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Smart precision with intelligence.
Global Leader

about us

Precison worldwide -
reliable where it matters.

KERN LIEBERS is the global leader for technical springs, smart precision, with intelligence in every detail. Our products are used are used in highly demanding applications across mobility, energy and building technology, medical technology, manufacturing, and consumer goods.

As technology leader, we set benchmarks for enigneering and manufacturing - where precision meets reliability. Our attention to detail consisstently exceeds customer expectations and ensures reliable performance where it matters most.
That is why our products are far more than just technical springs and parts.

They are invisible heroes: Smart springs and Smart parts.

40.00 Locations worldwide
6130.00 Employees
137.00 Years of experience
Our locations

There for you around the globe

The KERN LIEBERS Group is represented at over 40 locations worldwide. With our springs, stamped parts and assemblies, we support our customers in increasing the performance, durability and cost-effectiveness of their products.

 

All locations

Our values

We live values #globalfamily

The KERN LIEBERS values were identified together with our employees. They shape our corporate culture and are reflected in every aspect of our work. They inspire us to give our best every day.

Taking responsibility.
Relying on each other.

We share responsibility and trust each other to make the right decisions.
We value the contribution of all employees and overcome every challenge together.

Top technical performance.
Through competence.

Precision and quality define our products and services.
We trust in our employees, technologies and skills.

Your needs.
Our claim.

We understand needs and reliably deliver customized solutions.
With professionalism and innovation, we create sustainable added value as a long-term partner.

More than a team.
A #globalfamily.

Through honesty and respect, we create space for individuality and strengthen our community.
We promote talent and continuous learning in order to share our knowledge.

With strong roots.
Shaping the future.

Globally positioned, we are committed to a sustainable future.
We are building on our strong foundations to further expand our success with courage and interest.

Open communication.
Clear messages.

We attach great importance to comprehensible language.
A proactive exchange of information determines our cooperation.

KERN LIEBERS Management

Dr. Erek Speckert
President & CEO
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Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Gref
CTO
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Udo v. Reinersdorff
CFO
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News & Events

Always up to date

Would you like to keep up to date with the latest news from KERN LIEBERS as well as upcoming events and trade fairs? Here you will find an overview of all the latest news.

All news & events

Social Media

#kernliebers

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History

Precision in the blood for over 135 years

1888 Hugo Kern takes the plunge into self-employment

After his apprenticeship with a watch spring maker, Hugo Kern ventures into self-employment and manufactures mainsprings for the domestic watch industry.

1911 Rapid company growth

The company grows rapidly. In 1911, the production area is doubled with the 2nd factory extension. Hugo Kern's son Ernst Hugo Kern joins the company.

1920 Conversion to a KG and extension of the buildings

Ernst Hugo Kern takes over the company management from his father, transforms the company into Hugo Kern KG and expands it by 1930 with two new buildings.

1936 Death of Ernst Hugo Kern

After the death of Ernst Hugo Kern, Hugo Kern transfers the management of the company to his grandson Dr. Kurt Steim. He lays the foundations for the company's current size.

1945 Reconstruction after the 2nd World War

After the war years, Dr. Kurt Steim rebuilds the company. As important raw materials are lacking, garden tools, oven scrapers, shoe fittings and saws are manufactured.

1947 Dismantling and opening up new fields of activity

Hugo Kern KG is designated for total dismantling by the Allies. The quota is successfully reduced to 30%. The company begins manufacturing precision stamped parts for knitting machines.

1951 Structure of circuit board production and innovations in the spring area

From 1947, parts of the former "SU" (Schramberger Uhrfedernfabrik) building in Göttelbachtal are rented and expanded. The product range is expanded to include fineblanked/stamped parts. From 1953, IBM is supplied with stamped parts for typewriters.

1965 Occupant safety in cars is becoming increasingly important

The automatic seat belt finds its way into automobiles. Hugo Kern KG becomes a development partner for the return springs used here and secures a leading world market position in this area.

1970 Dr. Kurt Steim sets the course for the future

At the end of the 1960s, 720 people work at Hugo Kern. 35 million springs and 147 million blanks are produced. Dr. Kurt Steim appoints Dipl.-Kfm. Robert Drosten to the management board and commissions his son, Dr.-Ing. Hans-Jochem Steim, to set up and manage the research and development department.

1971 Merger with Liebers & Co.

Hugo Kern KG merges with Liebers & Co. in Ingolstadt. The company is renamed HUGO KERN UND LIEBERS & CO. In the same year, Dr. Kurt Steim lays the foundation stone for the company's new building in Schramberg-Sulgen.

1972 Move to Sulgen

Relocation to the Sulgen district with all product areas and administration under one roof. The Liebers production facility in Ingolstadt is closed and integrated into the new building. KERN LIEBERS is now the world's largest manufacturer of printed circuit boards.

1973 Structure of the wire spring production

Entry into wire spring production with the next major diversification step. This develops into another important pillar of the company in the following years.

1975 Market entry in the USA and start of globalization

Dr.-Ing. Hans-Jochem Steim founds KERN-LIEBERS USA INC. in Toledo, Ohio and begins to build up production of power springs for seat belts.

1977 Start of the establishment of production facilities in Western Europe

The company begins to establish production facilities in Western Europe and founds subsidiaries in the UK (1977) and Spain (1986). In Italy, the shares in the spring factory TECNOSET S.R.L. in Turin are acquired in 1987.

1978 Handover of management to the next generation

Dr. Kurt Steim retires from the Management Board after 42 years at the helm of the company and remains Chairman of the Board of Directors until 1983. Dipl.-Kfm. Robert Drosten is appointed Chairman of the Management Board and Dr.-Ing. Hans Jochem Steim is appointed Managing Director.

1981 Takeover of the spring division of J.N. EBERLE & CIE GMBH

With the takeover of the spring division of J.N. EBERLE & CIE GMBH in Augsburg and the founding of J.N. EBERLE FEDERNFABRIK GMBH in Schwabmünchen, the foundations are laid for today's successful divisions of heavy power springs and stamped-bent parts.

1983 Takeover of spring production from Junghans Stahl

KERN-LIEBERS takes over the spring production of Junghans Stahl and integrates it into the plant in Schramberg-Sulgen. The development of a texture-rolled carbon steel is driven forward. This is used, among other things, for power springs with a flat characteristic curve, e.g. for safety belts. To date, more than 4 billion seat belt springs have been produced.

1988 100 years of KERN-LIEBERS - 100 years of expertise

In 1988, KERN-LIEBERS celebrates its 100th anniversary with a ceremony and open day. KERN-LIEBERS South Africa is founded. Following the acquisition of CAPEWELL SPRINGS in Cape Town, strip springs, wire springs and stamped and bent parts are manufactured there.

1990 Changes in corporate management

Dipl.-Kfm. Robert Drosten joins the Board of Directors at the end of 1990. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Jochem Steim takes over as Chairman of the Management Board. Further managing directors are appointed: Dr.-Ing. Uwe Otzen and, after his departure, Dipl.-Ing. Manfred Krunnies as Technical Managing Director and Dipl.-Kfm. Gert Wagner as Commercial Managing Director.

1991 Entry into the Asian market

The rapidly growing Asian market is recognized early on as a great opportunity and further subsidiaries are founded: Japan (1991), Korea (1992), China (1993), Thailand (1995), India (1997).

1994 Start of construction of production facilities in Eastern Europe

The company's expansion into Eastern Europe begins with the takeover of AKRA's PCB production in the Czech Republic and the founding of its own subsidiary. Further subsidiaries followed in Estonia (1998), Poland (1999), Romania (2005) and Russia (2013).

1999 Foundation of KERN-LIEBERS KNITTING PARTS

The "Textile Machine Parts" division is transferred to the independent company "KERN-LIEBERS KNITTING PARTS GmbH". The divisions of power and roller springs, wire springs and fineblanked/stamped parts become independent units. The floor space at the headquarters now amounts to 52,000 m².

2000 German training center for tool mechanics in Taicang/China

KERN-LIEBERS founds the German Training Center for Tool Mechanics (DAWT) at the Taicang site together with another German company. The training follows the IHK standard and the German dual system.

2002 Expansion in the area of wire and strip springs through acquisitions

The company grows in the wire springs sector through majority shareholdings and takeovers: KURT MEDER GMBH (2002), BOHNERT GMBH (2004), THÜRINGER PRÄZISIONSFEDERNFABRIK GMBH, SCHWEIZER GMBH & CO. KG (2005), MOLLIFICIO 3M S.P.A. in Italy (2005) and TMG S.A. in Spain (2008). With the takeover of GEBRÜDER SCHMIDT GMBH (2004), the product range for strip springs is also expanded.

2004 Expansion in the area of blanks and needles, stamped and stamped-bent parts

Further expansion of the blanks and stamped and stamped-bent parts business through acquisitions: SAXONIA INTERNATIONAL BV, SAXONIA UMFORMTECHNIK GMBH (2004), PAUL LEISTNER GMBH (2004), HAASE & KÜHN S.A. in Switzerland (2005), SÄCHSISCHE NADEL- UND PLATINENFABRIKEN GMBH, HAASE & KÜHN PORTUGUESA AGULHAS TEXTEIS LDA in Porto/Portugal (2005), HAASE & KÜHN in Bucharest/ROMANIA (2005), PROMETALL WERKZEUGBAU GMBH (2005).

2005 Expansion through further acquisitions

By acquiring a majority stake in BRUKER SPALECK in Schramberg (2005), the company secures its entry into the specialty wire business. The acquisition of CARL HAAS GMBH (2006) marks the company's entry into the production of plastic composite parts, medical guide wires and clock springs.

2005 Further expansion in Asia

China becomes the largest growth market for KERN-LIEBERS. The company founds subsidiaries in Tianjin (2005) and Guangzhou (2005). A second plant is built at the Taicang site (2006). The joint venture WÄLZHOLZ-KERN-LIEBERS (2006) and BRUKER-SPALECK SOLAR TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD (2008) are founded. In India, a new plant is built in Tumkur near Bangalore (2006).

2010 Continuation of global growth strategy under new management

Hans-Jochem Steim retires from the Management Board and takes over as Chairman of the Board of Directors from his brother Dr. Jürgen Steim. Dr. rer. pol. Udo Schnell (Chairman of the Management Board) and Klaus Scheuble (Commercial Managing Director) take over management responsibility. In 2013, Dipl.-Ing. Josef Schwuger (Technical Managing Director) is added to the Management Board.

2021 Change in management

Dr. Udo Schnell, Chairman of the Management Board of the KERN-LIEBERS Group for many years, is retiring. Dr. Schnell has continuously adapted structures and processes to the changing requirements of the Group and prepared it for the transformation in the automotive industry. His successor will be Dr. Erek Speckert, formerly CEO of the O-Rings & Boots Division at Freudenberg (Weinheim). Dr. Speckert has extensive experience in the automotive sector and other industries. He also worked for Freudenberg in China and Japan for several years.

2023 30 years of KERN LIEBERS in China

The company's long-standing presence in Taicang is celebrated at a ceremony attended by 300 guests. In his speech, CEO Dr. Erek Speckert emphasized that Taicang has now become a second home for KERN LIEBERS.

2023 KERN LIEBERS opens new plant in Monterrey, Mexico

KERN LIEBERS has been represented in Nuevo León since June 2019. With an investment of 10 million dollars, the company is particularly committed to the Monterrey metropolitan region in order to strengthen its presence in North America.

In the new plant, KERN LIEBERS produces more than 50 million precision parts, which are used in seat belts, hose reels, measuring tapes, starters for electric saws and springs for windows, among other things.

2025 Change of name and rebranding

Hugo Kern und Liebers GmbH & Co KG Platinen- und Federnfabrik is opening a new chapter in its company history: With immediate effect, the company will operate under the name KERN LIEBERS GmbH & Co KG. The rebranding includes all German companies, which will gradually be renamed KERN LIEBERS.