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  • 100 YEARS
    tradition & expertise - 1919
  • 100 YEARS
    tradition & expertise - 1985
  • 100 YEARS
    tradition & expertise - 2002
  • 100 YEARS
    tradition & expertise - 2020

1st October 1919

Gunsmith Karl Pfestorf founds a workshop on 1 October 1919 in Teichstraße 7 in Zella-Mehlis and manufactures drum revolvers with 3 journeymen, in coordination with the local company Carl Walther.

a new company building at Schönauer Straße 87 is built and moved into.

Summer 1937

End of war 1945

the Americans occupy Mehlis. The company's finished goods are confiscated and taken away. After the death of his father, Erich Pfestorf takes over the management of the company. Initially, everyday items are manufactured in exchange for food for employees and their families. The production of steam locomotive spare parts for the Reichsbahn is also established.
during this time, various buildings were constructed to expand the company (office extension, garages, storage area and production area).

Following years
1945 - 1966

1957 - 1966

Gerhard Pfestorf joins the company in 1957, after completing his apprenticeship and engineering studies, as technical manager of the company. 

He takes over company shares from the family.

after the construction of a further building for extensive social rooms, offices and manufacturing, the expansion of production and administration takes place.

1969

1972 - 1990

by government decree, the company becomes, like other medium-sized companies, GDR-wide public property.
The company is renamed "VEB Spezialnormteile Zella-Mehlis".

with retransfering and privatizing of all properties, Gerhard Pfestorf and Marting Walter become managers and shareholders of the company.

This will be followed by further structural revisions to the overall facility.

Retransfer 1990

1995 - 2001

due to the steady increase in orders, the material warehouse had to be expanded in 1995.

The management also decided to expand production capacity by building a production hall for sliding headstock machines.

as proof of our quality-orientated approach, the company has been certified in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001 certified.

1996

2003

with an increasing focus on the environment as a factor directly relevant to quality, the EMAS environmental management system was introduced.
with the construction of two new production halls, the total available production area was expanded immensely. This has given the company additional room for future projects.

2005 - 2007

2012 - 2013

a photovoltaic system was installed on the roof of the main building to make our production more energy-efficient. This covers approx. 80,000 kWh of our annual requirements.

an environmental management system in accordance with DIN EN ISO 14001 was introduced to replace EMAS.



Since 1996, work has been carried out consistently in accordance with the current version of the quality management system, DIN EN ISO 9001.

2012 - 2014

2014 - 2016

following the entry of Thomas Caspari on 01.01.2015 and Gordan Kreuz on 01.09.2016, a new, young, next generation takes over the management and leadership of the company. Gordan Kreuz represents the 5th generation of the company founder.

Gerhard Pfestorf retires in 2015 after 58 years with the company and a successful career In 2018 and 2019, he is still temporarily responsible for the construction of a third production hall. Martin Walter ends his employment in 2018 and retires.

2015

1st October 2019

the Karl Pfestorf Group – Karl Pfestorf GmbH & Co. KG and Karl Pfestorf GmbH Präzisionsteile – turns 100 years old.
to ensure that the company can continue to operate in a future-proof manner, certification in accordance with DIN EN ISO 13485 has created the basis for the company to expand into new markets.

2022