Knott GmbH
| Knott GmbH
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| legal form | GmbH |
| founding | 1937 |
| Seat | Eggstätt , Germany |
| management | Valentin Knott, Ralf Grewing |
| Number of employees | 1400 (2008, worldwide) |
| sales | 174 million EUR (2008, worldwide) |
| Website | www.knott.de |
The Knott GmbH develops, designs, manufactures and distributes chassis components for trailers and braking systems for commercial vehicles . Production takes place in 15 countries at over 20 locations. All companies have been subordinate to Knott Holding in Eggstätt since 2002 .
history
The company was founded in Eggstätt in 1937 by Valentin Knott Senior as Maschinenbau Knott Eggstätt. The first company headquarters was the small family-owned farm. The stable of the farm was cleared and the first used machines were procured and installed.
In the beginning, parts for gearboxes for the companies Hurth and Steinbock were manufactured. For example, the approaching war with its increased need for gearboxes already brought large-scale production for the time. At the beginning of the war around 30 workers were employed, at the end of the war around 180. These figures also include forced laborers who were deported from their countries to Germany.
Production was resumed in 1947. During an experimental phase, the remaining material was used up completely. Ashtrays, Christmas tree stands and table lighters were made from garnet blanks. In the search for more sustainable production programs, meat grinders, pasta presses and bread slicing machines were constructed.
From 1953/54, Knott expanded production to include rigid axles for agriculture and industrial brakes. In 1957, the production of the Messerschmitt cabin scooter was taken over in Regensburg and a second production facility was set up in Germany. In the early 1960s, the era of these small vehicles was over and experimentation was started again. Beverage machines, gardening machines, cleaning machines, mopeds up to the famous " Messerschmitt Tiger " formed the basis of the new production program.
In 1963 the sprung axle "rubber spring axle" was developed in the Regensburg plant and in 1978 the overrun brake for the trailer market. These overrun brake systems were manufactured in cooperation between the Eggstätt and Regensburg plants. Eggstätt took over the brake production and Regensburg the axle production. For this purpose, "Knott Bremsentechnik" was founded in 1980.
Valentin Knott jun. took over the management in 1978 and pushed the establishment of international subsidiaries due to the increasing global demand.
By 1995, new production facilities were founded and taken over in Italy, England, USA, Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and the name was changed to KNOTT GmbH.
Subsequently, new plants were built at existing locations such as Regenstauf in 1995, in Poland, Slovakia and Romania. Further foundings and takeovers followed in Russia, Austria, Ukraine, Serbia, Finland and China. As a consequence of this strong expansion, KNOTT Holding was founded as the parent company in 2002.
KNOTT GmbH has had a certified quality management system in accordance with ISO 9001 since 1997. In 2005, global community certification took place.
Major product launches
In 1963 the first rubber torsion spring axles - KNOTT system - up to 8,000 kg were delivered. This was a further development of the axle of the legendary Messerschmitt cabin scooter , which KNOTT manufactured in the Regensburg plant until 1963.
1953/54 Production of the first brake for agricultural machinery, construction machinery and forklift trucks.
In 1980, KNOTT was the first company to introduce the lowerable axle.
In 1983, KNOTT was again the first axle manufacturer to use the maintenance-free, water-protected, double-row angular contact ball bearings in axles for boat, horse and car trailers.
In 1984 the first axles with bolted-on brake stubs were delivered to Westfalia, one of the largest trailer manufacturers at the time. In the same year, KNOTT received a patent for the brake cables that could be attached from the outside. This patent, which primarily simplifies service, was also used under license by competitors.
1988 Introduction of the hydraulic disc brake.
1991 Patenting of the automatic readjustment for expanding lever brakes with automatic reversing.
1991/92 Extension of the delivery program to hydraulic overrun brake systems up to 3,500 kg for trailers of all kinds.
1993 Special axles, pneumatically or hydraulically braked, with automatic adjustment and anti-lock braking system for semi-trailers and special trailers up to 8,000 kg.
1994 Development and series launch of the new, wet-running full disc brake for agricultural and forestry vehicles, construction machinery and industrial trucks.
1997 Introduction of the spring-loaded sliding caliper disc brake as a parking and auxiliary brake for heavy construction machinery and forklifts.
2004 Presentation of the ETS (electronic stabilization program for trailers) for caravans and horse trailers.
2011 Introduction of automatic readjustment in drum brakes with automatic reversing
2016 ETS Plus