RK Rose+Krieger crowned innovations champion

Letting go of the old and accepting new challenges: Innovative medium-sized businesses, like RK Rose+Krieger GmbH from Minden, have no fear of change, but rather see it as an opportunity. That is how the company managed to impress at the 27th edition of the TOP 100 innovation awards. As of 19 June, RK Rose+Krieger is one of the TOP 100. During the academic selection procedure the company was able to impress in size class C (more than 200 employees in Germany), in particular in the categories "Outward looking/Open Innovation" and "Climate of Innovation". RK Rose+Krieger has been listed among the top innovators 9 times.

RK Rose+Krieger specialises in the development and marketing of linear technology, profile assembly technology and connecting and module technology. The solutions of the nine-time TOP 100 company and subsidiary of the internationally active Phoenix Mecano AG are used above all in the automotive industry, for medical technology and by manufacturers of food packaging. However, in order to be able to supply its customers with complete packages from a single source, and not just mechanical products, the Minden company works together with partners. Together with the Fraunhofer Institute, for example, the company from Lower Saxony only recently developed an automated welding cell for large stainless steel parts. "We supplied the mechanical components and the Institute supplied the controller for the robot movements", Managing Director Hartmut Hoffmann explains.

Lean Management and Kaizen have advvanced the company forward

Moreover, the top innovator of course also draws on the inventiveness of its team of around 240 employees. "We try to motivate every single one of our employees to contribute ideas to the company. We received 90 suggestions in 2019 alone, and we have applied for property rights for four of them", Hoffmann says. In the experience of the Managing Director, a number of small improvements ultimately lead to sustainable innovations. The introduction of the innovative methods "lean management" and "Kaizen" in 2009 has also advanced his company greatly. An employee appointed specially for this role takes care of these matters.