
100 Years of innovation, precision and local
Thanks to our employees, and based on our technologies, we feel well prepared for the future, because we have acquired a sound know-how over the past 100 years.
When it comes to “setting goals, achieving them and never giving up”, his name would have to be mentioned in every guidebook: Richard Glimpel.
1894

Born in 1894 in Silesia as the son of a farmer, Richard Glimpel went out into the world at the age of 15 as a travelling journeyman to complete an apprenticeship as a locksmith. During this time as an apprentice, his decision to become self-employed matured. It was clear to him that he wanted to learn a lot more about materials, techniques, tools and processes, prior to taking this big step, so he set out on a journey.
His professional path was interrupted by the First World War. As soon as Richard Glimpel had the opportunity, he continued to gain further experience in various companies, including the Howaldt shipyard in Kiel and the company Reinecker in Chemnitz.
“I sharpened the remaining stump of the tap and chamfered the cutting edges at an angle – which replaced a precutter. And it worked! The single-finishing tap with spiral point was born!” Richard Glimpel | Company Founder
1920

An exceptionally good company name
In the same year, the 26-year-old Richard Glimpel accepted Otto Moschkau as co-owner, which is still reflected in the company’s name, albeit rather hidden: Moschkau & Glimpel, short: MuG, sounds pronounced like em-u-ge.
Richard Glimpel’s talent for improvisation came in handy shortly after the company was founded, because the first challenge appeared very fast: The young company was focused on small tools, but soon the opportunity arose for a lucrative contract for very large threading tools used in steam locomotive construction. The problem: the machinery was not designed for this at all. With his very own feeling for good business coupled with confidence in himself and his employees, he accepted the large order.
1922

The boss gets down to work
Richard Glimpel was fully committed to his company: He was the first one at work in the morning and the last one to leave in the evening; he never considered it beneath him to lend a hand – whether at the hardening fire or at a lathe. As an example, in the 1930s the boss personally delivered parts to Bosch in Stuttgart so that they would arrive at the customer’s premises on time – by motorcycle.
Management out of the glasshouse was out of the question for Richard Glimpel. Today, his credo would be described as “Management by Walking Around”, i.e. the desired proximity to the employees, which he sought in the form of tours, among other things. The employees often saw his dog running around the corner before the boss himself arrived.
1956

After a busy life, Richard Glimpel passed away in 1978 at the age of 84.
“A customer is someone, who comes to us with his wishes. Our task is to fullfil these wishes in a profitable way for him and us.” Richard Glimpel | Company Founder
These Milestones Have Shaped the Company
EMUGE-FRANKEN makes history
1920

The following years of EMUGE were characterised by the production of large taps for stud bolts in steam locomotives, which were required in a wide range of standards. Richard Glimpel recognised the advantages of a well matched tooling system and added tool holders to the threading tools.
1950

1953

1958

1998

As EMUGE-FRANKEN has had decades of expertise “at the front”, i.e. in thread cutting, drilling, gauging, clamping and milling technology, we were able to offer innovative solutions “at the back” with the suitable tool holder and establish us as an experienced system provider.
2002

2009

2012

In the same year we developed the pioneering circle segment end mill. Thanks to the new end mill geometry we could offer our customers in the machining industry a faster and smoother surface.
2014

2016

2018

2019

In the same year EMUGE- FRANKEN develops another revolutionary thread technology. The name: EMUGE Taptor® . The functional principle: This tool drills the core hole and produces the thread in a single operation during blind hole machining. The advantage: a significant saving of time.
2020
Know-How and Flexibility
An Outlook
And our customers appreciate that. As a global player we can participate very closely in the development of technical trends with our products. Whether it’s industry 4.0, 3D printed components, new materials or a new field such as dental tools: It is and remains exciting to be at the cutting edge of our industry.
Of course, the change in the automotive industry will also have an impact on our business. We do not know exactly what technologies we will be dealing with in ten years’ time, but we do know that we will also take on this challenge.
We are convinced that we will continue to master the technical complexity by remaining open to change all together.
3D Print and new materials
Our new building
We are investing in a 20,000 m2 production hall here because we consider the proximity to our existing EMUGE plant in Lauf and FRANKEN in neighbouring Rückersdorf to be important. We believe in our strengths and we will – together with our employees – embark on our future here from Lauf.
A glass bridge will connect the existing building with the new one. People coming from the west, for example from Nuremberg, are greeted by this bridge in Lauf. Two storeys will provide space for logistics, additional production areas and a new training workshop, while the “penthouse” at the very top will house the building services.
Just as EMUGE-FRANKEN has adapted to the needs of the market for 100 years, it will continue to prove its flexibility in the future: “If the customer demands something new, we already have the infrastructure for it,” say the managing directors Helmut Glimpel and Gerhard Knienieder, looking forward to this, what is yet to come.
“We want our new building to look good. Aer all, Lauf is our home town.” Helmut Glimpel and Gerhard Knienieder | Managing Directors