{"id":2146,"date":"2017-12-12T07:03:19","date_gmt":"2017-12-12T06:03:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.packaging-journal.de\/kuebler-von-zaehlerfabrik-zum-sensorikspezialisten\/"},"modified":"2018-06-25T10:43:44","modified_gmt":"2018-06-25T08:43:44","slug":"kuebler-from-counter-factory-to-sensor-specialist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/kuebler-von-zaehlerfabrik-zum-sensorikspezialisten\/","title":{"rendered":"K\u00fcbler: From meter factory to sensor specialist"},"content":{"rendered":"

What began as a small company is now a leading and rapidly growing family business with four production sites, ten subsidiaries and strong representatives in over 50 countries. Founded by Fritz K\u00fcbler in 1960 in Villingen-Schwenningen on the edge of the Black Forest, the K\u00fcbler Group is now one of the leading specialists in the field of rotary encoders, linear measurement technology, inclination sensors, slip rings, counters and process devices.<\/p>\n

The young engineer Fritz K\u00fcbler founded his company Fritz K\u00fcbler Feinger\u00e4tebau in the family home. The first product he developed was a short-term measuring device. This was the The world's first chronometer with a permanent time display<\/strong>. This meant that the display could stop at the end of a measurement and did not jump back to zero. This made it much easier to read the display.<\/p>\n

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The family home at Hahnstra\u00dfe 8 in Villingen-Schwenningen was the cradle of the K\u00fcbler Group.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Patented short-term measuring device<\/h2>\n

The patented device enabled precise measurements in the millisecond range and was mainly used in laboratories, for example to record relay switching times. It was so successful that within a year Fritz K\u00fcbler had earned the money he needed to start manufacturing his innovative electromechanical counters.<\/p>

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Patented short-time measuring device by company founder Fritz K\u00fcbler from 1960.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Electronic counting<\/h2>\n

K\u00fcbler presented the first electronic counter in 1972. At that time, 70 motivated people were working for the company. The development of global counter technology is inextricably linked with K\u00fcbler, especially with the highly successful Mini counters of the K series<\/strong>. The company recently produced almost two million of these highly automated mini meters from the K series every year, and the trend is rising rapidly. Overall, this series is probably the most successful counter series on the global market, with over 30 million devices sold.<\/p>\n

Applications for the mini meter include construction vehicles, petrol pumps, gaming machines, energy meters and much more. At petrol pumps, for example, the fuel consumed or sold is counted. Due to the electromechanical technology, manipulation of the meter is impossible. Today, K\u00fcbler not only offers a broad portfolio of electromechanical counters<\/strong> but also Electronic counters<\/strong> and Process equipment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The company and the encoders belong together<\/h2>\n
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The founder Fritz K\u00fcbler in 2002.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The global encoder offensive began in 1990: after a twelve-month development phase, the Independent encoder production<\/strong>. Today, the company is one of the world's leading encoder manufacturers. Incremental, absolute single-turn and multi-turn encoders as well as encoders for functional safety are integral parts of the portfolio. The company serves a wide range of industries such as lift and drive technology, mobile automation, wind and solar energy and the packaging industry.<\/p>\n

K\u00fcbler is also following the trend towards more compactness and offers Bearingless encoders<\/strong> that already offer a glimpse of smart motors. Over the last few decades, the company has acquired in-depth expertise and not only offers standard solutions; rather, the specialists work in close collaboration with customers and develop smart motors together. Application-specific sensor solutions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Fritz K\u00fcbler retired from active business life in 1997 at the age of 75. His two sons took over the management of the company Lothar and Gebhard K\u00fcbler<\/strong>. For more than 20 years, the brothers have continued their father's life's work together with full commitment. Lothar K\u00fcbler is responsible for product development, human resources and sales. Gebhard K\u00fcbler is dedicated to production, quality assurance and communication.<\/p>\n

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The second generation of management: Gebhard (right) and Lothar (left) K\u00fcbler have been running the company since 1997.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The product range is growing<\/h2>\n

K\u00fcbler has been a pioneer and trendsetter in industrial automation for over 55 years. All over the world, customers trust and rely on K\u00fcbler products and solutions to reliably detect and count movements or transmit data and currents. The detection of movement and positioning is covered by rotary encoders and linear measurement technology. For counting, the famous K\u00fcbler counter<\/strong> responsible. Transmitting data and currents was new territory for K\u00fcbler. The takeover of a Bavarian company that specialises in the field of Slip ring technology<\/strong> In 2005, the company acquired additional expertise.<\/p>\n

The special features of K\u00fcbler slip ring technology are the Long service life of the contact materials<\/strong> and the long maintenance cycles<\/strong>, which are rather short in comparison with standard slip rings on the market.<\/p>\n

Slip rings for the packaging industry<\/h2>\n

At K\u00fcbler, the slip ring is called SR060E \u201eFlow pack specialist\u201c<\/strong>. It was specially developed for the high demands of the packaging and food industry. The packaging industry focuses on the high performance of packaging machines, a long service life and the strictest hygiene. Despite intensive machine running times, no dirt or dust must be allowed to accumulate.<\/p>\n

The slip ring with its smooth, straight surfaces enables easy machine cleaning and therefore fulfils the hygiene requirements of the food industry. Thanks to innovative contact materials, the slip ring itself is low-maintenance and also allows longer maintenance cycles.<\/p>\n