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Knipex

Coordinates: 51°12′40″N 7°08′45″E / 51.21111°N 7.14583°E / 51.21111; 7.14583
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KNIPEX-Werk C. Gustav Putsch KG
Company typePrivately owned
IndustryHand tools
Founded1882 (Wuppertal, Germany)
FounderCarl Gustav Putsch
HeadquartersWuppertal, Germany
Key people
Ralf Putsch (owner and CEO)
ProductsPliers, cutters, crimping tools, wire strippers, insulated tools
Revenue (200 Mio €)
Number of employees
1,000 (Knipex group 1,600)
Websitewww.knipex.com

Knipex (English: /kəˈnɪpɛks/;[1] German pronunciation: [ˈknɪpɛks]) is a German manufacturer of pliers, pliers wrenches, and other tools. Its tools are principally for professional use in various trades, but they since the 2010 are also increasingly popular for DIY and EDC use as well.

Since four generations, Knipex is a owner-managed family company of the Putsch; CEO is Ralf Putsch. Its headquarters are located in Wuppertal-Cronenberg.

History

The company was founded in 1882 by C. Gustav Putsch as a forge.[2] In the early days manufacturing was focused on pincers and blacksmith’s tongs, initially handmade then increasingly produced using drop forging hammers and various machines. In 1942 Carl Putsch, the second generation representative, registered the “Knipex“ brand. Especially since the 1950s the program has constantly had additional types of pliers added to it. Karl Putsch took over as manager in 1954. Manufacturing operations became increasingly automated and product innovation took ever greater importance. Starting in the 1990s various subsidiaries joined the Knipex Group. The fourth generation took over the company’s reins. Foreign sales offices were established, and nowadays more than 60 percent of output is exported to numerous countries worldwide.

Products

The program currently comprises approximately 100 types of pliers, totalling more than 900 different variants in terms of length, shape and finish. These include commonly used types of pliers such as combination pliers, side cutters and water pump pliers as well as more specialized pliers for use in electrical and plumbing installation and electronics. The range also includes special tools for cutting, stripping and crimping including tools for applications in aerospace, solar power technology and optical fiber installation. Knipex also offers a broad program of high-voltage insulated tools. Knipex has built up a reputation of being a strong innovator in its field with products like self-locking water pump pliers ("Alligator" pliers), precision push-button water pump pliers ("Cobra" pliers), high-leverage mini bolt cutters ("Cobolt" cutters) and parallel jaw, ratchet action wrenches ("Pliers Wrench").

The company is defending itself against patent infringements. The dominant online retailer Amazon and other smaller retailers were found to have patent infringements from a chinese company relating to a universal key for switch cabinets in over 9,000 cases.

Main German competitors are the tool manufacturer Wera Tools, Gedore, Wiha Tools and Hazet.

Manufacturing

Company building in Wuppertal, Germany

In addition to specializing in pliers, the company strategy includes complete in-house manufacturing. The intention here is to directly influence all the products' quality based characteristics, like precision, hardness and ease of operation. In addition to drop forging with its own tool manufacturing the production offering also includes machining (broaching, drilling, milling and grinding) as well as laser machining. The joining of the two pliers shanks - typically by riveting – is followed by repeated heat treatment (heating and tempering) as well as various surface treatments (chrome-plating, painting, polishing).

In the parent manufacturing site in Wuppertal the complete chain from forging to packaging takes place. Here the company produces around 63,000 pliers per day.[3]

Employment

More than 1,000 staff are employed at the Wuppertal site, including more than 40 trainees (Auszubildende) in different apprenticeships. There is a dedicated training workshop for industrial trainees. All trainees are offered additional works classes.

Employees of Knipex are organized within IG Metall.[4]

Structure

Knipex is the original parent company of the Knipex group, with a total of over 1,600 employees in four German production companies as well as a number of sales companies abroad, including the USA, Russia, China, the Middle East and Mexico. In a total, there are branches in 30 countries.[5]

In Germany Knipex group consists of these four companys:

  • Rennsteig Werkzeuge in Viernau (Thüringen)
  • Orbis Will GmbH + Co. KG in Ahaus (Münsterland), acquired in 2003 bei Knipex[6]
  • KNIPEX-Werk GmbH in Wuppertal
  • Will in Neustadt

North America

KNIPEX Tools LP is the North American Sales, Manufacturing and Marketing branch of Knipex. Located in Arlington Heights, Illinois the company supports their markets in the United States and Canada with a professional sales, marketing, customer service and administrative staff.

Knipex museum

The company is home of a two-story museum exhibiting machinery, tools, workplaces and everyday objects showing what working and living conditions were like in the region's tool industry in the past. The museum is open to the general public once a year as part of the Wuppertal-24h-live event.

Awards

In 2011, the Knipex safety pliers designed by stotz-design were honored with the iF product design award.[7] In 2013 the installation pliers and the Knipex X-Cut diagonal cutters had received the 2013 iF product design award.[8]

In 2017 the "ErgoStrip" tool of Knipex was awarded in the catorgy "Workshops and Tools" of the German Design Award.

References

  1. ^ "Knipex Tool Tips - How to pronounce Knipex". YouTube. Knipex Tools. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  2. ^ tel.: ++41 56 460 80 20, Conceived and implemented by: Three Way AG, 5210 Windisch, info@3way ch, www threeway ch. "KULL-LAUBE AG". www.kull-laube.ch (in German). Retrieved 2023-08-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "KNIPEX-Werk C. Gustav Putsch". Karrieretag (in German). Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  4. ^ Rundschau, Wuppertaler (2018-01-10). "Metall- und Elektroindustrie: Warnstreiks in zwölf Wuppertaler Betrieben". Wuppertaler Rundschau (in German). Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  5. ^ "Knipex-Chef Ralf Putsch: Der Zangenmeister | Kassenzone". www.kassenzone.de (in German). 2023-01-12. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  6. ^ "Geschichte". OrbisWill (in German). Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  7. ^ "2011 | iF product design award 2011 für Knipex Griff – stotz-design Corporate-Design / Industrial-Design / Wuppertal" (in German). Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  8. ^ "KNIPEX Pliers Receive Design Award". Industrial Distribution. 2013-03-04. Retrieved 2024-05-07.

Sources

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Knipex.

51°12′40″N 7°08′45″E / 51.21111°N 7.14583°E / 51.21111; 7.14583

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