KÜHNEZUG is owned in second generation now

The company KÜHNEZUG has been a competent manufacturer of cranes and components for over fourteen years, being lead by the second generation.

In August 1959 the 24-year old Manfred Böttcher bought the Fritz Kühne company, that until then had been specialized in marketing machine tools. Two employees and two apprentices operated the company from Hamburg Billwerder.

1960 the company became the German trade representative of the Belgium branch of the Norwegian crane manufacturer Munck. But soon after they opened their own branch, Manfred Böttcher founded KÜHNEZUG.

1965 another KÜHNEZUG company was founded: the KÜHNEZUG Kran- und Containerbau GmbH in Hamburg, Quickborn. Then the KÜHNEZUG-Group, which is today's name, was for

the first time in possession of her own production. They produced hoists following a new technology.

1968 KÜHNEZUG Kran- und Containerbau was sold and KÜHNEZUG Handelsgesellschaft renamed to KÜHNEZUG Hebezeuge, located in Hamburg Billstedt. Already at that time KÜHNEZUG was using densified polyamid wheels to reduce the amount of noise and save weight, which resulted in a smooth crane handling.

By trying to manufacture the main girder in a simpler way, the idea of the oval girder emerged, which is produced by pressing steel pipes in an oval shape. Complicated welding works could be saved. Together with engineers from the company Kampnagel the idea was further developed. Already in 1970 the first test with an oval main girder was held at the shipyard Blohm & Voss in Hamburg.

To realize the idea of producing oval girders, the production centre in Schuby at Schleswig was founded in 1974.

From then on KÜHNEZUG Hebezeuge focused on producing the oval girder cranes which is today known as the OVALplus*-system. Other systems were added over the years, like the gantry cranes with a capacity up to 500 t and a span up to 50 m. All hoists and drive units are from own production. The sales department took over the newly founded KÜHNEZUG Fördertechnik in Hamburg Lehmsal – Mellingstedt. The first oval girder ordered by Reynolds Aluminium Works is still in use today.

In the early 80’s, when cast housings were mainly used as cases for drive units and gears became more and more costly, KÜHNEZUG developed for the first time cold formed housing. These are still in use today.

Today the KÜHNEZUG- Group consists of GÜMAG GmbH, Jollity GmbH and KÜHNEZUG systems GmbH. There are subsidiaries in Shanghai, Bangkok, Nairobi and the USA.