Development, design and supply of application-specific rolling bearings and linear technology for industry and automotive
KNAPP Wälzlagertechnik GmbH
Waiblingen (Eisentalstraße 32)New on Amplifa
About KNAPP Wälzlagertechnik
KNAPP Wälzlagertechnik GmbH develops, manufactures and supplies rolling bearing solutions for industry and automotive – from standard bearings to application-specific optimized special bearings under its own brand KBT (Knapp Bearing Technology). The portfolio includes ball bearings and roller bearings, special bearings and assemblies, housed bearings, needle bearings, plain bearings, spherical plain bearings and rod ends, slewing rings/precision bearings as well as accessories such as rolling elements, shaft seals and retaining rings. Design is carried out digitally via simulation (FEM, MBS, multi-body, MESYS) with a digital twin of the application; production from sample lots to series production runs through a global network of selected manufacturing partners. Materials include rolling bearing steel 100Cr6 as well as corrosion-resistant steels such as X30CrMoV15-1, stainless steel, ceramics (hybrid and full ceramic bearings), plastics and brass. Customers come from mechanical engineering, machine tools, automotive engineering, automation technology, medical technology, gearbox manufacturing, robotics, wind turbines, lifting and conveying technology as well as space applications. The company headquarters with its own test and measurement laboratory is located in Waiblingen.
- Site
- Waiblingen
- Processes
- Rolling bearing development and design (standard to special bearings), Sample lots and series production of rolling bearings via manufacturing partners, LABS conformity testing to VDMA 24364-A1/B2, Special bearing and assembly manufacturing to customer specification, Manufacturing of slewing rings / precision bearings to customer specification, Rolling bearing development and design (custom solutions, digital twin), Simulation and calculation (FEM, MBS, multi-body, MESYS, service life calculation), Engineering
- Materials
- Rolling bearing steel, Corrosion-resistant rolling bearing steel with high rolling contact fatigue strength, Stainless steel (Nirosta), Ceramic (full ceramic / hybrid bearings), Plastic, Brass, Corrosion-resistant rolling bearing steel
- Certificates
- DIN EN ISO 9001:2015, ECOfit, BSFZ seal (innovation competence), Chamber of Commerce (IHK) certified training company, LABS conformity (VDMA 24364-A1/B2)
- Founded
- 1958
- Industries
- Mechanical engineering, Machine tools, Automotive engineering, Vehicle manufacturing, Automation technology, Medical technology
- 01
System analysis of the customer application
- 02
Digital design & simulation (FEM, MBS, MESYS, service life calculation)
- 03
Engineering and product realization
- 04
Sample lots and series production in the global manufacturing partner network
- 05
Quality management in the company's own test and measurement laboratory
- 06
Supply via stocking and logistics concepts
Materials & Processes
Rolling bearing steel
Standard material for rolling elements and bearing rings such as balls, cylindrical, needle, tapered and barrel rollers.
Corrosion-resistant rolling bearing steel
Corrosion-resistant steel with high rolling contact fatigue strength and high purity for KBT PremiumQuality deep groove ball bearings.
Stainless steel (Nirosta)
For corrosion-resistant rolling bearings and rolling elements in demanding environments.
Ceramic (full ceramic / hybrid bearings)
As hybrid deep groove ball bearings and in full ceramic for maximum precision and wear resistance.
Plastic
Material option for bearing designs and cages depending on application requirements.
Brass
Material option e.g. for cage designs of rolling bearings.
Sites
Waiblingen
DECompany headquarters with engineering, quality management and test and measurement laboratory
- Lot size
- Prototypes to series production
- Materials
- Rolling bearing steel, stainless steel, ceramic, plastic, brass
- In-house test and measurement laboratory with noise testing
- High-precision metrology (dimensional, form and geometric tolerance testing to DIN ISO 1101)
- Surface testing to DIN ISO 1302
- LABS conformity testing to VDMA 24364-A1/B2
Rolling Bearings & Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rolling bearing development and design (standard to special bearings)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Rolling bearing steel, Nirosta, Plastic, Ceramic, Brass |
| Engineering | down to 1 µm (simulation accuracy) | – | – | – | – |
| Sample lots and series production of rolling bearings via manufacturing partnersJoining | – | – | – | – | Rolling bearing steel |
| Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| LABS conformity testing to VDMA 24364-A1/B2Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Special bearing and assembly manufacturing to customer specificationJoining | – | – | – | – | Rolling bearing steel |
| Manufacturing of slewing rings / precision bearings to customer specificationJoining | – | – | – | – | – |
1 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-house test and measurement laboratory / measurement center (noise testing, metrology) | – | – | – | – | Waiblingen |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality & Testing Technology
All rolling bearings and linear units are 100 % noise-tested in the in-house test and measurement laboratory; in addition, dimensions, form and geometric tolerances (DIN ISO 1101) as well as surfaces (DIN ISO 1302) are tested. Test reports such as EMPB per VDA Volume 2 or PPAP as well as material test reports are issued on request.
| Evidence | Waiblingen |
|---|---|
| DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 | |
| ECOfit | |
| BSFZ seal (innovation competence) | |
| Chamber of Commerce (IHK) certified training company | |
| LABS conformity (VDMA 24364-A1/B2) |
Company History
- 1958
Company founded in Fellbach by Werner Knapp
- 1998
Acquired by Dipl. Ing. Wolfgang and Siglinde Bauer; converted into KNAPP Wälzlagertechnik GmbH
- 2000
Relocation from Röntgenstraße to Ringstraße 26
- 2001
DIN ISO 9001 certification
- 2003
IHK certified and recognized training company
- 2008
Expansion of the niche segment of custom rolling bearing solutions; market launch of KBT PremiumQuality
- 2010
First trade fair participation at MOTEK in Stuttgart
- 2014
New construction of the company headquarters in Waiblingen, inaugurated on 18.07.2014
- 2018
Anniversary: 60 years of KNAPP, 20 years of KBT
- 2020
Rolling bearing development certified to DIN ISO 9001:2015
- 2022
Accreditation as a dual partner at DHBW Stuttgart, Heidenheim and Mosbach
- 2024
BSFZ seal for innovation competence