High-precision locking systems and fittings for the commercial vehicle and off-highway industry
D. La Porte Söhne GmbH
Wuppertal (main plant, approx. 10,000 m²) · Cedar Falls, IA, USA (production/sales) · Hong Kong (Asia)New on Amplifa
Competence from a single source since 1860
The D. La Porte Söhne GmbH (DLP) is a mid-sized, family-owned company in Wuppertal that has been engaged in the development and production of locking systems and fittings since 1860. Today, the focus is on mechanical and electronic locking systems for the off-highway industry, in particular for construction machinery, agricultural machinery, forklifts and industrial vehicles. The portfolio includes door and cabin locks, hood and flap locks, door retainers, exterior fittings such as push-button handles and pull handles, key and cylinder systems, electronics such as radio remote control and keyless entry, as well as product range extensions such as fuel tank caps. With an in-house manufacturing share of 85 %, DLP produces nearly all components in its own plant: in die casting, in plastics injection moulding with gas-assist technology, in stamping and bending technology, as well as in its own tool and mould making. More than 250 employees produce over 2 million locking systems per year. In addition to the main plant in Wuppertal, the company maintains subsidiaries in the USA (Cedar Falls, Iowa) and in Hong Kong.
- Site
- Wuppertal
- Processes
- Bending, Embossing, Stamping, Key milling, Zinc die casting, Plastics injection moulding with gas-assist technology, Tool and mould making / equipment building, Assembly of locking systems
- Materials
- Zinc (die casting), Plastic, Nickel silver, Metal, Zinc die casting, Plastics injection moulding with gas-assist technology, Stamping, bending and embossing processes, High-quality plastics
- Certificates
- ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015
- Founded
- 1860
- Employees
- more than 250
- Industries
- Commercial vehicle industry / off-highway, Construction machinery, Agricultural machinery, Forklifts/industrial vehicles, Automotive industry (historical)
- 01
Consulting and engineering (3D simulation, prototyping, 3D printing)
- 02
Tool and mould making / equipment building
- 03
Zinc die casting
- 04
Plastics injection moulding (gas-assist technology)
- 05
Bending, embossing, stamping
- 06
Key milling
- 07
Assembly in own plant
- 08
Test laboratory and 100% final inspection
- 09
Shipping (worldwide via subsidiaries)
Materials and manufacturing processes
Zinc die casting
Production of fittings and lock components in large volumes on in-house zinc die-casting systems.
Plastics injection moulding with gas-assist technology
Manufacturing of high-quality plastic parts such as handle shells and fittings with reduced weight and a high-quality surface.
Stamping, bending and embossing processes
Forming of metal components for locks and fittings in own departments.
Nickel silver
Material for high-quality S-profile keys in several locking variants.
High-quality plastics
For exterior fittings that remain permanently colour-stable despite ozone exposure.
Sites
Wuppertal (Hölker Feld 22)
DEMain plant, development and production
- Lot size
- Prototypes to large-scale series
- Materials
- Zinc (die casting), plastic, nickel silver, metal
- Zinc die-casting systems
- Plastics injection moulding systems with gas-assist technology
- Key milling machines
- Bending, embossing and stamping departments
- 3D printers
- Tool and mould making
- Test laboratory
- ESD room
Cedar Falls, IA
USSubsidiary D. La Porte N.A. LLC, production and sales
Hong Kong (Quarry Bay)
CNSubsidiary D. La Porte Asia Ltd., coordination of Asia business
Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BendingForming | – | – | – | – | Metal |
| EmbossingForming | – | – | – | – | – |
| StampingForming | – | – | – | – | – |
| Key millingMachining | – | – | – | – | Nickel silver |
| Zinc die castingCasting | – | – | – | – | Zinc |
| Plastics injection moulding with gas-assist technologyPlastics | – | – | – | – | Plastic |
| Tool and mould making / equipment buildingEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Assembly of locking systemsAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Development and production of lock and fitting systems (zinc die casting, plastics injectionEngineering | – | – | – | – | Zinc, Plastic |
| Quality inspection (test planning, first-article inspection, 100% final inspection, test laboratory)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| 3D printing (prototyping)Additive | – | – | – | – | – |
5 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc die-casting systems | – | – | – | – | Wuppertal |
| Plastics injection moulding system with gas-assist technology | – | – | – | – | Wuppertal |
| Key milling machines | – | – | – | – | Wuppertal |
| Bending, embossing and stamping departments | – | – | – | – | Wuppertal |
| 3D printers | – | – | – | – | Wuppertal |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality and certification
Test planning and quality inspection are based on computer-assisted systems with an online-supported inspection plan; an accompanying first-article inspection and a 100% final inspection of all products safeguard the quality standard. Automated manufacturing systems ensure the exact reproducibility of high technical standards.
| Evidence | Wuppertal |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001:2015 | |
| ISO 14001:2015 |
Company history
- 1860
Founded by Dietrich La Porte in Vörde as a trading business, later manufacture of locks, fittings and tools
- 1885
Relocation of headquarters to Wuppertal-Barmen
- 1930
Focus on the automotive industry as a supplier, including development of door handles and window latches for the VW Beetle
- 1950
Mass production of furniture locks and zinc die-cast fittings
- 1965
Customers such as Miele, Samsonite, Grohe, Hansa, Staff-Zumtobel; high vertical integration
- 1975
Focus on off-highway; pioneer in one-key systems with cylinders for ignition-start locks
- 1999
Initial ISO 9001 certification
- 2002
Investments in linear production processes and gas-assist plastics injection moulding
- 2007
Relocation to the new company premises in the Nächstebreck industrial park (Hölker Feld)
- 2008
Expansion to include electronic components and innovative products
- 2009
Founding of D. La Porte N.A. LLC in the USA
- 2011
Founding of D. La Porte Asia Ltd. in Hong Kong
- 2012
First photovoltaic system on the plant roofs
- 2013
First delivery of radio remote control systems to a renowned construction machinery manufacturer
- 2016
Supply of radio remote control systems in modular design
- 2017
New, larger plant in the USA
- 2018
Expansion building; extension of the photovoltaic system
- 2022
Expansion of the headquarters with an adjacent building; commissioning of the wood chip heating system