Development and production of rolling bearings of all types and sizes, from high-precision bearings to slewing rings with a diameter of 6.5 m.
DKF Deutsche Kugellagerfabriken GmbH
Berlin · Berlin (STC-Steyr Wälzlager Deutschland GmbH) · Rostock (DGWL Deutsche Großwälzlager GmbH, stake)New on Amplifa
About the DKF Group
DKF Deutsche Kugellagerfabriken GmbH (DKF Group), based in Berlin, acts as a group holding company bundling the brands STC-Steyr Wälzlager Deutschland GmbH, UKF Universal-Kugellager-Fabrik GmbH and the stake in DGWL Deutsche Großwälzlager GmbH in Rostock. The focus is on the development and distribution of rolling bearings of all types and sizes: radial and axial deep groove ball bearings, needle rollers and full-complement needle bearings, angular contact ball bearings (precision bearings to DIN 628 T5) for machine tools, cross and longitudinal bearings, four-point bearings with split outer ring and flanged bearings, as well as medium and large roller bearings for heavy machinery. The portfolio is complemented by high-precision bearings for spindles as well as turning, milling and grinding spindles and by roller and slewing rings up to 6.5 m in diameter. The group continues the tradition of ball bearing manufacturing at the Berlin site, which dates back to the founding of UKF in 1932 and its roots in Leipzig in 1904. Customers come primarily from mechanical engineering, the machine tool and heavy machinery sectors.
- Site
- Berlin
- Processes
- Manufacture of radial and axial deep groove ball bearings, Manufacture of needle rollers and needle bearings (full-complement), Manufacture of angular contact ball bearings / precision ball bearings for machine tools, Manufacture of cross and longitudinal bearings, four-point bearings with split outer ring, flanged, Production of medium and large roller bearings for heavy machinery (STC-Steyr), Manufacture of high-precision bearings for spindles as well as turning, milling and grinding, Roller and slewing rings up to 6.5 meters in diameter (DGWL), Development and production of rolling bearings of all types and sizes
- Materials
- Wälzstahl
- Founded
- 1932
- Industries
- Machine tools, Heavy machinery, Mechanical engineering
- 01
Bearing development and design
- 02
Manufacture of bearing components (rolling bearing steel)
- 03
Assembly of the rolling bearings
- 04
Quality inspection and distribution via the group brands
Products and Materials
Wälzstahl
Base material for deep groove ball bearings, needle bearings, precision bearings and large bearings.
Locations
Berlin
DEHeadquarters
Berlin (STC-Steyr)
DESales and processes of STC-Steyr Wälzlager Deutschland GmbH, since 2007, united in 2018
Rostock (DGWL)
DEStake in DGWL Deutsche Großwälzlager GmbH, since 2023; roller and slewing rings up to 6.5 m
Rolling Bearings and Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacture of radial and axial deep groove ball bearingsAssembly | – | – | – | – | Wälzstahl |
| Manufacture of needle rollers and needle bearings (full-complement)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Wälzstahl |
| Manufacture of angular contact ball bearings / precision ball bearings for machine toolsAssembly | – | – | – | – | Wälzstahl |
| Manufacture of cross and longitudinal bearings, four-point bearings with split outer ring, flangedAssembly | – | – | – | – | Wälzstahl |
| Production of medium and large roller bearings for heavy machinery (STC-Steyr)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Wälzstahl |
| Manufacture of high-precision bearings for spindles as well as turning, milling and grindingAssembly | – | – | – | – | Wälzstahl |
| Roller and slewing rings up to 6.5 meters in diameter (DGWL)Assembly | – | 6,5 m | – | – | Wälzstahl |
Additional services
History
- 1904
Friedrich Wilhelm Witte founds the Leipziger Kugellager GmbH in Leipzig-Plagwitz and begins industrial ball bearing production.
- 1930
Development of the angular contact ball bearing for machine tools, later DIN 628 T5.
- 1932
Founding of UKF Universal-Kugellager-Fabrik GmbH in Berlin-Charlottenburg by Max Staub and Paul Brühl.
- 1934
Second plant in Leipzig-Böhlitz-Ehrenberg (35,000 m², approx. 1,500 employees) under the DKF brand.
- 1939
Founding of Norddeutsche Kugellagerfabrik Brandt & Co. KG (NKF) in Berlin-Lichtenberg.
- 1945
Seizure of the DKF plants by the Soviet Union for reparation purposes.
- 1947
Rolling bearings may again be produced for the German market.
- 1956
Merger of eight publicly owned enterprises into the Combine for Rolling Bearings and Standard Parts.
- 1960er
First fully automated production line in Berlin.
- 1980er
Introduction of NC machines in Berlin.
- 1989
Founding of STC-Steyr in Steyr, Austria, by former employees of the Steyr rolling bearing plant sold to SKF.
- 1990
FAG Kugelfischer buys all eight rolling bearing plants of the combine with 7,500 employees from the Treuhandanstalt for 27 million DM.
- 1992
The FAG group is forced to divest the acquired plants.
- 1993
Insolvency of DKFL; individual rolling bearing plants are continued.
- 2007
STC-Steyr establishes a national subsidiary in Berlin.
- 2018
Merger of the STC-Steyr branches in Berlin.
- 2019
UKF Universal-Kugellager-Fabrik GmbH becomes a group member.
- 2023
DKF Group acquires a stake in DGWL Deutsche Großwälzlager GmbH in Rostock; roller and slewing rings up to 6.5 m added to the product range.