A Success Story
IEF-Werner GmbH from Furtwangen in the Black Forest celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and looks back on a successful company history. Founded in 1980 as an engineering office, the company is now one of the leading international companies with automation and handling solutions that are used in numerous industries. In the region, IEF-Werner with its 170 employees is one of the well-known employers - and a strong medium-sized company.
Furtwangen, 03.03.2020 – This year IEF-Werner celebrates its 40th anniversary. With specialised automation systems such as servo presses, palletisers, wheel measuring machines or transport systems, the company is now present in many industries - for example in medical, electrical and precision engineering, the automotive, semiconductor and watchmaking industries. The components, systems and applications are in use worldwide. The automation specialist is also an important employer in the region.
It all starts in 1980 with Robert Werner and two employees. The small engineering office develops quickly. From pure planning and design as a service, IEF-Werner quickly moves on to special machine construction. Production is first carried out by external companies, and from 1983 on, with meanwhile 14 employees, in the company's own workshop. Until 1987, the young company's product range mainly consisted of motor-driven linear units with stepper motor control. The now 42 employees develop a linear axis with fully supported guide shafts. The first series product is born - the Module 105 is still successfully on the market today. Manfred Bär also joined the company at a very early stage, in 1981, as design manager. In 1998 he takes over the management of the company.
Development and no end
IEF-Werner is growing. Reason enough to move into the new, almost 2.000 square metre company building in Furtwangen in 1989 with now 65 employees. In order to increase the level of awareness, IEF-Werner strengthens its presence at trade fairs and is now also active in Asia. In order to accommodate the now 90 employees and to make room for future growth, a 2.000 square metre extension is added to the new company building. In 1993 the technicians introduce the modular posyART system: components and assemblies are transported on workpiece carriers over transfer lines to connect assembly, welding or testing stations.
At the turn of the millennium, IEF-Werner offers the new profiLINE slide generation. The spindle-driven unit is used when large forces with small stroke and high precision are required. The system is suitable for assembly cells where space is limited - a requirement that customers are increasingly demanding. This is followed by the development of a micro-assembly cell and the introduction of a new generation of controllers.
The customer support is central
Already in 2001 IEF-Werner founded a service centre in Northern Germany. In 2002, the automation company continued to expand its service network, and from 2005 onwards, additional locations are established to provide even better support for customers. In the same year, managing director Manfred Bär takes over the entire company shares and is thus the sole owner. And development does not stand still either: the flexible and compact palletiser of the varioSTACK series as well as light and fast linear units for micro-assembly and the semiconductor industry are launched on the market.
In 2010, the Black Forest based company develops the energy-saving ecoSTACK palletising technology. In contrast to other systems, this system does not require cost-intensive compressed air. The machine saves further energy by automatically switching off components that are currently not needed.
The aiPRESS is coming
A milestone in the company's history is the development of the aiPRESS generation of servo presses, which the automation company introduces in 2012. IEF-Werner, with its 125 employees, has quickly achieved initial successes with this future-oriented solution, which allows high-precision joining processes to be carried out automatically. The aiPRESS is suitable both for integration into plants and for use as a stand-alone system. Two years later the Black Forest based company took second place with this series at the handling award 2014, which is presented at the international trade fair for production and assembly automation MOTEK in Stuttgart. The expert jury was convinced by the highly precise and at the same time energy-efficient operation of the aiPRESS.
In order to be always up to date in a future-oriented industry such as automation technology, the company from the Black Forest invests a lot of time and money in research and development. Thus, IEF-Werner is particularly oriented towards the needs of its customers when creating new products. It is becoming more and more important to be able to tailor the systems for their tasks. This is ensured not only by the farsightedness of the engineers, but above all by the modular design of the systems.
Opportunity for even more growth
In 2016 the number of employees rises to 146. 75 percent of IEF-Werner GmbH is sold to Indus Holding AG in Bergisch Gladbach by sole owner Manfred Bär. Bär hopes to grow further with the help of the holding company. The plan works out. In the same year the sale of the varioSTACK CF palletising system begins. CF stands for "Clean Factory". With this, IEF-Werner presents its proven palletiser, which it is optimized especially for the aspects of particle generation and improved cleaning while maintaining fast cycle times - thus ideal for use in clean rooms.
In 2018 Manfred Bär goes into well-earned retirement and hands over the wheel to Stefan Deck and Manfred Meyer. Both come from sales and have been with the company for many years. Indus AG will receive the remaining share in the company, making it the full owner. IEF-Werner continues to grow, now already with 160 employees.
IEF-Werner currently employs around 170 people. The expanding company has developed into a stable medium-sized enterprise in the region, offering its staff not only attractive tasks but also excellent long-term development opportunities. The training of junior staff is an integral part of the company philosophy. IEF-Werner prepares young people for their future professions in order to integrate them later as valuable employees.