Foundation

And 100 years ago:
Art Nouveau – The Era of the "New Course" – The Era of the Company’s Foundation!

Rudolf Rafflenbeul counts amongst the many "founders" of that era, assisted significantly by his wife, Minna Rafflenbeul (nee Lepperhoff), who as a 32 year old, laid the foundations of today’s firm. First of all he went into partnership with Wilhelm Hedtmann, being registered in 1902 as "Hedtmann and Rafflenbeul, Hagen-in-Westphalia - Eilpe". The firm, then on Felsen Strasse, near today’s Eilpe Rundturnhalle, produces in the main "Federringe", that is to say, spring lock washers. These were originally invented in England in 1878, and patented there under the name of "Grower Rings".

History

100 Years

100 Years of the Rudolf Rafflenbeul Steel Products Factory
(From the Thaler to the Euro)

Foundation

And 100 years ago:
Art Nouveau – The Era of the "New Course" – The Era of the Company’s Foundation!

Plant locations

Already in 1907, Rafflenbeul and Hedtmann had parted company. Whilst Wilhelm Hedtmann found a new line in cables, Rudolf Rafflenbeul remained faithful to Eilpe, and the rinds.

Patents

The invention of the patented "Schraubenfeder" screw spring fastener in 1926 developed into a star seller, after decades with a frequently changing and expanding product range.

Generations

Since 1902, when Rudolf Rafflenbeul laid the basis for the now 100 year old family firm, the company has been led by four generations of his descendants.

Today

In the course of the firm’s 100 year history, production facilities and processes have been updated to keep pace with the demands of today’s technological developments, new products have been introduced and additional markets sought