Gummiwerk KRAIBURG GmbH & Co. KG is a company of KRAIBURG Holding GmbH & Co. KG. As a leading solution provider with the focus on Europe, we have been developing, producing and marketing technical rubber compounds of superior quality since 1947.
Gummiwerk KRAIBURG celebrates its 70th birthday
The company’s beginnings go back to the year 1947. On 22/10/1947, Friedrich Schmidt began producing rubber compounds in Kraiburg-Hart, using the most simple of resources and operating under difficult conditions. These modest beginnings of the rubber factory laid the foundation for the positive development of the later KRAIBURG Group. The sparse means available during those times presented a challenge for every business start-up in Europe. Thanks to the tireless work and commitment of the founder’s sons Peter and Fritz A. Schmidt, however, production and sales increased continuously.
This impressive upward trend and the dedication of the Schmidt and Westhoff families made it possible for the KRAIBURG Group to establish additional companies. Long-term experience in the rubber market and specialization in production technology allowed KRAIBURG, family owned company with a long tradition, to become a reliable partner for the rubber industry. Open and willing cooperation is the key to success. Highly qualified and motivated employees, investments in a modern machine park, and perfect quality combine to form a dynamic and effective whole.
KRAIBURG – the manufacturer with the largest diversity of compounds in Europe
For exactly 70 years we have been offering the largest diversity of any European compound manufacturer. Our rubber compounds are used as semi-finished products in a wide range of applications, such as the automotive industry, machine construction, food production, oil and gas production, roller production and by numerous other manufacturers of moulded rubber components. Today, Gummiwerk KRAIBURG has more than 600 employees in its four factories. About ten percent of the employees work in research, development and quality control. A sign that KRAIBURG intends to remain a market leader and continue to expand its business.
Our goal is the optimal interplay of the formulation, raw materials and customer requirements. The requirements placed on the finished part for compliance with chemical or physical standards are just as important as the processing method. Whether injection, extrusion or stamping – the compound is optimized specifically with respect to all relevant factors. These high-quality compounds are based on standard elastomers such as NR, EPDM, NBR or CM, as well as fluorelastomers and silicone elastomers.
KRAIBURG has also been producing high-quality silicone compounds for more than 35 years. The company offers both black and coloured compounds with a hardness from 30 to 90 Shore A. On request we can also deliver compounds with a hardness of less than 40 Shore A. There is a general trend toward the use of silicone compounds in numerous applications and the demand is constantly on the rise. We deliver to market segments with products that have to withstand high temperatures and unusual conditions – as is often the case in the automotive industry and also in food production. Our KRAIBURG experts cooperate with customers to develop optimal compounds for their custom applications.
In addition to the production of rubber and silicone compounds, KRAIBURG always strives to develop new business fields and to expand the use of high-tech elastomer materials. For example, it has been shown that our elastomer compounds are an excellent supplement for fibre-reinforced polymers (FRP), due to their ability to compensate for disadvantages in those materials. The direct integration of our KRAIBON® material in the FRP layers makes it possible to create an alternating structure of hard and soft material that combines the good mechanical properties of FRP with the good “elastic” properties of the elastomer. The main areas of application are for improving acoustics, and for impact and splintering protection.
Proven quality
The consistently high quality of our compounds and of our customer service are decisive criteria for our customers. That is why extensive specialist knowledge and competence are top priorities at KRAIBURG. We guarantee constant monitoring of the quality of our processes and products, so that customers can rely on the “certified safety” of all KRAIBURG compounds. We ensure this by means of regular internal and external audits, and by means of certifications. KRAIBURG quality is defined by numerous factors. These include the quality of the raw material and the processing technology. One of the most important factors is the manufacturing process, which is controlled by humans and machines.
In addition, the correct delivery form is decisive for an economical and successful production process. Combined with careful compound production and outstanding processing properties, the delivery form is a key factor for the fast, reliable and efficient manufacture of the end products. Our portfolio includes everything from wig-wag sheets to calander and roller head sheets, cut-to-size blanks, and special delivery forms such as granules. On request, KRAIBURG supplies strained products and compounds prepared for specific release agents. Our silicone compounds are manufactured in delivery forms that are specially adapted to this material, such as rolled sheets, round blanks, blocks, feed strips and sheets.
Ecological responsibility at KRAIBURG also has many facets. In 2014, KRAIBURG was certified in accordance with the ISO 50001 energy management system. This allows us to develop previously unused energy efficiency potentials, and to reduce energy costs, as well as greenhouse gases (such as CO2 emissions). The energy management system therefore makes an important contribution to protecting the environment. Environmental protection is a cornerstone of the corporate policy of KRAIBURG. This is achieved on the one hand by reducing waste, emissions and the use of resources in production, and on the other by avoiding toxic or environmentally damaging raw materials already during the development of the compounds.
Safeguarding the future through sustainability
We strive to use the natural resources for our production processes, products and services in a responsible manner and with as little environmental impact as possible. Sustainability is firmly established in KRAIBURG’s business processes and our goal is to continuously reduce the consumption of raw materials through optimization of our processes. We adhere to this principle also in the design and modernization of buildings and the machine park, and in the manufacture of products and their processing by our customers. KRAIBURG is aware of its entrepreneurial and social responsibility toward its employees, customers and business partners at all times, and also toward the social environment. Because sustainable action is the only way to safeguard the future.