Wittenstein

Wittenstein AG is a German manufacturer of planetary gearboxes, complete electromechanical drive systems, and AC servo systems and motors. Areas of application are, for example, robots, machine tools, packaging, material handling and process technology, defense technology, Formula 1, paper and printing presses, medical, nanotechnology, hub and stage equipment and aerospace.

Related companies

• Wittenstein alpha GmbH ( until 30 June 2008 alpha Gear GmbH)
• Wittenstein motion control
• Wittenstein cyber motor GmbH
• Wittenstein intens
• Wittenstein bastian
• Wittenstein aerospace & simulation GmbH
• Wittenstein electronics GmbH
• Attocube systems AG

History

In 1949, the two entrepreneurs Walter Wittenstein and Bruno Dähn in stone near Heidenheim the company DEWITTA. Focus of the small company was on borrowed equipment, the production of a double chain stitch machine for the manufacture of gloves. 1952, the relocation of Steinheim was conducted to Bad Mergentheim, because the space was no longer adequate. As first production plant was an old shack on frozen lake that was originally intended only as an interim solution. Due to lack of space moved DEWITTA 1963 again, this time to Igersheim in the Herrenwiesenstraße.

In the 1970s, fewer and fewer women wore gloves, the consequence of the sale of the machines for their production went rapidly downhill. For the company, the contract work and the manufacture of other products were more important at this time. Almost half of sales were generated by these operations. In Igersheim for example, were Shooting tools for steel nails, machine for filling and sealing of tubes as well as for packaging of toast and much more produced.

In addition, a new generation of paved. The textile and mechanical engineer Walter Wittenstein moved gradually back from the company. His son Manfred Wittenstein joined the company. The company's founder Walter Wittenstein died in 1988 in Igersheim.

After joining the family firm in 1979 Manfred Wittenstein changed the manufacturing and product range. In the search for market opportunities and suitable products with unique features Manfred Wittenstein came quickly to the production of low-backlash planetary gears.

1983, the first planetary gear set of the SP series was presented at the Hannover Messe. The SPs were so successful that shortly afterwards an independent company, the alpha getriebebau, was established as a subsidiary of Wittenstein. The alpha getriebebau arose as a collaboration between two medium-sized enterprises ( Bastian in Fellbach near Stuttgart and Wittenstein ), with Manfred Bastian and Manfred Wittenstein as managing partners.

In the Herrenwiesenstraße in Igersheim the company building the assembly, the bearing and new office buildings were expanded, the area has more than doubled by the extensions. The number of employees rose constantly, for the first time technicians and engineers were in great numbers set. alpha has recorded double- digit annual sales growth at this time.

The assembly was completely relocated in 1990 to Weikersheim. On average, 40 employees worked there for 6 years until the extract in 1996. During this period, the era of sewing machines ended, the last DEWITTA was still mounted in Weikersheim. The entire machine program was subsequently sold complete with all spare parts, milling machines and devices.

At the beginning of the 1990s Wittenstein began its international expansion. With alpha réducteurs Sarl, Paris ( France), the first foreign subsidiary was established, and shortly afterwards was alpha creed Ltd.. , Tokyo ( Japan) launched. In 2007, the group of companies a total of 11 foreign subsidiaries, the export share is over 60 percent.

With the establishment of Wittenstein motion control in 1992, the group was with the new company as a system provider for electromechanical servo drives and drive systems.

The headquarters of the Group is today Igersheim -Harthausen. There are the administrative buildings, production halls and the logistics center. The gearbox, drive shafts, engine mounting parts, etc. are produced or processed but still in the factory Igersheim, the gears are produced in Fellbach.

The move to the new building in the industrial area Harthausen was conducted in 1996. In 1999, the development and sales as well as training and communication center as well as a second production and assembly hall and a new logistics hall to do so. A second logistics center and a third assembly hall was inaugurated in the spring of 2002. Today there are a total of six assembly halls at headquarters.

In 1995, Manfred Wittenstein founded together with Ullrich Lempp, the former rector of the German Order -Gymnasium Bad Mergentheim, Wittenstein Foundation. This foundation awards each year to a high school graduate or a high school graduates of the German Order of High School a scholarship for a science degree.

Since the beginning of 2013 there was the company looking for a successor to Manfred Wittenstein as CEO, the working scientist and Professor of Technology Management and Industrial Engineering at the University of Stuttgart Dieter Spath was ultimately in June 2013 for this office chosen jointly by the Executive Board and Works Council. Dieter Spath is since October 1, 2013 officially now in office as Chairman of the Board.

Data

• Sales 2002/2003: € 85 million ( 16 %)
• Sales 2003/2004: € 100 million ( 17 %)
• Sales 2004/2005: € 116 million ( 16.3 %)
• Sales 2005/2006: € 133 million ( 14.8 %)
• Sales 2006/2007: € 148 million ( 10.6 %)
• Sales 2009/2010: € 136.9 million
• Sales 2010/2011: € 197 million
• Sales 2011/2012: € 233 million
• Sales 2012/2013: € 241 million
• Export rate: 60 % ( 2012/ 2013)
• 1,685 employees worldwide, including 1,389 in Germany (March 2010)
• Own Academy (founded in 1999 )
• Companies: A total of 60 subsidiaries and representative offices in 40 countries worldwide (as of April 2010)
• 10% of turnover is invested in research and development, 12% of employees are engaged in R & D work
• Training rate: 13%