A principle sets a precedent.
Success is our authority.
Erich Franke laid the foundation for the successful development of our company when he invented the Antifriction Bearing.
| 1934 |
Invention of the Wire Antifriction Bearing by Erich Franke |
Whilst searching for a particularly space-saving bearing for an optical device for the Zeiss company, the idea emerges for a new type of bearing: the Wire Antifriction Bearing. In the patent letter of 03/03/1934 it is called: "ball bearing, characterised by the fact that the ball raceways for the balls consist of four open rings of razor wire, which are embedded directly in grooves of the two bodies supported by the bearing." |
| 1949 |
Entry of company Franke & Heydrich GmbH into the commercial register of the City of Heidenheim |
| Erich Franke goes into business independently as a design engineer. A brochure for Wire Wire Race Bearings appears; the first customers are acquired. Production of the race rings is effected through outwork. Franke Wire Wire Race Bearings are presented for the first time to a broad public at the Frankfurt Spring Trade Fair in 1950. |
| 1956 |
Licence agreement between Franke and Rothe Erde |
| Company Rothe Erde comes to Franke's attention. A licence agreement regulates production of Wire Wire Race Bearings of large diameter at Rothe Erde. Franke uses the large partner's worldwide distribution network to increase recognition of the Wire Antifriction Bearing. In the same year, a new company building with spacious production space is purchased in Aalen. Bit by bit, the company begins to construct its own production machines. |
| 1965 |
Egon Franke takes over as Managing Director |
| Erich Franke dies after a short illness. After the death of the company founder, his son Egon Franke, who joined the company in 1959, takes over management. Cooperation with Rothe Erde intensifies. The first manufacturers of circular knitting machines use Franke bearings and establish the supremacy of Franke technology in this sector. |
| 1974 |
Franke is 25 years old |
| The production halls are enlarged once more, the 75th member of staff is employed, the development work continues. The principle of the Wire Antifriction Bearing will also apply to the field of Linear Systems. |
| 1977 |
Franke continues to grow |
| Production capacity is expanded by Werk II. Franke Linear Guides and Positioning Systems are now established on the market. Franke becomes known amongst institutions worldwide for its precision parts for spectrometers in particular. |
| 1981 |
Change in management |
| Egon Franke steps back from active management. Gerhard Groz and Michael Helbig take on management of the company. New representations strengthen the sales team, computer systems support the staff in administration and production for completion of customer orders. |
| 1990 |
The Franke Flüsterlager starts its triumphal journey |
| Consistent development of the Wire Antifriction Bearing leads to the emergence of the Flüsterlager® at the start of the 1990s, which grabs attention as the particularly quiet and precise main bearing of computer tomographs. Increasingly modernised machinery with CNC-controlled machines enables Franke to guarantee the long-term, supported quality demanded by medical technology. Many thousands of computer tomographs worldwide have since been equipped with the Franke Flüsterlager®. |
| 1992 |
The Aluminium Roller Guide comes to the market |
| New products also come from ideas in the Linear Systems field. The Aluminium Roller Guide combines a light-weight design, high movement speed and a particularly quiet run in a previously unknown manner. Numerous variants and adaptations to special applications emerge in the course of the year. |
| 1995 |
Certified Quality |
| Franke gains more and more series customers. Certifications in accordance with DIN ISO 9001 and 14001 guarantee lasting quality. The Franke family has now grown to 170 staff. |
| 1999 |
Franke is 50 years old |
| Just before the turn of the century, Franke is able to look back on 50 years of Antifriction Bearing production and has become a true giant among manufacturers of Wire Race Bearings and Linear Systems. The first online presence emerges in the same year at www.franke-gmbh.de. |
| 2001 |
Franke continues to grow |
| Werk III is built. The production hall takes over complete guide production. Franke Linear Systems are designed to customers' specifications and are supplied within a few working days. |
| 2003 |
New administrative building |
| Administration and Development get a modern new building to expand the existing space. The company's growing success requires specific, regular investments - in buildings and machinery and in staff and their expertise. |
| 2004 |
Expansion by Werk IV |
| Werk IV expands production capacities yet again. The bearings will be assembled here from now on. CT bearing assembly in particular is given a modern structure. Assembly islands, test equipment and quality assurance facilities expand into an independent production area. |
| 2006 |
The next generation takes over |
| Gerhard Groz and Michael Helbig hand over management to Daniel Groz and Sascha Eberhard. The young management team take over management in the tradition of the company with clear goals for the future. |
| 2008 |
The demands grow - Franke grows too |
| The demands on Wire Race Bearings and Linear Systems have never been as great as they are today. Intelligent products offer an array of additional functions alongside pure mechanics. Design and Development at Franke work on customer-driven projects, independently on the market launch of new Antifriction Bearing Profiles, on CT Bearings with motor and measuring systems, on Linear Motor Axles and on experimenting with new materials. |
| 2009 |
Franke is 60 years old |
| There is building work at Franke once again. A customer and training centre will be built in time for the 60-year celebrations. This will be used for customer meetings, internal staff training and technical workshops. |
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