Manufacturer of Solingen kitchen knives, fruit and vegetable knives and economy peelers with injection moulding production at the Solingen site
Ernst Klever GmbH
Solingen, Germany · Monhofer Feld 15, 42697 SolingenNew on Amplifa
About Klever
Ernst Klever GmbH is a family-owned manufacturer of cutlery based in Solingen, founded in 1936 and today run by the third generation. The company produces kitchen knives, the world-famous Solingen fruit and vegetable knives made from strip steel, and economy peelers bearing the quality seal Made in Solingen. The core is the in-house injection moulding production, in existence for over 60 years: polypropylene handles are injection-moulded onto laser-cut blades made of stainless strip steel. Klever manufactures in a wide variety of versions with coloured handles, from trend colours to custom colours specified by customers. Towards brand manufacturers and retail, the company acts as a system partner for private-label products, including the development of new tooling and moulds as well as finishing with customer logos as promotional items. The products are sold exclusively in larger quantities to wholesale companies in Germany and abroad; exports go worldwide.
- Site
- Solingen
- Processes
- Plastic injection moulding (injection moulding production), Laser cutting of strip steel (laser-cut strip steel knives), Overmoulding of plastic handles onto strip steel blades, Development of new tool moulds (toolmaking), Private-label production / custom manufacture (e.g. promotional knives), Private-label production, Custom manufacture/custom colours, Laser cutting of strip steel
- Materials
- Strip steel (stainless steel), Non-rusting steel (Edelstahl Rostfrei), Polypropylene (PP), Thermoplastics, Non-rusting steel (stainless steel), Plastic injection moulding, Laser cutting of strip steel, Development of new tools and moulds
- Certificates
- Solingen quality standard DIN EN ISO 8442-1, Edelstahl Rostfrei trademark, REACH-compliant plastics
- Founded
- 1936
- Industries
- Wholesale, Retail distribution, Promotional products industry, Knife industry
- 01
Laser cutting of strip steel blades
- 02
Injection moulding of plastic handles (polypropylene)
- 03
Overmoulding of handles onto strip steel blades
- 04
Finishing/printing of logos (promotional items)
- 05
Assembly and quality control
- 06
Distribution to wholesalers
Materials and Processes
Strip steel (stainless steel)
Material for the blades of the Solingen fruit and vegetable knives, laser-cut and overmoulded.
Non-rusting steel (stainless steel)
High-quality non-rusting steel for cutlery with the registered trademark Edelstahl Rostfrei.
Polypropylene (PP)
Odour-free and taste-neutral, dishwasher-safe and temperature-resistant plastic for handles.
Thermoplastics
Group of plastics processed since 1953 for injection moulding production and overmoulded handles.
Plastic injection moulding
In-house injection moulding production for over 60 years for handles and plastic products, also in custom colours on request.
Laser cutting of strip steel
Precision laser cutting of strip steel blades for knife production and custom manufacture.
Development of new tools and moulds
Know-how for tool and mould development as well as manufacturing processes for private-label products.
Site
Solingen
DEProduction and Administration
- Lot size
- Large production runs for wholesale
- Materials
- Strip steel (stainless steel), polypropylene (PP), thermoplastics
- Injection moulding machines
- Laser cutting systems
Components and Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic injection moulding (injection moulding production)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Polypropylene (PP) |
| Laser cutting of strip steel (laser-cut strip steel knives)Machining | – | – | – | – | Strip steel (non-rusting stainless steel) |
| Overmoulding of plastic handles onto strip steel bladesJoining | – | – | – | – | Strip steel, Thermoplastics, Polypropylene (PP) |
| Development of new tool moulds (toolmaking)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Private-label production / custom manufacture (e.g. promotional knives)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
1 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Injection moulding machine | – | – | – | – | Solingen |
Additional services
Quality
The cutlery bears the internationally protected Solingen designation of origin and meets the quality standard according to DIN EN ISO 8442-1, which strictly governs material and hardness. In addition, the company, as a processor of non-rusting steel, holds the Edelstahl Rostfrei trademark and uses exclusively REACH-compliant plastics, colourants and additives for its injection moulding production.
| Evidence | Solingen |
|---|---|
| Solingen quality standard DIN EN ISO 8442-1 | |
| Edelstahl Rostfrei trademark | |
| REACH-compliant plastics |
History
- 1936
Ernst Klever founds a small enterprise in the garage courtyard of his home in Solingen; specialisation in household goods and office articles made of Bakelite.
- 1953
First injection moulding machine for thermoplastics is acquired; plastic handles on strip steel blades lay the foundation for the Solingen fruit and vegetable knives Made by Klever.
- 1971
Son-in-law Udo Müller-Sohler takes over the management in the second generation; first own knife series under the Silberband brand.
- 1998
Stefan Müller-Sohler joins as second managing director in the third generation; new knife series, economy peelers and expansion of the knives-as-promotional-items business segment.
- 2009
Driving forward internationalisation through participation in international trade fairs such as AMBIENTE in Frankfurt.