Franz Kessler

Franz Kessler GmbH is a German mid-sized industrial company specialising in components for machine tools. Founded in 1923 by the mechanical engineer Franz Kessler in Chemnitz, the company today operates from Bad Buchau am Federsee in Upper Swabia and is part of the Kessler Gruppe. It is one of the earliest manufacturers of motor spindles and has contributed to the development of this product category. Its portfolio includes motor spindles for turning, milling and grinding machines, directly driven fork milling heads, rotary and rotary tilt tables, as well as motors and direct drive systems. The company develops small-series motors, spindles and swivel axes for precise and highly dynamic applications. KESSLER describes itself as the leading supplier of motor spindles as well as directly driven 2-axis heads and rotary tilt tables for the machine tool industry, and as Europe's biggest spindle manufacturer with more than 600 employees. Its product range serves a wide range of sectors, processes and applications, and the company maintains a global network of technology and service centres. Major mechanical engineering companies are among its long-standing customers. The company's history spans more than a century of expertise. After founding in Chemnitz in 1923, the original facilities were severely damaged in Allied air raids on Chemnitz in 1944 and operations were relocated to Grüna near Chemnitz. After the Second World War, Franz Kessler moved to Buchau in Upper Swabia, where he founded the Kessler-Motoren-Werk on 2 January 1950. The Bad Buchau plant, repeatedly expanded and most recently extended with a logistics centre in 2008, forms the main works with around 650 employees. The company also operates a plant in Skopje, North Macedonia. More than 50% of employees work in production and assembly. Ownership is linked to the Franz Kessler gemeinnützige Stiftungsgesellschaft, a charitable foundation established by Elfriede Petschel, who led the company after her father's death and who died on 10 March 1978. The foundation's charitable purpose is the protection, education and support of mentally and physically disabled children and young people in Germany. KESSLER has received innovation awards from the state of Baden-Württemberg and was repeatedly named Supplier of the Year by DMG Mori Seiki AG (formerly Gildemeister).

The company was founded in 1923 in Chemnitz by the mechanical engineer Franz Kessler, focusing on the then-emerging electric drive technology. In its early years it produced DC motors for machine tools and textile machines. Kessler built a strong reputation in machine tool construction by equipping grinding machines with DC motors and associated converters, gaining customers beyond its home region. During the Allied air raids on Chemnitz in 1944, Kessler's factory buildings were so severely damaged that the company had to be relocated to Grüna near Chemnitz. After the Second World War, Franz Kessler moved to Buchau in Upper Swabia, where on 2 January 1950, at the age of 60, he founded a new company — the Kessler-Motoren-Werk — and began developing and producing machine tool drives. After Franz Kessler's death, his daughter Elfriede Petschel continued to lead the company. She died on 10 March 1978, having previously decreed in her will the establishment of the Franz Kessler gemeinnützige Stiftungsgesellschaft, to which she bequeathed her entire estate. The charitable purpose she defined was the protection, education and support of mentally and physically disabled children and young people in Germany. The Bad Buchau plant was repeatedly expanded and most recently extended with a logistics centre in 2008. It forms the main works with around 650 employees. The Franz Kessler GmbH also operates a plant in Skopje, North Macedonia. More than 50% of employees work in production and assembly. Over the decades KESSLER became one of the first manufacturers of motor spindles and contributed to the development of this product category. In 1994 it received the Dr.-Rudolf-Eberle-Innovationspreis of the state of Baden-Württemberg for the development of a motor spindle for tool and mould making. In 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008 and 2010, KESSLER was named Supplier of the Year by DMG Mori Seiki AG (formerly Gildemeister). In 2002 it again received the Dr.-Rudolf-Eberle-Innovationspreis for the development of a synchronous-technology motor spindle. Today the KESSLER Group describes itself as the leading supplier of motor spindles as well as directly driven 2-axis heads and rotary tilt tables for the machine tool industry, and as Europe's biggest spindle manufacturer with more than 600 employees. It maintains a global network of technology and service centres and continues to invest in modern production technologies and digitalisation at its Bad Buchau site.

• 2008

  The Bad Buchau plant is extended with a logistics centre; KESSLER is named Supplier of the Year.

• 2004

  KESSLER is named Supplier of the Year by DMG Mori Seiki AG.

• 2002

  KESSLER receives the Dr.-Rudolf-Eberle-Innovationspreis for developing a synchronous-technology motor spindle; also named Supplier of the Year.

• 2001

  KESSLER is named Supplier of the Year by DMG Mori Seiki AG (formerly Gildemeister).

• 1994

  KESSLER receives the Dr.-Rudolf-Eberle-Innovationspreis of Baden-Württemberg for developing a motor spindle for tool and mould making.

• 1978

  Elfriede Petschel, who led the company after her father, dies on 10 March; her will establishes the Franz Kessler gemeinnützige Stiftungsgesellschaft.

• 1950

  Franz Kessler founds the Kessler-Motoren-Werk in Buchau (Upper Swabia) on 2 January, developing and producing machine tool drives.

• 1944

  Allied air raids on Chemnitz severely damage the factory buildings; the company is relocated to Grüna near Chemnitz.

• 1923

  Franz Kessler founds the company in Chemnitz, focusing on electric drive technology.

Leading supplier of motor spindles and directly driven machine tool components; Europe's biggest spindle manufacturer; end-to-end precision from components to on-site service.

• Motor spindles

  Asynchronous and synchronous motors with up to 120 kW output, for turning, milling and grinding machines.

• Fork milling heads

  Directly driven 2-axis heads for machine tools.

• Rotary tables and rotary tilt tables

  Complete rotary axis units and swivel axes for precise, highly dynamic applications.

• Motors and direct drive systems

  Special drives and electric drive technology for a wide range of applications and industries.

1. 1KESSLER official websitekessler-group.biz
2. 2About Uskessler-group.biz
3. 3Newskessler-group.biz
4. 4Franz Kessler (Unternehmen) – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
5. 5Franz Kessler (Unternehmen) – Wikidatawikidata.org