News from our company

Kübler GmbH organizes the first Health Day for its staff.

(Author: Simone Paprotta, see picture to the right)
Four of the eight weeks of my pre-training course for my studies in the Kübler Company in Schwenningen are already over. Even though this is a very short period of time, it gives me a good idea of many interesting aspects of the operation of a medium-sized company. And I had the opportunity – I did not expect this at all – to take part already in two celebrations. The first was the cut of spade for the new building, and the second the Health Day followed by the summer festival.

Having spent the first weeks of my training course in the Marketing department, I attended very closely the preparations for this first Health Day of the Company, which was co-organized by many companies of the health sector. I was allowed to help, and I enjoyed this work. All company staff was in the best mood when the day arrived. Everybody had the possibility to register previously for two items among all those offered by the vast program of this Health Day.
I went first to the running analysis: being a sports enthusiast, I felt this would be very interesting. I had to run for some minutes on a travelator, while my feet were filmed. Then the system analyzed the position of my feet and recommended me the shoe suitable for my feet. My second appointment was the foot pressure measurement, which was also very instructive. It showed how the weight of the body is pressing on the feet while running.

There were of course many other stations, with various possibilities to learn about oneself. So many Kübler members had their blood pressure, glycemia and lipemia measured, or had the function of their veins checked. The good atmosphere was provided by the Zumba. This lively training session was supported by Latino rhythms. Even Manager Gebhard Kübler did not want to miss the Zumba and danced merrily. Those who wanted to do something for their deep musculature used the Flexibar stick. Hats off, what looked so easy at the first glance showed to be really hard. It made even the strongest boys sweat.

The proposed lectures gave interesting tips for daily life, for example how to prevent negative stress. And the muscular relaxation offered various exercises, supported by meditative music. Even for the face, which led to the funniest grimaces.
People also had the possibility to have simply a treat. Especially the mobile massage station was very appreciated and fully booked right from the beginning of the day. Those who did not manage to get an appointment strolled through the many information stands, inquiring about the company-internal running groups or tasting delicious ice creams, fresh fruit juices and healthy snacks. The buffet opened in the late afternoon, offering a variety able to satisfy even the most fussy.

Finally, the health day ended with a lottery and some final words of Manager Gebhard Kübler. As he did when opening the health day, he emphasized: "We want to establish the health day in our Company, promote the personal health behavior and a way of working in the Company that respects health".
These last words closed the health day, giving way to the summer festival, which ended for everybody with a pleasant and happy evening.

Siegfried Kauder (left), CDU member of the Bundestag, talking to recruiter Stephanie Riesle (center) and Jürgen Stegmann (2nd from right) of Kübler. Head of personnel Jürgen Stegmann (left) and working student Florian Niedermann inform the interested visitors.

The "Students on Skates" job fair celebrates its premiere in Geisingen.

The winner region Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg organized for the first time, in cooperation with the Arena Geisingen, the job fair "Students on Skates".

The event took place in a very special locality, unique in Germany - the Inline Skating sports complex of Geisingen, "We felt the combination of sportive event and job fair was interesting, and this is why we wanted to take part as exhibitors in this premiere", said Jürgen Stegmann, head of personnel at Kübler.

Siegfried Kauder, CDU member of the Bundestag, was also among the guests. In his address, he accented the importance of young and well-trained people for the future of the region. "We have no natural resources, we have only what is in your heads", emphasized the politician.

The symbolic cut of spade was the culmination of the ceremony: from left to right: Dr. Christof Münzer of the Association of Industrial Enterprises, the Managing Directors Gebhard and Lothar Kübler, the representatives of the construction services provider Vollak Rainer Kracht and Mirjam Arnu, the Head of the Supervisory Board Erika Kübler, the mayor Dr. Rupert Kubon and the business developer Georg Seeck.
Speech of the Managing Directors Lothar and Gebhard Kübler, with the Head of the Supervisory Board Erika Kübler, at the occasion of the factory extension.

"The currently good economic situation, the successful acquisition of new customers and markets and a multiplicity of new innovations, which Kübler wants to take to market maturity“. These are the arguments brought forward by Lothar Kübler to justify this new factory extension.
The production area of the Schwenningen site has been extended in 2007 by 2,500 square meters, but a new pressing need for more space for the innovations soon appeared. Together with the mayor Dr. Rupert Kubon, the representatives of the construction services provider Vollak, Rainer Kracht and Mirjam Arnu, and the business developer Georg Seeck, the Kübler staff celebrated the cut of spade. The whole personnel gathered for meatloaf rolls and fresh buttered pretzels on the factory car park, where the new extension, with the most up to date heating and solar technology is to be built for the end of the year. "With this 1,500 square metres extension, we double the area available for product development and industrialisation, and we create space for further production islands" added Lothar Kübler.
With by now 250 collaborators in Schwenningen and more than 360 worldwide, the Kübler Group is one of the flagships of the town, and so the mayor announced that the street leading to the company site would receive a new road covering. This improvement is important for the image of the company with regard to demanding international customers.
Being one of the worldwide leaders in the branch of counting and sensor technology, it is important for us to continue banking on a profit-oriented growth. The building extension here in Schwenningen is the base for this growth and a clear confession for the location Germany.
After the great celebration for the 50th jubilee last summer and the distinction as the Business of the Month awarded by the Economic Development Corporation for the Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg region in November, this was again a suitable time for Kübler to celebrate. Even the strong wind did not stop us. At the contrary: after the muggy heat of the past days, this was a welcome cooling, which did not manage to cut down our enthusiasm.

An occasion for celebrating, the Kübler staff during the hearty snack. Also the flowers were part of the celebration. Silke Leffler and Nadja Kübler, the wives of the Managing Directors, received a bouquet of flowers during the ceremony. Pleasure when handing over the symbolic spade: from left to right Rainer Kracht, representative of the construction services provider Vollak next to the Managing Directors Lothar and Gebhard Kübler, Mirjam Arnu, also representing Vollak, and the mayor Dr. Rupert Kubon.

On Sunday 3rd April, with early summer temperatures, the starting gun went for the 8th Freiburg Marathon. Kübler was also there with its own team and set about the approximately 21 kilometre long half-marathon course. 80,000 Freiburg locals and guests shouted encouragement to the runners. All our 13 competitors reached the finish line and almost without exception returned happy and healthy on Sunday evening to Schwenningen. In the photo you can see the competitors and then in the table their race times. Our VIP guest on the day was Xuan Xiangbin, Vice President of Kübler China, who also enjoyed cheering our runners on.

The scene had many symbolic aspects. Erika Kübler stood beaming with joy in the large training room and happily accepted the good wishes of the staff on the occasion of her 80th birthday. "Hopefully I can continue to drive my own car for many years to come," she commented to one well-wisher. "That is very important to me."

Remaining active and taking part in everything - this is what the Head of the Supervisory Board at Kübler asks of herself and exemplifies on a daily basis. Nor did she pass over the opportunity on her birthday to invite all the members of her wider 'Kübler family' to a hearty lunch. "My heart and soul are so closely tied up with this company," she explained to the 250 guests.

How could it be otherwise? After all, Erika Kübler helped write an important chapter in the success story of Kübler. "You can be proud of what you, your husband Fritz and your sons Gebhard and Lothar have achieved over the past 50 years," observed Jürgen Stegmann in his speech in her honour. In a short retrospective the HR manager showed a few snapshots highlighting the history of the company. From the early days in the family home via the ongoing development in the company's own premises up to the present day, where the Kübler Group has seven additional overseas daughter companies and around 60 sales partners around the globe.

Erika Kübler looked back at her own eventful life. "The 80 years have gone by so quickly," she sighed, without however getting melancholic. "I have the lovely memories of my dear husband and the daily support of my sons to keep me going," she said.
It is a happy look back at the past, but it does not end there for Erika Kübler. Quite the opposite: she still comes regularly into the company. Not only as a welcome discussion partner, since this four-times grandmother also brings with her a certain congenial flair. For example, during Advent, she decked out the offices with Christmas stars and other festive objects. There is no doubt, Erika Kübler brings a kind heart into the business, and - considering what she has achieved in her life - so much more.

"I don't need anything now at 80 - I have everything," was her reply, when asked what she would like for her birthday. "If the staff would like to give something, maybe they could make a small donation to charity," she added. No sooner said than done; a collection raised 540 Euros and this was given to the children's Cancer Care Home in Tannheim.

"We look forward to celebrating your 90th birthday again here, just like today", said Gebhard Kübler, wishing his mother all the best and, together with his brother Lothar, praising her for all that she had done. Not only on this day were the family bonds evident to be seen.

And just to prove that the distribution of roles between sons and mothers still functions, Jürgen Stegmann related a nice anecdote. "It can happen, for example, that Lothar Kübler has to take an unscheduled break from his business duties, because his mother wants to make "Knöpfle" noodles for the grandchildren. And for this Swabian speciality she needs the help of her son to operate the appropriate special machine." So, a real family business all-round!

The proud winner in the middle: Jan Hagemoser is happy about the iPad drawed by Kübler. Nikolaus Gräf (CEO Dunker/left) and Dirk Clemens (Sales Director Kübler) congratulate.

Franz Beckenbauer once advertised a mobile telephone with this now legendary slogan and Jan Hagemoser must have experienced the same feeling as the icon of German football. The development engineer from Dunkermotoren in the Black Forest town of Bonndorf was visiting the SPS show in Nuremberg and dropped by the Kübler stand to pick up some information on rotary encoders.

Our sales engineer Karl Klaritsch made a note of the discussions in an exhibition visitor report and so Jan Hagemoser was entered into the prize draw for an iPad. Kübler had come up with the idea to show off one of these much-desired tablet computers in a glass box on their exhibition stand - an idea which proved to be a big hit. 355 visitors popped their business card into the box, each hoping to be the lucky winner. The winner was drawn from both these cards and from the numerous visitor reports. When making the draw, the Kübler stand personnel made ingenious use of one of their own products, namely a Codix counter, which served as a technical lottery wheel. As the numbers whizzed by, the counter was suddenly stopped and it was number 183 that was lit up in the display; this corresponded to the visitor report for Jan Hagemoser.

"Amazing! I never thought this would happen," said Jan Hagemoser happily, as he learned of his good fortune. The 33-year old was over the moon at receiving this early Christmas gift, presented to him by Kübler Sales Director Dirk Clemens. Nikolaus Gräf, Managing Director of Dunkermotoren also made a point of personally congratulating the winner.
"That iPad would make an ideal Christmas present", chuckled Dirk Clemens jokingly, glancing at Jan Hagemoser. The new owner however was having none of this. "No way", he replied, "I'm keeping this to myself, thanks!"

Pleasure at receiving a special award. Gebhard and Lothar Kübler, alongside Erika Kübler, Head of the Supervisory Board, with the winner's certificate for "Business of the Month for November". They were congratulated by (r. to l.) Heinz-Rudi Link, Managing Director of the Economic Development Corporation for the region of Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg, Mayor Dr. Rupert Kubon and economic development adviser Rudolf Topp.

The Kübler Group is delighted to be honoured with a very special award. The Economic Development Corporation for the Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg region has chosen us as "Business of the Month for November". An independent jury, comprising economic development advisers from the three administrative districts Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis, Rottweil and Tuttlingen, selected us from a large number of candidates. The selection was based on three criteria: commercial success, special achievements and a long, stable history. "We could not have found a better prize-winner than Kübler, as all three points apply perfectly to them", stressed Heinz-Rudi Link, Managing Director of the Economic Development Corporation for the region of Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg, as he presented the winner's certificate. There is no question that Herr Link hit the nail on the head with this assessment, as this summer the family business marked its 50th Jubilee with a lavish celebration. Impressive evidence of sustainable economic activity, where in the future emphasis will continue to be laid on independence and self-reliance. 2010 has also turned out to be a very successful year and will go down as the best ever in the firm's history to date. Notable accomplishments have been made in the field of new developments. For the Sendix F36 encoder we received the MessTec & Sensor Masters Award as well as the Golden Mousetrap Award, highly regarded in professional circles in the USA. "It was these two prestigious accolades in particular that convinced us in our choice of the Kübler company", commented Heinz-Rudi Link.

Joint Managing Directors Gebhard and Lothar Kübler accepted the award with great pleasure. Standing no less proudly next to them was Erika Kübler, Head of the Supervisory Board. The owners of the business were also delighted to hear the comments from the recently re-elected Mayor of Villingen-Schwenningen, Dr. Rupert Kubon, who praised the innovative power of the company, which is a shining example to the whole town.
However they passed this praise directly on to all the members of staff. "This award belongs above all to you, the Kübler employees. You have earned it and it has only been possible thanks to your commitment", said Gebhard Kübler, recognizing the accomplishments of the members of "Team Kübler". This appreciation of the collective achievement was further demonstrated by the fact that the entire workforce had been invited to the award ceremony in the company's large meeting room. The whole team shared their enjoyment at receiving this honour, as they tucked into a 'second breakfast' of bagels, rolls and coffee.

The Economic Development Corporation for the Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg

Villingen-Schwenningen, 23rd July. On the occasion of the company's Jubilee, Fritz Kübler GmbH, of Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany, continued its support of three social projects; together with its suppliers, partners and service providers, it raised donations to the tune of 12,900 euro.

Running a successful business also carries obligations when it comes to social commitment. As they looked back over the history of their company Fritz Kübler GmbH in Villingen-Schwenningen - a past that spans five decades - the management of this manufacturer of measurement technology, took the opportunity to clearly demonstrate this obligation. As they handed over the donation, the joint Managing Directors Gebhard and Lothar Kübler explained, "Kübler has been supporting the efforts of a wide variety of people for many years". The family business is involved with projects in Villingen-Schwenningen, Africa and Columbia.

"Together round a table" is the motto of the Vesperkirche church in Schwenningen, which aims to bring people together and provide them with a festive meal. This mission aims to be more than just a gesture of care and humanity for all those, who often go away empty-handed when gifts are being distributed. With the support from Kübler to the amount of 4300 euro, the tables at Christmas will be laid with a festive spread for all those people, who are affected by poverty or who have ended up living on the margin of society.

With the Wakina Mama na Watoto Foundation, Kübler is lending assistance, also in the amount of 4300 euro, to a self-help project for the people of Hezya, a scattered settlement in south-west Tanzania. The foundation was established in 1991; the name translates as "Mothers and Children". A project that initially focussed in particular on women and mothers, has grown over the years into a broadly based community development programme, which has come to benefit the entire population living in and around the region. Works are currently underway on a water facility, a house for the women, as well as on a school.

10 years ago the Bocachica Health Care Centre started out with the construction of a large number of toilet facilities on an island in Columbia, where previously the majority of the local people had neither access to hot meals, nor to any schooling, let alone any public health care provision. Over time an old ship was also converted into a floating hospital ward, in order to bring medical assistance to other neighbouring islands. With 4300 euro from Kübler, the missionary Martin Hakenjos can push on with his work in the missionary station "Libertad" that he founded.

Kübler hält Rückblick und gibt ehrgeizige Zukunftspläne bekannt

"Products can be copied, but not the way in which our Kübler team works". With these words the joint managing directors of the family concern praised their employees in a speech marking the recent 50th Jubilee of the company. "50 Years of Innovation" - this is the motto during this jubilee year. On the 2nd July Kübler organised their official jubilee celebration and gave numerous examples of how the company puts innovation into effect.

For the occasion the Kübler Group erected what looked like a tent city round the company premises. Here the 650 guests and 75 children were treated to a wide-ranging programme of entertainment that continued into the early hours. The guests sensed the feeling of pride, which the employees felt in what they had achieved, accompanied by a strong sense of belonging and optimism, looking forward to a future as part of an ongoing successful independent family business. This is what made such an impressive event possible - one that had been meticulously planned down to the final detail and one that was marked out above all by the extra-special commitment of the employees, said the employers.

The festive day was already underway on the Friday morning. An international press conference was first on the agenda, followed by a number of presentations. After lunch came a tour of the company for customers, employees, families and guests. Information points had been erected at more than 11 positions round the company, where experts from Kübler showed visitors the production cells, the product development areas as well as all the other departments. What was particularly evident was the high level of orderliness and cleanliness, the state-of-the-art machines and equipment as well as a high awareness for clear structures - these were the highlights of the tour.

A full programme had been organised for the evening. This got underway with the Schwenningen marching band under Filipo Zerbo, himself an employee in Kübler's export department. Nearly all the company's 300 employees from round the world were present, together with their families, as well as loyal customers, suppliers and guests of honour. "For what counts is cooperation between employees, management, suppliers and customers - and this is true all over the world", emphasised the company directors. Visitors, including around 100 employees from subsidiaries, travelled from over 32 companies to congratulate the company. They all thoroughly enjoyed the variety artists on the stage and - in temperatures more akin to the tropics - danced the night away to salsa beats. The buffet, which had begun around mid-day and then continued on till midnight, treated the international guests to a selection of typical local food and drinks from the 6 countries, where Kübler has its own companies: Germany, France, Italy, Poland, India and China. Kübler had also set up its own children's play area to keep the little ones happy the whole day long. The goal wall was constantly bombarded, with every hit on target being rewarded with a bright world-cup football in Kübler orange - this gave rise to much envy amongst the fathers present! A tombola with donated prizes totalling 4000 euro formed part of a large social programme, in addition to further donations from suppliers and management.

Today, the family business - the Kübler Group - is internationally one of the leading companies in length and angle measurement, counting and process technology and, more recently, transmission technology. But along the way the path was not always easy. Both directors, Gebhard and Lothar Kübler, remembered the time the company, Fritz Kübler Feingerätebau, was founded 50 years ago, in their parents' house in the Hahnstrasse in Schwenningen. They also remembered their father's boundless energy: "You only had to mention the subjects of technology, patents or quality for our father's eyes to light up. Looking after his customers is what drove him on and inspired him". It was also very evident at the festive evening that Fritz Kübler had placed special value on long-term business relationships. In the presence of their mother Erika Kübler, herself a senior director of the company, Lothar and Gebhard Kübler then honoured those business partners, who had worked together with Kübler over a period of many years. These too are also now in the second generation, like Kübler. They are the family businesses Massimino from Italy and Ellis from the USA, who received their awards, alongside the oldest serving German distributor partners Fuhrmeister and Seidel.

"I stand before you as the only contemporary witness from the past 50 years of our company" said Erika Kübler, widow of the company founder, who passed away in 2003. In her speech, she gave a moving summary of the early years and at the end received a standing ovation.

In his address, Mayor Dr. Rupert Kubon stressed that the company is a fine advertisement for the town and reminded those present of the importance of medium-sized businesses for the whole region's development. He was proud to have such a company in Villingen-Schwenningen. This pleased the Chief Executive of the Baden-Wurttemberg Trade Association WVIB, Dr. Christoph Münzer, who in his speech focussed on the subject of the family: "It is rare that a family business is run so harmoniously and successfully by two brothers".

On behalf of all the staff, HR Manager Jürgen Stegmann presented the family with a map of the world, showing all the Kübler employees. The Kübler trainees had made a video as a gift for the management; this took an entertaining and motivating look at the company's history. The management expressed their thanks for these very personal gifts.

"We feel that we are all one big Kübler family, who share the same values, no matter where we are", said Xuan Xianbin, Vice President Sales and Marketing of Kübler China in his greeting.

The management in their joint speech remembered the generation change in 1997. Fathers and sons are often also beset with problems when the new generation takes over. "Not in our case", said the brothers. "Our father trusted us, we had freedom and there was always a good feeling. When we took over we had just 110 employees, with over 7 million euro turnover and a high equity ratio".

Since then Kübler has grown impressively to reach the size it is today. Many long-term customers, but also new ones, form the basis for this. The Kübler brothers were very proud just how many customers had made the journey to the jubilee and thanked them for their cooperation, often over many years.
With Rolf Scholl as an example, the management paid tribute to all those staff that had put in many years of loyal service. Herr Scholl himself had been part of the company for 40 of those 50 years.

In the spirit of the jubilee motto "50 Years of Innovation", Gebhard and Lothar Kübler unveiled two attractions during the celebrations. Firstly, a newly designed innovation room with a multimedia wall and secondly a book about the company's history - fresh of the presses - with the title "50 Years of Innovation". "In the future we will be able to give both to our customers - a look back at our history and also into the - innovative - future of the business".

Both brothers are looking ahead with confidence. "With this team we will be able to deal with the demands of the future," they commented.

"If you want to look into the future, then you must also look into the past", so say the two brothers, joint Managing Directors of the Kübler Group. There is reason enough for both in this 50th Jubilee year.

50 years ago the young engineer Fritz Kübler founded the Fritz Kübler Feingerätebau company, which ranks today among the principal international family businesses, manufacturing distance and angle sensors, counting and process technology and transmission technology. Customers include leading industrial manufacturers of drives, mobile automation, wind turbines, energy meters and lifts/elevators, as well as numerous small- and medium-sized companies from every imaginable market sector.

In the family home in Villingen-Schwenningen Fritz Kübler, supported by his wife Erika, opened the first chapter in the company's history. He wanted to take off in the market by focussing on quality and precision. Using this strategy, this one-man business developed within just a few years into an internationally successful company. Even in the early 1960s he had established a second key market in the USA, alongside the home market in Germany. Here, interpersonal understanding was more important than a common language, as the company founder spoke virtually no English.

A short time meter laid the basis

The starting gun of the company's history was fired by one product that was to set standards: the first short time meter in the world that had a permanent time display. The patented device ensured that the analogue indicator did not drop out - as was the case with the competitors' products - but remained visible. This meant that exact measurements in the range of milliseconds were possible. Shortly afterwards Fritz Kübler started with his first electromechanical counters. These were followed in the 1970s by the electronic counters.

The next round

Since 1989 rotary encoders have become an integral part of the Kübler portfolio. A market that was already well-established. However Kübler's products were well-known right from the start for their high degree of ruggedness and low number of components. Indeed the company was soon a pacesetter in the market with its hollow shaft encoders. Thus began the success story. In the early days Kübler was proud to manufacture 100 devices in a week. Now it ranks among the 'Top 5' in the sector. Its distance and angle measurement sensors division now also includes linear measuring systems and inclinometers.

Kübler: Data and Facts

The Kübler Group has three business divisions: Distance and Angle Measurement with approx. 60 % share of the turnover, Counting and Process Technology with around 34% and the relatively new sector Transmission Technology with 6%. For 2010, Kübler is expecting the consolidated turnover of the Group to be 31.5 million euro. The main company in Germany, based in Villingen-Schwenningen, is expected to account for 28 million euro of this. Kübler will thus emerge stronger from the crisis, more than recouping the drop in turnover experienced in 2009. "In our 50th Jubilee year we will reach a new all-time high in turnover," announced the employers proudly.

The Group now employees around 300 staff, of which 200 are based at the main site in Villingen-Schwenningen and the remainder at the various 6 subsidiaries worldwide. The export share of the turnover is currently around 65%. In comparison, in 1997, at the time of the changeover to the new generation, Kübler's turnover was around 7 million euro, which shows just how much the company has grown in recent years.

The next generation takes over

Fritz Kübler's sons, Gebhard and Lothar, have been running the business since 1997, when they took over from their father. They remember, "Fathers and sons. You often hear about difficulties and conflicts, when the next generation takes over. But not in our case. Our father trusted us, we had freedom and there was always a good feeling. There were never really any conflicts. When he handed the business over to us, he knew that there were some things that we had to change, so that the company was ready to deal with the future." "Processes and structures, for example, needed courageous modernisation", says Gebhard Kübler. The founder of the company, however, continued to provide help and guidance, in his role as head of the advisory board, until his death in 2003.

Many people, who have accompanied the business over the years, observe that it has re-invented itself many times. Despite this, the most important core values have never changed.

What is important: The Kübler values

Since the day of its foundation, the Fritz Kübler GmbH company has been connected inseparably with the Kübler family - the company is built on the solid foundations of family values and family culture. "Values which," Lothar Kübler is convinced, "are essential for a healthy business". And statistics substantiate this: value-oriented businesses are more profitable.

The founder himself, Fritz Kübler, advised his sons - and later successors - that for a healthy and successful family business to remain independent (including from external finance - their own capital exceeds 70%), it is vital to act responsibly and to treat employees always with respect. For, to the core values at Kübler belongs the awareness that the real competitive advantage of an innovative company lies in the capabilities of the staff. This is clearly demonstrated by continual modifications, improvements and a fast reaction to changes in the market.

The brothers remain convinced that "In this way we remain innovative and the results - such as good turnover and profits - follow". Fritz Kübler continually moved his life's dream a step further with the help of innovative products. "We have remained committed to this strategy to this day", emphasize the brothers.

Service makes all the difference

Kübler stands out from mass of other companies, as it has re-thought the concept of service and adapts it carefully to the requirements of its target markets. Zig Ziglar's motto "Stop selling - start helping" is of key importance to the company's owners. Moreover they demand a 'hands-on' mentality: "A Kübler employee doesn't ask others what should be done, but rather he asks himself - and then he does it," said Gebhard Kübler, explaining the difference, which is already evident in the basic approach. This gives rise to success factors such as customer focus, operating efficiency, adherence to delivery schedules, system integration and delivery flexibility - these are what impress Kübler's customers in the market.

The Kübler Design System defines Customer Service in four systematic steps. The initial precise analysis of the customer requirements is followed by the identification of the optimal technology, the implementation of tried-and-tested methodology and a maximum of after-sales support. "Based on our many years experience, we have put together a package that provides our customers with real on-going assistance and supplies just the right solution," comment the Küblers further. And the fact that customer satisfaction pays is demonstrated by the 5 successful decades of the company's history.

Generation covenant

Kübler has been following this path of constant improvement for many years. 2 years ago an Improvements Office was set up, and an Improvements Manager appointed. Kübler calls this path Kübler-Kaizen-Culture™. Step by step the employees have learned to focus their awareness, thinking and behaviour on constant improvement. This culture is the means by which the company will be kept healthy for future generations too. This is not a project but a permanent task. The employees continually strive to recognise waste and to eliminate it, as well as working day-by-day to improve quality. In this way they make a substantial contribution to the strengthening of the German site.

Kübler in the future

It is impossible to predict the future. Who would have thought that there would have been an economic crisis of such proportions at the end of 2008? What is certain, however, is that the world is becoming ever more dynamic. The joint Managing Directors are certain that "The future lies in empowering all the employees in our organisation, so that they can deal with whatever demands are made on them. Each day requires new, appropriate smart solutions. On the surface, this course of action may appear to be expensive, but in the end it saves a lot of time and money. Above all, it brings about real competitive advantages and demands innovation. Here we are setting off on an exciting path that we are really looking forward to".

In 10 years

In the coming 10 years Kübler is planning to build and expand further international centres of expertise, in order to maximise its customer liaison and support in regional markets in a number of countries. However, "Germany will remain very important from a strategic point of view. We need a strong presence in our home market, in order to have a good foundation for a healthy, international expansion," stress the employers. Kübler plans to strengthen its cooperation with colleges, university departments and other partners, as well as investigating a variety of business models and profit drivers.

If all goes to plan, Kübler reckons that its global turnover will triple by the year 2020, to reach a figure in the region of 90 to100 million euro.

In 25 years

"Of course, we do not know now what will happen in 25 years time, but we think that by then we will have similar quantum leaps behind us, like we have had in the past 25 years," predicts Gebhard Kübler. "Then we hope that the next generation, in other words our children, will be ready to take over the responsibility" adds his brother Lothar.

Social commitment is important

The owners of the business also want to use their success to support social projects. Over the past few years the company has already been lending its support to three projects, two overseas and one locally. Within the framework of the jubilee celebrations, Kübler's suppliers along with the management and employees donated over 12,000 euro to these good causes.

"We should like to thank our customers and employees" stress Gebhard and Lothar Kübler. Both owners are very pleased with what has been achieved till now and are looking ahead with confidence. "With this team we will be able to deal with the demands of the future," they add.