History
A long Tradition of innovative Spirit
The history of Kjellberg Finsterwalde is closely associated with the invention and patent “Electrode and process for electric soldering”. More than 100 years have passed since then. Many inventions to improve welding and plasma cutting processes have marked the path the company has since taken. They have made work practices in the metalworking sector easier, supported the quality requirements of customers and, last but not least, significantly increased the efficiency of production. 2019 is the year in which the company can look back on 60 years of development of its plasma cutting technology. And in the future, too, the requirements of our customers will be our incentive and benchmark for the further development of processes for thermal material processing.
1908
Reich Patent No. 231733
Oscar Kjellberg obtains Reich Patent No. 231733 “Electrode and process for electric soldering” and is therefore considered the inventor of the coated welding electrode.
1921
Foundation in Berlin
Seven Swedish and German partners found Kjellberg Elektroden GmbH in Berlin. The largest partner is Swedish company ESAB with its General Director Oscar Kjellberg.
1922
Oscar Kjellberg goes to Finsterwalde
At the suggestion of Oscar Kjellberg, Kjellberg Elektro-Maschinen GmbH is founded in Finsterwalde for the purpose of producing welding generators suitable for Kjellberg electrodes.
1923
First welding generator produced in Finsterwalde
The first welding generator developed and built in Finsterwalde, the Ke 200/1450, is presented at the spring fair in Leipzig.
Welding electrode production starts in Finsterwalde. The oldest product is the OK G2/1 rod electrode, which is used for repair welding.
1926
New profile, new name
Adapting to the changed company profile, the Finsterwalde company is renamed Kjellberg Elektroden und Maschinen GmbH.
1930
Worldwide success with welding converters
Kjellberg lays the foundation for the worldwide success of the company with its KU series of welding converters. The fundamentally new design of these machines brings the entire machine set under one housing with a control unit and steerable carrier.
1934
Development of automated welding starts
Kjellberg begins its initial investigations into mechanised/automated welding.
1935
Electrode press improves welding quality
The introduction of the electrode press improves both the thickness of the coating and welding quality compared to the dipping process previously in common use.
1941
Kaell-Kjellberg-Lundin process boosts performance
The patented Kaell-Kjellberg-Lundin process produces a significant boost in performance in metalworking. In this process, a double-wire electrode is welded in three arcs simultaneously. Kjellberg is the world’s largest manufacturer of arc welding technology.
1943
First industrial solution for automated submerged arc welding
After just two months of development, Kjellberg presents the so-called “Maulwurf” (mole), the first industrial solution for automated submerged arc welding.
1959
First basic tests for plasma cutting
First basic tests for plasma cutting of high-alloy steels and aluminium with argon-hydrogen are carried out at the Professor Manfred von Ardenne Institute in cooperation with Kjellberg.
1962
Fine jet cutting patented
Kjellberg Finsterwalde produces the first industry-ready WSH III-M plasma cutting systems with 50 kW. The patent for plasma fine jet cutting is registered.
1963
First mass-produced plasma cutting unit
The PA 100 plasma fusion cutting unit is the first mass-produced machine at Kjellberg in Finsterwalde.
1966
New processing capabilities ensure international success
Introduction of plasma fine jet cutting with the PA 20. Increased cutting speeds, rework-free cuts and new processing capabilities ensure international success.
1970
Air used as gas in plasma cutting for the first time
The company is assigned to the Mansfeld Combine for 20 years as the Volkseigener Betrieb Schweißtechnik Finsterwalde. For the first time worldwide, air is used as a carrier gas in plasma cutting.
1979
GDR National Prize for Science and Technology
A collective of researchers from Kjellberg and the Professor Manfred von Ardenne Institute is awarded the GDR National Prize for Science and Technology for 20 years of scientific and technical cooperation on the development of the plasma fusion cutting process.
1984
High levels of demand from Japan exceed capacities
Japanese O-A-Mach Corporation in Tokyo receives a license to produce and sell plasma cutting torches because the delivery quantities required for the Japanese market cannot be met on time due to lack of capacity in Finsterwalde.
1986
Underwater plasma cutting technology opens up new possibilities in shipbuilding
Underwater plasma cutting opens up a new area of application. This is made possible by the introduction of the PA 50UWP with swirl gas technology. Inverters are used as a completely new generation of power sources for welding, later also for plasma units.
1991
Replacement of old products with new developments
The company is restructured, with a new national and international sales system, and the entire product range is replaced by new developments.
1993
First CNC multi-bevel trimming unit with two three-torch units
The world’s first CNC multi-bevel trimming unit with two three-torch units is used for the “Shipbuilding 2000” project at HDW Kiel – technology developed by Professor Friedrich-Wilhelm Bach, University of Dortmund. Plasma cutting of flat bead profiles (Holland profiles) is made possible by special robot torches.
1997
Company management as foundation creates security
The Kjellberg Foundation is established as the company’s sole shareholder.
1998
Quality leap through inverter technology
Inverter technology is also used in plasma cutting technology. The market launch of the PB-S47 W-1 swirl gas plasma torch increases cutting quality in fine jet cutting and enables a leap in quality in the cutting of stainless steel.
2000
New plasma cutting technology with laser-like quality
HiFocus, a new plasma cutting technology with laser-like quality conquers the market. The introduction of the HiFinox technology makes metallic bright and dross-free cut surfaces on CrNi steels in the thin sheet range possible for the first time worldwide. With the improved modules in the new KA welding automat series, Kjellberg Finsterwalde responds to the requirements for submerged arc welding technology that is increasingly in demand.
2004
Record in dismantling of a nuclear reactor with systems connected in parallel
The introduction of HiFocusPLUS technology enables higher cutting speeds and almost vertical plasma cuts. A new record is set with three FineFocus 800 plasma cutting units connected in parallel and a special replaceable head torch for 900 A: For the dismantling of nuclear reactors, 130 millimetre thick stainless steel walls are dismantled in water depths of several metres.
2008
Restructuring of the entire company for increased specialisation
The HiFocus 440i plasma cutting unit, the most powerful in the world, is successfully launched on the market. Kjellberg Finsterwalde Elektroden und Maschinen GmbH is split up into three independent companies with the founding of Kjellberg Finsterwalde Plasma und Maschinen GmbH, Kjellberg Finsterwalde Schweißtechnik und Verschleißschutzsysteme GmbH and Kjellberg Finsterwalde Elektroden und Zusatzwerkstoffe GmbH. The headquarters of Kjellberg Finsterwalde Schweißtechnik und Verschleißschutzsysteme GmbH is moved to Witten in North Rhine-Westphalia. Kjellberg Finsterwalde Elektroden und Zusatzwerkstoffe GmbH inaugurates its new factory at the Massen location. Responsibility for group-wide functions is assumed by Kjellberg Finsterwalde Dienstleistungsgesellschaft.
2012
Forming technologies and internal research company for the future
Kjellberg Maschinenfabrik GmbH expands the group’s product portfolio, offering the forming of materials for the first time. Under the umbrella of the Kjellberg Foundation OSCAR PLT is founded as an internal research company. Its purpose is to research new technologies in material processing.
2015/16
Laser cutting technology enables cutting below 0.5 mm
Kjellberg Finsterwalde founds a consulting company in India and introduces the new PSI 400 power source for plasma flux build-up welding up to 400 A onto the market. At the same time, the first Aquaweld certified underwater welding electrode is developed. As a further mainstay, Kjellberg expands its portfolio with the first XFocus laser cutting series.
2017
Silent Cut revolutionises plasma cutting
The Silent Cut plasma cutting technology for Smart Focus revolutionises the industry by reducing noise levels by 15 dB(A).
2019
Development of Industry 4.0-capable Q unit opens the way to the future
Kjellberg Finsterwalde establishes a representative office in Vietnam and plans further locations as part of an expansion strategy, including in China. The first unit in the Q series, which is designed for use in smart factories, is launched at a major event.
2022
100 years of Kjellberg &
25 years of Kjellberg Foundation
Kjellberg Finsterwalde celebrates its 100th anniversary. The manufacturing facility started manufacturing welding generators for Kjellberg electrodes in Finsterwalde a century ago has grown into a global player. Kjellberg products from Finsterwalde are now used all over the world. The Kjellberg Foundation, which was founded in 1997 as a 100% shareholder of all our companies, is also celebrating its 25th anniversary.