM through the difficult economic crisis.
The unmediated generational change presents KGM with numerous challenges.
In 2010, KGM's business operations become Kugelfabrik GmbH & Co. Under Matthias Richter, KGM begins to strategically develop the new business field of "further processed balls". Preparations are made for the establishment of a Chinese subsidiary and the ball centre brand. Rainer Fußy and Jürgen Lay are appointed authorised signatories.
Stefan Steinmetz becomes Technical Managing Director in 2012. In addition to production management, he is responsible for the largest construction project in recent decades.
2013
100 years of existence
KGM celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2013. The company can proudly look back on a long and successful history and has developed into a leading manufacturer of precision balls during this time.
Tradition & success
Johannes L. Richter is honoured by German President Christian Wulff for his lifetime achievements. Johannes L. Richter will remain closely associated with his ball factory until his death in 2020.
2014 - 2023
KGM continues to build
The large new building is inaugurated in 2016. The aim of the construction project: to guarantee uncompromisingly reliable ball quality.
2018
Under the commercial management of Christian Braun (2018-2023), KGM successfully begins an extensive optimisation and digitalisation process and focuses strongly on its core products in the following years.
2023
The Fuldaer Kugelfabrik is firmly established in the market and celebrates its 110th anniversary in autumn with an elegant employee party.
today
Constant growth
As a sought-after problem solver for everything to do with balls, KGM is successful and growing steadily.
In 2024, Jörg Eberhard joins the Kugelfabrik as Commercial Managing Director. Management, executives and staff continue to work together to expand KGM Kugelfabrik's technical lead as one of the global quality leaders.
For us as a company, sustainable management is of the utmost importance. We endeavour to generate successful long-term earnings and thus secure a sustainable future for ourselves and future generations. We attach great importance to an unconditional focus on quality, as we can only achieve a high level of customer satisfaction and customer loyalty with the highest product, process and service quality. We are convinced that, in addition to economic efficiency and quality orientation, environmental protection, safety awareness and risk awareness are essential success factors for our customers - and therefore also for us - in global competition and are necessary for our survival on the global sales market.
With over 100 years of market experience, we know exactly what is important in the market. We see it as our task to fulfil the needs and requirements of our customers in an economical and competent manner. To this end, we have introduced our own management system in accordance with international standards, which we are constantly improving. We attach particular importance to the highest quality in products, processes and services as well as customer satisfaction. Thanks to our commitment, we enjoy the trust of our customers and have established ourselves as a reliable partner in the industry.
Our zero-defect strategy is a binding task that aims to continuously improve products and company processes in order to ensure error-free production. We want to offer our customers the highest quality at all times and at the same time utilise our resources more effectively. All processes at KGM are geared towards cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency, ergonomics, occupational health findings, hygiene and state-of-the-art technology. We are aware of our responsibility towards customers, employees and all interested parties and are committed to complying with all relevant legal regulations, including environmental and occupational health and safety laws, as well as internal guidelines.
Our process management is geared towards error-free production that secures the long-term existence of the company. We control our production processes with the aim of delivering high-quality products and services that contribute to improving environmental and energy-related performance. We work closely with our suppliers, service providers and other contractual partners to work together on the continuous improvement of processes, while management and executives ensure that our zero-defect strategy is consistently implemented. Our partners are just as interested in successful collaboration as we are and actively contribute to improving our products and processes. This collective process management enables us to ensure that we always offer our customers the highest quality and at the same time utilise our resources more effectively.
Sustainability at KGM Kugeln
Our products themselves also stand for a real provision for the future, because in most cases our installed KGM balls "live" many times longer than the end products themselves.
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36041 Fulda
Hessen, Deutschland