History

1847

1882

1889

1904

1914

1920s

1952

1980

2018

2023

Today

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1847

1882

1889

1904

1914

1920s

1952

1980

2018

2023

Today

Foundation

At a time of great poverty, when the wave of emigration from Europe reached its peak, Friedrich Heutelbeck, the great-great-great-grandfather of today’s owner, founded his company for the manufacturing of piano components. It was a time in which the demand for pianos began to rise sharply and industrial suppliers were needed.

A New Machine Type

With the acquisition of the first steam engine, the transition of production from the then customary manual operation to machine production began.

Modernization

Julius Klinke, authorised signatory of the company and son-in-law of Friedrich Heutelbeck, took over the management and expanded and modernised the production significantly.

Relocation

Due to the imminent opening of a new railway line, the company was relocated from the city centre to today's Bahnhofstraße. The place where the company still has its only location until today.

World War 1

Until 1914, the family business Julius Klinke exclusively produced piano components. Back then, the export rate was about 75 percent, shipping mainly to the USA and England.

But due to the outbreak of World War 1, the piano business collapsed and the company nearly went out of business.

A New Product

During the global economic crisis in the 1920s, Alexander Klinke, son of Julius, started the production of simple turned parts for the first time in the company’s history. Beginning with simple wood screws and DIN parts at first, the turned parts business grew quickly. Over time, more and more complex articles became part of the product range.

„Wirtschaftswunder“

After World War 2, in times of the German „Wirtschaftswunder“, the company started to grow quickly. Under the management of Klaus Klinke, it evolved into one of the world’s most modern and versatile turning companies.

The production of turned parts became the company’s core business, with a share of turnover of about 90 percent today.

Technological Advancement

The acquisition of the company’s first CNC-machine heralded a new era of manufacturing. Even more complex and sophisticated parts became possible.

World Market Leader

With Alexander Klinke as owner and CEO, Julius Klinke GmbH & Co. KG became the recognised world market leader for complex turned parts and piano components. The appointment was made by the South Westphalian Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Hagen.

Breaking New Ground

By investing into the company’s very first 3D-Printer, an advanced technology found its way into our plant. This opened up completely new possibilities for production, maintenance and production planning.

The State of Affairs

Today, we employ more than 200 highly qualified employees and, in addition to core business, also manufacture a wide range of milled parts. The company is a role model for the synergy of economy and ecology and still a 100 percent family-owned business. Alexander Klinke and Julius Klinke manage the company together as the fifth and sixth generation.

We do not know what the future holds. But we are working constantly to improve ourselves and are learning something new every day.