Milestones on the path to the KNOW-HOW FACTORY.

The family-owned and operated company is founded in Rheinau-Freistett. Product developments in automation and handling technology soon help the company make its breakthrough. Zimmer GmbH quickly established itself in the field of developing and manufacturing highly complex components and system solutions for prestigious OEM customers. What was once a garage-based operation rapidly became a high-tech company. It is now one of the leading manufacturers in its industry. Its standardized solutions for mechanical and plant engineering are valued worldwide as high-quality products. Planning, designing, producing and assembling mechanical components: Zimmer GmbH Technische Werkstätten makes a name for itself as a skilled provider of technical services. The company has now been regarded as an important system supplier for more than ten years. Its customers are prestigious companies in the mechanical and plant engineering sector and the automotive industry.

We have made new breakthroughs in product development with the PowerStop family of industrial shock absorbers. The PowerStop dampers that were launched in 1992 owe their impressive properties to a stroke of genius from their inventor. Confronted with the question of how to overcome the drawbacks of conventional throttle bore shock absorbers used in industry, the creative mind at Zimmer Group invented spiral groove technology, which defines the necessary throttling of an oil flow in a completely new way.

This clever technology, which has since been used in the PowerStop brand shock absorbers, outshines all competitor products in terms of low-vibration damping of moving masses and maximum energy absorption in the smallest of spaces.

In 1994, the young but already rapidly growing company launched the first clamping elements for profile rail guides on the market with the LKH hydraulic clamping element series and the LK pneumatic version with integrated pressure intensifier. These achieved high clamping forces and high rigidity in a compact design. As with today’s elements, the clamping process took place without relative movement, so no lateral forces acted on the carriage. Furthermore, the clamping elements were controllable, able to be regulated and were very easy to mount.

Today, the Zimmer Group is the market and technology leader for clamping and braking elements and offers over 4,000 variants for profile and round rails as well as for a wide range of guide systems from all manufacturers. It makes no difference whether you prefer manual, pneumatic, electric or hydraulic drive.

One of the leading suppliers of pneumatic and electric handling components and systems in the world is incorporated. Sommer-automatic is an industry specialist with a clear focus and a comprehensive product range in the field of handling technology. Close cooperation with Zimmer GmbH Technische Werkstätten begins at the same time. This cooperation results in exemplary innovations for process automation in the areas of product management and research and development.

Company founded. Today, it is one of the leading development partners in the furniture industry and an unrivaled system partner for damping systems and innovative self-closing mechanisms, known as soft close systems, which have now also found their way into other industries, such as the automotive sector. The company’s customers include all of the major fitting and furniture manufacturers. The company is now recognized as a development pioneer and plant engineering company and is in demand all over the world.

Company founded. The company manufactures series production components in metal, plastic and elastomers (metal injection molding, plastic injection molding, elastomer technology and innovative MIM technology). The company combines many years of experience, high flexibility and a wide breadth of production. In the meantime, comprehensive expertise in areas including materials development, in-house moldmaking, product development and in-house post-processing has helped Zimmer Kunststofftechnik secure a very special market position.

New production facilities are acquired in Rheinau (10,500 m2).
In 2011, an additional 3,800 m² of production and office space were added to expand the capacity of Zimmer GmbH.

The company decides on an enhanced strategic focus. Two successful individual companies are first combined to form a GmbH (the equivalent of a limited liability corporation). Zimmer GmbH Technische Werkstätten and Sommer-automatic GmbH merge to form Zimmer GmbH. The independent companies Zimmer GmbH Kunststofftechnik and Zimmer GmbH Daempfungssysteme, along with Benz GmbH, now form the Zimmer Group together with Zimmer GmbH. From now on, all products for the fields of handling technology, linear technology and industrial and soft close damping technology will be developed under one roof and with even more efficiency than before. The common goal is to produce everything from a single source for the global market. From now on, the Zimmer Group considers itself the KNOW-HOW FACTORY.

Mechatronics in automation technology is making steady progress. As one of the pioneers of intelligent electronic grippers, the Zimmer Group provides users a GEP2000 series that opens up a wide range of possibilities that are extremely difficult to implement by conventional mechanical means. The GEP2000 series has impressive gripping force retention even in a completely de-energized state, and thus prevents the gripper from overheating. The focus is on the long stroke and free choice of control.

Wöku GmbH Werkzeugbau und Kunststoffspritzguss, located in the city of Ottersweier, Germany and employing 50 people, is being integrated into Zimmer Group.

Cobots, which are robot models suitable for human-robot collaboration (HRC), are making their way into the market in growing numbers. The Zimmer Group is one of the first manufacturers in the world to introduce HRC-capable grippers to the market. This innovation was honored with the Handling Award 2015. The Zimmer Group now has the largest portfolio of HRC grippers worldwide.

In July 2016, the Zimmer Group broke ground to construct two new production hall extensions at the site in Glockenloch, Germany. This creates space for further growth and about 50 new skilled jobs in the next couple of years.

Only a few weeks after receiving four IF DESIGN Awards, the Zimmer Group will also be honored with the renowned Red Dot Product Design Award. The high-level jury will award the Zimmer Group six times over with the coveted Seal of Quality in the categories of industrial equipment, machines and automation.

Among the many prizes and awards that the Zimmer Group received in 2019 are the German Brand Award (an industry prize for brand management), the German Innovation Award (an innovation prize sponsored by German industry), and the Handling Award.

The Zimmer Group is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

ZVS Techniek B.V. became Zimmer Group Benelux B.V.. In 2022, Zimmer Group Benelux B.V. was integrated into the Zimmer Group as a subsidiary. Headquartered in Zwolle, the Netherlands, it covers the sales network in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, and thus continues the company’s global expansion. With our own location in the Benelux countries, we are even closer to our customers, can react more quickly and are able to further strengthen our local market presence.

The new Zimmer Group representative office in Bulgaria, Zimmer Group Bulgaria EOOD, was officially founded in May 2023. The company’s head office is in the city of Radomir, 50 km southwest of the capitol Sofia. The new location allows the Zimmer Group to be closer to its customers within the country and in neighboring countries and helps to continue its global expansion.

Korea:
The Zimmer Group has built up a strong presence in Korea since 2006. The Korean market is a hotspot for automation specialists that are attracted by its industries, its robust environment and its strategic global connections. With Zimmer Group Korea Ltd., the Zimmer Group has been operating independently in Korea since 2024 with the aim of working directly with OEMs and expanding its market share in various sectors.

China:
The new building and the founding of Zimmer Group China Ltd. are also important milestones for the growth and development of the company. The Zimmer Group China Ltd. factory covers an area of 26,640 m²; the building area of Phase I is 9,911 m². Jintan, known as “the blessed land south of the Yangtze River”, is the youngest, most dynamic and most promising district of Changzhou.

India:
With production in India and the establishment of Zimmer Automation Ltd., the Zimmer Group can tailor its products to the individual needs of its customers and benefit from the strategically favorable geographical location at the same time. This move not only strengthens the brand’s presence in the region, but also underscores the Zimmer Group’s long-term commitment to promoting innovation, economic development and prosperity in India. The new factory is located in Pune, a renowned automotive and technology hub, and covers almost 10 acres of land. In phase one, approximately 1,573 m² of production space and 922 m² of office space are planned, with potential for future expansion.