Drolshagen 1970. Following the vision of becoming worldmarket leader.
1970
Jan 01Foundation of the M. KRAH Elektrotechnische Fabrik GmbH & Co.KG as a „Management Buy-Out“ by Mr. Theodor Hermann and Mr. Rainer Fiala. Start of the production of wire-wound resistors for the industry.
Employees: 20
Turnover: 600.000 DM
With the plant in Italy the sales activities within Europe could be widened.
1975
Jan 011976
Jan 01Eckhard Hermann joins KRAH 1976 as a managing partner. From left to right: Eckhard Hermann, Rainer Fiala, Theodor Hermann
In 1980 the first development project for the Golf A1 was successfully realized with Volkswagen, followed by further major projects with our customer Bosch for Holden Motors and the Golf A2.
With the development of this new market segment, a rapid growth in turnover began.
1980
Jan 011983
Jan 01Foundation of the Widap AG Switzerland for the production and trade of resistors and resistor components.
In 1983 KRAH took over the wire resistor production from RWI (Rheinisch-Westfälische Isolatorenwerke) in Siegburg and RWI-Bauelemente GmbH + Co KG was founded. Later, KRAH-RWI Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH was formed from this. It was the foundation stone for the development of the KRAH Group of Companies.
1983
Jan 011990
Jan 01In 1990, about 250 employees and 1,000 home workers were employed in the production in Drolshagen. With the commissioning of the first automatic assembly line, the automation process also began this year - a structural change which was followed 10 years later by a fully automated production.
Foundation of WITEC Widerstandstechnik GmbH & Co. KG in Dömitz, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. Acquisition of a part of a nationally-owned enterprise with 60 employees. Production of resistors for the industry.
1991
Jan 011992
Jan 01Foundation of Resistec UPR d.o.o. & Co. k.d. by taking over the production of the company Iskra. Start of production in Ljubljana.
KRAH is a founding member of the Association of Innovative Automotive Suppliers in the South Westphalia region, VIA for short. The association assumes tasks for the shareholder companies that are not part of the core business and bundles various competencies, for example in the divisions VIA Surface Technology and VIA Consult.
1994
Jan 011999
Jan 01Foundation of KRAH-ICE-BRASIL Ind. e Com. de Comp. Eletrônicos Ltda. in Timbo, Brasil.
In 2001 Mr. Thomas Klein, who previously worked as head of sales in the company, joins the management board.
2001
Jan 01Foundation of Athos Elektrosysteme GmbH as a merger of the cable-rewinder divisions of the companies Holzschuh and Atlanta. Worldwide production and sales of cable rewinders. For more information: athos-de.de
2006
Jan 012009
Jan 01KRAH Elektrotechnische Fabrik GmbH+Co.KG opens a new plant in Knittlingen, Baden-Würtemberg.
Employees: 20
Since 2010 more than 1,500 employees belong to the KRAH Group.
2010
Jan 012010
Jan 01Since 2010 the KRAH Group has a turnover of more than € 100M per year.
KRAH is, through the VIA, founding member of the association Automotive Center Südwestfalen e. V. The competence center ACS Innovations was founded to meet challenges in the automotive industry ranging from materials research to e-mobility. ACS aims to establish itself as one of the leading project partners of the entire automotive industry for economic and innovative research and development.
2010
Jan 012012
Jan 01Foundation of the first Joint-Venture (KRAH Woory India - KWI) in India with the Korean partner Woory for the production of resistors for the Indian automotive industry.
In 2012 Mr. Christian Hermann joined the management board of the KRAH group of companies.
2012
Jan 012013
Jan 01Foundation of a Joint-Venture with the companies KSI and WIDAP for the production of resistors for the Indian market.
Acquisition of Hightech in Limeira, Sao Paolo. Expansion of the product portfolio with spark-plug connectors.
2014
Jan 012015
Jan 01Foundation of the Widap electronic components in Munich as distributor for electronic components.
Since 2015 the KRAH Group has a turnover of more that € 150M per year.
2015
Jan 012016
Jan 01Acquisition of WIKO in Klötze, Saxony-Anhalt for the expansion of the production of suppressors.
On 01.03.2017 Mrs. Katarina Brück takes over the technical management of the group of companies within the board of management.
2017
Jan 012019
Jan 01Foundation of HKR Automotive GmbH through takeover of HKR Seuffer Automotive GmbH & Co. KG together with the South Korean partner HyoSeong. HKR Automotive develops and produces complex controllers for air conditioning in vehicles.