A constant commitment to progress

The medium-sized German firm EDUARD KRONENBERG (EK) started out making steel leaf springs for pocket knives and tool parts. Now, almost a century and a half later, it is the global market leader for connecting elements, and serves mainly the insulating glass industry.

Pre-inserted straight connectors within sundry Warm Edge Spacer bars

“WE make more than 600 million parts a year,” says Ralf M. Kronenberg “and we deliver them all over the world.”

These parts comprise straight connectors and corner keys for spacer bars, accessories for Georgian bars, spring washers, miscellaneous stamped parts, bent parts, plastic parts and many more.

They may be mostly invisible but the parts are so crucial that EK has become a leading supplier for the insulating glass industry (and the solar sector), for the automotive industry, for electrical engineering companies and for industrial fastener firms, as well as for local industry in and around Solingen in NorthRhine Westphalia. In all business units EK meets the requirements of the tough quality norm ISO TS 16949.

The company is the only supplier to make steel and nylon connectors for insulating glass frame compounds from a single source and this has made them a market leader worldwide. EK supplies all major manufacturers of spacer bars.

Quality, improvement and innovation

EK works according to three main principles – it always demands utmost quality, it fosters improvements and innovation and it has the courage to develop in markets that are oriented to the future.

“In a constantly globalising world, we have to keep our minds open for new markets, sectors, products and challenges,” says Ralf M. Kronenberg, who is the fifth generation to manage the family-run firm with his cousin Frank. “We do this happily.”

Moreover, Kronenberg highlights the fact that the family name stands for long-term partnerships, for dialogue, for proximity to customers. “We do not base our company decisions on the stock markets.”

It is such principles and attitudes which have allowed the firm, which opened in 1867, to gain a good reputation and expand solidly. It now has 70 employees who work out of two plants in Solingen.

“Our position is clear: we are what we are today because of our longstanding employees their commitment and motivation, knowhow, ideas, creativity and performance.”

Thus, employee training is an important aspect of EK’s company philosophy. Moreover, although there is constant investment in modern, state-of-the-art technology and equipment the workforce is not jeopardised,

Modern progressive tool in modular design

Spring disks for shock absorbers

insists Ralf M. Kronenberg. “Our employees work mainly in construction, development and quality control, on which we place great value. Our employee numbers are growing.” The core element of the company is the modern in-house tool manufacture.

Made in Germany

This, as well as the fact that EK is glad to work in Germany where quality engineering and infrastructure are so conducive to productive partnerships, is also why the company has never thought of going to a cheaper production location.

It is currently planning to build a new production plant to consolidate the two existing sites in Solingen.

“The goal is to become more efficient, more flexible and faster, thanks to shorter distances, better connections and possibilities for expansion,” says Mr Kronenberg. “We are investing in our future but remaining in the region.” Thus customers, suppliers and employees can remain assured of continuity.

“We don’t consider ourselves only a supplier but also a strategic partner and provider of solutions,” points out Mr Kronenberg. “Whether customers want standard stamping, bending and injection-moulded solutions or tailor-made advice and proposals, the company is there to help.” Expanding for the future

To this end, EK has never failed to pull out the stops when it comes to high-quality, modern equipment. It uses only highperformance automatic stamping presses made by such prestigious firms as Bruderer, Haulick & Roos and Raster and it recently acquired a fully automatic spot welding machine with laser marking for component assembly of new spring disks for shock absorbers used in modern vehicles.

Having conquered the insulating glass industry, the company hopes to expand further in other industries.

“We also want to enter new markets and develop new products,” says Kronenberg. “But we have to build upon our existing strengths. We already have firm partnerships with our customers and high export quotas.” The aim is to grow continuously.

Mr Kronenberg is optimistic about the future. Although the firm is keeping a close eye on the euro crisis and its impact on world markets, the fact that German engineering has a such a good reputation and there is an ongoing global demand for products made in Germany plays in EK’s favour. “Thanks to the new plant we will be even better equipped.”

Moreover, the rising emphasis on energy efficiency and green building is increasing demand for insulating glass and thus the connecting elements EK makes will remain vital for decades to come.

“Our philosophy is sustainability and continuity,” says Mr Kronenberg. “It would contradict our philosophy not to be interested in the environment, the efficient use of resources and recycling.”

EDUARD KRONENBERG has been doing this successfully since 1867. n

www.kronenberg-eduard.de

Insight to a modern and clean serial production