RAFF + GRUND - THE SPECIALIST FOR PLANT AND VESSEL CONSTRUCTION AND STAINLESS STEEL PROCESSING

Whether a vessel, a complete unit or a sheet metal processing component. Our focus is always on quality. Our company has stood for high-quality sheet metal processing and first-class container construction for over 100 years. Today, we build complete systems for our customers worldwide, including process engineering design and automation.

We consistently focus on quality and customer orientation. Our aim is to provide a first-class service from the preparation of the quotation to order support throughout the entire production process, right through to acceptance and documentation. Our team of 60 specialists works towards this goal. 

Good employee training is very important to us. Our trainees have been national or state winners more than 10 times in the vessel and apparatus builders' performance competition.

Insights from Raff + Grund

200.000 liter container - Production steps

FIGURES - DATA - FACTS

Short overview

 

FOUNDING YEAR

1904

EMPLOYEES

60 (as of 2024)

SECTOR

  • industry
  • B2B

INDUSTRIES SUPPLIED

  • Pharmaceutical and biotechnology
  • Food industry
  • Chemical industry
  • Packaging machine manufacturers
  • Semiconductor industry
  • Mechanical engineering
  • Research institutes
  • Nuclear technology
  • Vacuum technology
  • Interior designers, fountain builders and artists

MARKET AREA

  • Europe
  • USA
  • Asia
  • Africa

MAIN AREAS OF ACTIVITY

  • Process technology / engineering
  • Plant construction
  • Tank construction
  • Sheet metal processing

UNIQUE SELLING POINTS

  • Process engineering design, construction and manufacture of plants
  • Construction of tanks in accordance with international regulations (PED, AD2000, EN13445, ASME (U-Stamp-Holder), SELO (China Manufacturer License), MoM Singapore, IBN (India Boiler Regulation), Ghost, etc.)
  • Production of piping incl. orbital welding
  • Surface finishing such as grinding and electropolishing as well as pickling and passivation in-house
  • Skid assembly
  • Sheet metal processing incl. GMP design
  • Testing and acceptance of products and systems incl. endoscopy, PMI measurements, roughness measurements, delta ferrite content measurements, riboflavin tests, etc
  • GMP-compliant documentation incl. qualification of systems (DQ, IQ, OQ)
  • Installation, assembly and start-up of systems worldwide

VISION

We develop the solution to our customers' tasks. Thanks to our in-house production depth, customers receive this from a single source without additional interfaces. With our specialists, our know-how and our experience, we develop an economical solution that focuses on the operator. During implementation, we consistently focus on quality and customer orientation.

MISSION

Through close cooperation between the various departments, modern machines and equipment, we produce our products efficiently, economically and to the highest quality standards. A high level of customer satisfaction and adherence to deadlines is achieved through close communication with customers during projects.

CHRONICS

1904

Founded by the master coppersmith Albert Kogel in Stuttgart, the great-grandfather of the current Managing Director Dipl.-Ing. Tilman Raff.

1904 – 1950

Production of general containers and vessels made of copper, in particular dyeing kettles.

1921

After the death of A. Kogel, the company is continued by his eldest daughter Anna Raff, widowed at an early age, under the name Kogel + Raff.

1920 - 1950

Construction of washing boilers and washing machines, as well as containers and vessels made of copper and related metals.

1946

Walter Grund joins the company and the company is renamed Raff + Grund.

1950 - 1970

Construction of stainless steel dyeing apparatus with representation throughout Europe.

1956

Relocation of the company to Freiberg a.N. and new building with approx. 680m² of hall space.

1950 - 1980

One focus is the production of stainless steel tanks for the dairy and food industry as well as tubular heaters for wineries.

1964

After the sudden death of A. Raff, his son Günter Raff and the son of W. Grund, Dieter Grund, both Dipl.-Ing. (FH), succeed him as managing partners.

1965

Construction of a new hall for tank construction with approx. 400m² of hall space.

1965 - 1990

The construction of process tanks for the semiconductor industry is a focus of Raff + Grund.

1969

Construction of a new 3-storey office and residential building with an area of approx. 350m².

Ab 1970

Welded and highly polished components such as funnels, basins and vessels for packaging machine manufacturers in the food technology sector are a focus of Raff + Grund.

Ab 1980

Pressure and sterile vessels, systems for the pharmaceutical industry and packaging machine manufacturers remain the core business for Raff + Grund.

1986

Construction of a new hall for parts production and incoming goods with an area of approx. 360m².

1991

Hall extension with an area of approx. 230m² for the sheet metal cutting area with an automatic sheet metal high-bay warehouse as well as demolition of the tinning shop and simultaneous construction of a new hall for the grinding shop with an area of approx. 160m².

2001

Dipl.-Ing. Tilman Raff, the son of G. Raff, and Holger Stängle, the son-in-law of D. Grund, succeed him as managing directors.

2004

100th anniversary of Raff + Grund. Construction of the hall extension with an area of approx. 620m² including the enlargement of the pickling shop and construction of a new 4-storey office building with an area of approx. 480m².

2008

Certification of Raff + Grund according to DIN EN ISO 9001 and DIN EN ISO 14000.

2009

Transfer of shares from G. Raff to his son Tilman Raff and from D. Grund to his daughter Meike Stängle, wife of the managing director Holger Stängle.

2010

Successful re-certification of Raff + Grund according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2008 and DIN EN ISO 14001:2004.

2014

Successful ASME certification (U-Stamp)
Re-certification ISO 9001:2008
Re-certification ISO 14001:2009
Award from Jobbrücke e.V. for special support

2015

Successful training: Award for an R+G apprentice as 1st national winner in the vessel and apparatus builders' performance competition

2017

Successful SELO certification (China Manufacturer License)
Re-certification ASME (U-Stamp)
Re-certification ISO 9001:2015
Installation of a height-adjustable plasma taphole longitudinal clamping machine

2019

Introduction of our new ERP system

2020

Re-certification ASME (U-Stamp)

2021

Installation of a pipe bending machine with internal mandrel
Introduction of software for P&IDs, isometrics and pipe design

2023

Re-certification ASME (U-Stamp)
Re-certification ISO 9001:2025
Successful training: Award for an R+G apprentice as 2nd national winner in the performance competition for vessel and apparatus builders

2024

Installation of a new 6 kW laser cutting machine and a vessel grinding system incl. grinding head for dished ends for vessels up to ø 2.4 m

Planning of a new building with a production area of 1,200 m² and a hook height of 11 m with a separate room for assembly and FAT, as well as office space of 300 m².