History
1961
Deutsche van Rietschoten & Houwens GmbH is founded and entered in the commercial register by company director Schuit and Felix Biewer as a subsidiary of the Dutch company Van Rietschoten & Houwens. In the beginning, its business is export-driven trade in woodworking equipment.
1963
Just two years after the company’s foundation, it takes a new direction: It becomes clear that there must also be a market in the industrial sector for the emerging disc brake technology used in vehicles. Felix Biewer recognizes this technical revolution and– due to the booming market in Germany – decides that the company should be the first to introduce Twiflex disc brakes to the German market. This tremendous technical advance requires intensive consulting, leading to the decision that the existing distribution network must be reorganized.
1966
In order to guarantee professional consulting to customers across Germany, the company enters into cooperation agreements with sales agents in North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Wurttemberg.
1967
Peter Biewer, son of the company's managing director Felix Biewer, joins the company. His task is "developing the market for industrial brakes and structuring a business organization for that purpose."
1968
Universal disc brakes make their breakthrough and begin to be used in almost all types of industrial applications. The number of brake units sold also speaks for itself: Within one year, sales reach 1,500 units—a small amount in comparison to today, but the foundations had been laid.
1975
Peter Biewer assumes the company’s executive management. This event is followed by a structural change within the company as it moves from the role of a selling agent to becoming a distributor with decentralized production and a central warehouse. Its early entry into industrial disc brake technology helps the company become the undisputed market leader.
1976
Developments also occur within our organization: We design the first brake of our own, which means that the company evolves from being a distributor to a manufacturer.
1981
Water-cooled brakes, which are primarily used in the steel and paper industries and in winding applications, are the latest addition to the company’s product range.
1986
The company celebrates its 25th anniversary. Its continuing expansion makes it necessary to relocate three times in the company’s history: The current location at Junkersstrasse in Hanover offers sufficient office space and a large warehouse.
1989
Elephant Brakes by Rietschoten are now also used in the wind energy sector. We are considered a pioneer in wind energy because we became involved with the topic of renewable energy at an early stage.
1992
The customer demand for ready-to-connect electrical systems continuously increases. This results in the idea of designing complete braking units and leads to the development of the EH and EHS systems.
1994
In accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001, the company introduces a quality management system that is certified by Germanischer Lloyd. This ensures products and services that match customer expectations. At the same time, the management system supports a continuous improvement process.
1996
With the development of the R&H 300 caliper series, the modular design kit is complete: Thanks to the sophisticated modular construction system, it is now possible to provide braking solutions for practically every requirement.
2000
Hans-Peter Ravens assumes executive management of the company on May 1.
2005
Elephant Brakes by Rietschoten supplies the braking system for the propeller shafts of the "Sunflower"—one of the world’s largest private luxury yachts. This commission proves to be a pivotal project: It results in increasingly more jobs for the company from the shipbuilding industry.
2006
Elevator construction also becomes an important industry for the company: Elephant Brakes by Rietschoten supplies braking systems and hydraulics for elevators by ThyssenKrupp. These high-performance elevators are installed in the Shanghai World Financial Center. At a height of 492 meters, the sheer size of the building means that the elevator brakes must fulfill higher requirements that those in smaller buildings. Elephant Brakes by Rietschoten are also installed in the elevators of the CMA Tower in Saudi Arabia.
2008
In line with the ATEX Directive 94/9/EC, the entire product range is now also available as explosion-proof versions. This makes the company the first brake manufacturer to offer brakes as Category 2 devices.
2011
The company celebrates its 50th anniversary.
On December, 29th, Deutsche van Rietschoten & Houwens GmbH is acquired by industry group Obermark.
2012
Due to well-filled order books and projects on an ever-greater scale, the production facilities are expanded by 20%.
2013
The company takes on an exciting project, supplying hoist brakes for a nuclear power plant in the Netherlands.
2014
Following successful collaborations with ThyssenKrupp Elevator on some of the tallest buildings in the world, the company's brakes have been selected once again: In the future, braking systems and hydraulics will also be supplied for ThyssenKrupp's second-largest machine size. During this year, type approval has been completed successfully so that nothing stands in the way of their usage in smaller buildings as well.
