History
Relocation to Karlsruher Strasse
1938
Shortly before the start of the war, the Kappler family moved to Karlsruher Strasse in Graefenhausen, where more space was available for the company (see picture, with a workshop on the ground floor, which was later expanded). An important customer is the Marwitz and Hauser company in Stuttgart, which Friedrich Kappler regularly supplies with motorcycles.
The entrepreneur was briefly recruited into the army - but probably under pressure from the Stuttgart machine supplier Hahn und Kolb - soon released.
Reconstruction and expansion
1970s - 1980s
In 1970/71 the Kappler's property was fundamentally rebuilt and the previous house with barn, stable and small workshop was transformed into a production hall. Another floor was added in the eighties and this building can still be found in the Karlsruher Strasse today.
The good development of the company in this period is largely due to the operations manager Günter Hermann and production manager Richard Scheffelmeier, who run the business alongside Willy Gottschling. In mechanical engineering, up to 480 filigree machines for the manufacture of jewelry chains are designed and produced annually. In addition, eyewear parts are made with tools that we have made ourselves.
Relocation to the Graefenhausen industrial park
1990s
At the beginning of the 1990s, Willy and Hildegard Gottschling's children Corinna Domschat, née Gottschling, and Rainer Gottschling, also join the family business. Again and again, new business fields like the production of parts of high-quality musical instruments were opened.
Orders from the automation industry are also being followed. Special components, tools, devices, or entire special machines and systems for automation systems for car windshield wipers, ship and mountain chains, or robot systems are regularly manufactured throughout Germany. Due to the need for additional production space and the good business situation with the main customer Siemens, the decision was made to move to the Graefenhausen industrial park, where 2,800m² are available from 1996 onwards.
2010s
In 2011, another story was added to the facility's front part including a shelf storage area, a clean room with a lock, and conference and meeting rooms. Thus, the company portfolio is complemented by assembly and packaging under clean, particle, and dirt-free conditions.
In 2013, another story was built on the rear production hall, creating new space for final assembly and additional workpiece cleaning processes. The total area is now approx. 10,000m².
In 2014, an automated robot cell is also being put into operation that can operate three precision five-axis machines with two set-up stations.
For years, the company led by managing director Rainer Gottschling and operations manager Alexander Roeth has been working ambitiously on its goals and always tries to pursue challenging tasks and to be technologically up to date.
In order to meet the ever-increasing demands and the need for production space, managing director Rainer Gottschling is initiating the construction of the new facilities in the Birkenfeld industrial area Dammfeld, which will begin in 2018. The 23,000 m² new building is being taken into operation in 2020 and is fully air-conditioned.
Extensions and further development
Relocation to Birkenfeld
2020
Founding
1934
Friedrich Kappler (1900-1967, see center of the wedding picture) receives a press machine as wage compensation after the bankruptcy of his employer Beller und Fischer in Neuenbürg in 1932, with which he begins to work independently in the basement of his house in the center of Gräfenhausen-Birkenfeld. In 1934 he founded the one-man company there. Two years later he passed the master mechanic's examination.
Development into a precision manufacturer and extension
2000s
With a high willingness to learn and to move forward, as well as new customer contacts, Kappler develops into a precision manufacturing company with the latest machines and high-precision measuring technology. This development correlates with the shift in the focus from machine, plant, and tool construction to the precise production of complex and challenging small series and individual parts as well as the assembly of units and assemblies.
Willy Gottschling dies in 2006.
Shortly before the onset of the economic crisis, the company was expanded by 3,900 m² in 2008. Parts of the production facility, which is now more than twice as large, are now air-conditioned.
Construction in the post-war period
1950-1960s
After the war, the company was put back on its feet under economy drive. Together with his first employee Fritz Bantle (1912-2010) and later other employees from Graefenhausen, who often remained loyal to the company for decades, Friedrich Kappler built up and develop the company. During this time, bench drilling machines were manufactured as a separate product (see picture). The company also supplies the shoe manufacturer Salamander with devices, punches, and tools.
His daughter Hildegard Gottschling, née Kappler (1932-2020) also worked in the company from the early 1950s. When Friedrich Kappler had a serious accident in 1965 and died two years later, she took over the company with her husband Willy Gottschling (1930-2006).