Machines for hardcover book, board and corrugated board processing as well as castings from lamellar and spheroidal graphite cast iron materials
KOLBUS Group GmbH
Rahden, GermanyNew on Amplifa
About KOLBUS
KOLBUS Group GmbH, headquartered in Rahden (Mindener-Lübbecke district), is a traditional German mechanical engineering company founded in 1775 as a village smithy. The company manufactures machines and systems for hardcover book and packaging production (casemaker machines such as the DA 160, BOX Line for rigid boxes), as well as machines for corrugated board processing such as the RD 115G flexo rotary die-cutter and the short-run boxmaker BX Motion Pro. In addition, KOLBUS operates its own foundry (since 1877) with an annual capacity of 3,500 t of castings in lamellar graphite cast iron materials (EN-GJL) and spheroidal graphite cast iron (EN-GJS) – from prototypes and one-off pieces through to small series. The value chain extends from design and the production of in-house castings to machining, heat treatment, surface treatment, assembly and logistics; for machining and surface processes, reliable partners are sometimes relied upon. The cast iron components from the company's own foundry, e.g. in the RD machines, reduce vibration and increase process stability.
- Site
- Rahden
- Processes
- Production of castings with lamellar and spheroidal graphite (foundry), Single-part machining (turning shop mentioned as outsourcing), Grinding (finishing), Surface treatment including hardening, Heat treatment (hardening), Assembly, Procurement management and material purchasing for castings, Mechanical engineering of casemaker machines for hardcover book production
- Materials
- Lamellar graphite cast iron materials, Spheroidal graphite cast iron materials, Greyboard, Corrugated board, Paper, Cast iron (machine components), Cast iron
- Certificates
- Casting database with 12,234 pattern systems, Production traceability system
- Founded
- 1775
- Employees
- 737
- Industries
- Packaging machinery (rigid box/packaging), Corrugated board processing, Print finishing, Foundry/casting industry
- 01
Design/Engineering
- 02
Pattern and mould making (foundry)
- 03
Casting (EN-GJL, EN-GJS)
- 04
Machining (turning)
- 05
Heat treatment/hardening
- 06
Grinding/finishing
- 07
Assembly
- 08
Shipping/logistics
Materials & Processes
Lamellar graphite cast iron materials
Grey cast iron for machine components with good damping properties, including frame parts of the RD series.
Spheroidal graphite cast iron materials
Ductile iron for highly stressed machine components.
Cast iron
In-house castings reduce vibrations and increase the running stability of the machines.
Greyboard
Processing material of the BOX Line machines for rigid boxes.
Paper
Material for hardcover book and packaging production on KOLBUS machines.
Corrugated board
Processed on the RD 115G flexo rotary die-cutters and boxmakers.
Locations
Rahden
DEHeadquarters, mechanical engineering and foundry
- Part weight / size
- 3.500 t/Jahr
- Lot size
- Prototypes, one-off pieces, small series
- Materials
- EN-GJL, EN-GJS
- Foundry (since 1877)
- Casemaker DA 160
- Flexo rotary die-cutter RD 115G
- Boxmaker BX Motion Pro
- Mercedes-Benz Atego 7,5 t (logistics)
Components & Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production of castings with lamellar and spheroidal graphite (foundry)Casting | – | – | 3,500 tonnes annual capacity | Prototypes to one-off pieces – Small series | Lamellar graphite cast iron materials, Spheroidal graphite cast iron materials |
| Single-part machining (turning shop mentioned as outsourcing)Machining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Grinding (finishing)Machining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Surface treatment including hardeningSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Heat treatment (hardening)Heat treatment | – | – | – | – | – |
| AssemblyAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Procurement management and material purchasing for castingsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mechanical engineering of casemaker machines for hardcover book productionAssembly | – | – | – | – | Board, Paper |
| BOX Line machines for rigid boxes made of board and paperPlastics | – | – | – | – | Greyboard/board, Paper |
| Corrugated board processing: flexo rotary die-cutter (die-cutting, printing, drying)Forming | – | – | – | – | Corrugated board |
| Flexo rotary die-cutter RD 115G (internal and external flexo units)Forming | – | – | – | – | Corrugated board |
| Boxmaking with BX Motion / BX Motion Pro (short-run board packaging)Forming | – | – | – | – | Board, Corrugated board |
| Digital printing unit in modular lineSurface | – | – | – | – | Corrugated board |
5 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flexo rotary die-cutter | KOLBUS RD 115G | – | – | – | Rahden |
| Boxmaker (short-run board packaging machine) | KOLBUS BX Motion Pro | – | – | – | – |
| Casemaker machine (hardcover book production) | KOLBUS DA 160 | – | – | – | Rahden |
| Foundry | KOLBUS | 1 | – | seit 1877 | Rahden |
| Truck (Mercedes-Benz Atego 7.5 t, logistics) | Mercedes-Benz Atego 7.5-ton | 1 | – | – | Rahden |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
Since the 1990s, KOLBUS has documented foundry processes in a database containing more than 12,000 pattern systems, in which work instructions with photos are stored and improvement suggestions are recorded in a traceable manner. A production traceability system coordinates the progress of each casting and ensures transparent processes.
| Evidence | Rahden |
|---|---|
| Casting database with 12,234 pattern systems | |
| Production traceability system |
History
- 1775
Christian Henrich Kolbus establishes a village smithy in Rahden
- 1877
Foundry founded (Foundry since 1877)
- 1900
August Kolbus begins building bookbinding machines (book rounding and pressing machine Rupert)
- 1945
Plant dismantled as a result of the Second World War
- 1947
Rebuilding with 35 employees
- 1962
First fully automatic book production line (36 books/minute)
- 2006
1st prize "Die Beste Fabrik OWL" (The Best Factory OWL)
- 2008
Sponsorship of the Candide Prize
- 2010
Acquisition of Sigloch Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG, Blaufelden
- 2018
Sale of the bookbinding systems business segment to Müller Martini; focus on hardcover book and packaging production
- 2020
Market launch of the first KOLBUS RD flexo rotary die-cutter; 737 employees, revenue of €60.3 million
- 2024
Insolvency proceedings initiated
- 2025
Sale to Max Valier Holding as of 1.1.2025, 200 employees laid off, new management
- 2026
Announcement of a reduction of 10 % of the workforce; dissolution of KOLBUS Ausbildungs GmbH