Manufacturer of washers, stamped, pressed and bent parts as well as thread-locking washers, based in Plettenberg
R+FK Schulte KG
PlettenbergNew on Amplifa
About rfks
R+FK Schulte (rfks) is a family business founded in 1938 and headquartered in Plettenberg in the Sauerland region, and is one of Europe's leading manufacturers of stamped, pressed and bent parts. The company produces washers to DIN/ISO, high-strength washers from 300 HV, thread lockers such as rfks-Sperrkant washers, as well as special and drawing-based parts to customer requirements, in thicknesses of 0.05 to 12 mm and inner diameters from M0.8 to M160 in all stampable metallic grades. Production includes stamping technology, deep drawing, bending, pressing, in-house toolmaking and a vibratory finishing centre; more than 30,000 t of flat steel are processed annually. rfks provides customers with design consulting including proposal drawings, first sample approval per VDA and PPAP, EDI messages, customer-specific industrial packaging, and a logistics centre for warehouse stock. Customers include the fastener wholesale trade, the automotive industry and its suppliers, screw and anchor manufacturers, as well as mechanical engineering and steel construction companies. All products are manufactured at the Plettenberg site – "100% Made in Plettenberg".
- Site
- Plettenberg
- Processes
- Stamping technology / stamped parts (production of stamped, pressed and bent parts), Production of washers to DIN/ISO (standard parts), Special parts / drawing-based parts (thickness 0.05–12 mm, inner diameter M0.8–M160, all stampable, Deep drawing (deep-drawn parts), Bending (bent parts), Pressed parts, Toolmaking (in-house toolmaking), Design support / proposal drawings (alternatives to turned, cold-formed and
- Materials
- Flat steel, Spring steel, Stainless steel, Flat steel (steel), Stainless steel 1.4401 (A4), Stamping technology, Deep drawing, Toolmaking
- Certificates
- DIN EN ISO 9001:2015, DIN EN ISO 14001:2015, IATF 16949:2016, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015
- Founded
- 1938
- Employees
- over 160
- Industries
- Fastener wholesale trade, Automotive industry and its suppliers, Screw and anchor manufacturers, Mechanical engineering, Steel construction
- 01
Design consulting / proposal drawings
- 02
In-house toolmaking
- 03
Stamped, pressed and bent part production / deep drawing
- 04
Vibratory finishing
- 05
Quality assurance
- 06
Industrial packaging / labelling
- 07
Logistics centre / shipping
Materials & Processes
Flat steel (steel)
Base material for washers, stamped, pressed and bent parts; more than 30,000 t are processed annually.
Spring steel
Material for rfks-Sperrkant washers with a hardness of 420–510 HV.
Stainless steel 1.4401 (A4)
For Sperrkant washers and stamped parts in corrosion-critical applications.
Stamping technology
Core process for standard parts, special parts and drawing-based parts in small and large series.
Deep drawing
Production of deep-drawn parts to customer specification.
Toolmaking
Independent in-house toolmaking for stamping tools and alternatives to turned, cold-formed and forged parts.
Locations
Plettenberg
DEMain site: production, toolmaking, logistics centre, administration
- Lot size
- Small and large series
- Materials
- Flat steel, spring steel, stainless steel 1.4401 (A4)
- 3 large presses (2022)
- 800-tonne press
- Stamping presses
- Vibratory finishing centre
- Werth ScopeCheck 3D-CNC multisensor coordinate measuring machine
- Profile projector
- Hardness tester
- Bag and carton packaging machines
Components & Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stamping technology / stamped parts (production of stamped, pressed and bent parts)Forming | – | – | – | Small and large series | Flat steel (steel), Stainless steel 1.4401 (A4), Spring steel |
| Production of washers to DIN/ISO (standard parts)Forming | – | – | – | – | Steel, Spring steel, Stainless steel 1.4401 (A4) |
| Special parts / drawing-based parts (thickness 0.05–12 mm, inner diameter M0.8–M160, all stampableForming | – | M160 (inner diameter) | – | – | all stampable metallic grades |
| Deep drawing (deep-drawn parts)Forming | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Bending (bent parts)Forming | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Pressed partsForming | – | – | – | – | Flat steel |
| Toolmaking (in-house toolmaking)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Steel (tool steel) |
| Design support / proposal drawings (alternatives to turned, cold-formed andEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Vibratory finishing (vibratory finishing centre)Surface | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Industrial packaging (bag and carton packaging machines, labelling)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Surface finishing (plain, phosphated, Geomet, mechanically galvanised – according toSurface | – | – | – | – | Spring steel, Stainless steel 1.4401 (A4) |
| First sample approval in accordance with VDA and/or PPAP proceduresTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Vibration testing to DIN 65151 (rotational loosening resistance, test rig type UNBRAKO MS-024)Testing | – | – | – | – | Spring steel |
| High-strength washers ≥ 300 HVForming | – | – | – | – | Steel |
9 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Press (large press) | – | 3 | – | 2022 | Plettenberg |
| Press | – | 1 | 800 tonnes press force | 2015 | Plettenberg |
| Stamping presses | – | – | – | 2006-2010 | Plettenberg |
| Vibratory finishing centre | – | – | – | 2022 | Plettenberg |
| 3D-CNC multisensor coordinate measuring machine | Werth ScopeCheck | 1 | – | – | Plettenberg |
| Profile projector | – | – | – | – | Plettenberg |
| Hardness tester | – | – | – | – | Plettenberg |
| Bag and carton packaging machines | – | – | – | – | Plettenberg |
| Vibration test rig type UNBRAKO | MS-024 | – | – | – | Technical University of Darmstadt |
Additional services
Quality
Quality assurance includes optimised measuring equipment from incoming goods to the finished product, such as a Werth ScopeCheck 3D-CNC multisensor coordinate measuring machine, a profile projector and a hardness tester. First samples are provided in accordance with VDA and/or PPAP procedures; Sperrkant washers are tested for rotational loosening resistance in accordance with DIN 65151.
| Evidence | Plettenberg |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001:2015 | |
| ISO 14001:2015 | |
| IATF 16949:2016 |
History
- 1938
Friedrich Karl Schulte erects a factory building on Herscheider Straße in Plettenberg and begins producing washers and stamped parts.
- 1941
Rudolf Schulte leases the buildings and operating facilities of the company August Schürmann in Plettenberg-Bahnhof Eiringhausen.
- 1954
Merger of the two brothers' companies into Rudolf & Friedrich Karl Schulte oHG, press and stamping works.
- 1976
Conversion of the oHG into the limited partnership Rudolf & Friedrich Karl Schulte KG, general partner Dipl. Kfm. F. Wolfgang Schulte.
- 1985
Consolidation of both operations at Herscheider Straße.
- 1991
Operation expanded with a new toolmaking department and new material storage halls.
- 2004
Purchase of an approx. 12,000 m² section of the former federal railway site Oberstadt from the city of Plettenberg.
- 2005
Completion of the new logistics building with 3,000 pallet spaces and 2,800 small storage spaces.
- 2006–2010
Renovation of older operating areas, expansion of toolmaking, new raw material warehouse, acquisition of several stamping presses.
- 2013
Carl Philip Schulte M.A. joins the active management as the third generation.
- 2015
New production hall of 2,000 m² for an 800-tonne press.
- 2017
Acquisition of the second site "Auf dem Stahl" in Plettenberg.
- 2019
Renovation of the design department with new office spaces.
- 2022
Investment in three large presses and a vibratory finishing centre.