About us
With a medium-sized corporate culture, international orientation, a high level of communication, and a strong team spirit, we have been in the market since 1980 and have decades of experience.
Thanks to a high level of communication, a strong team spirit, and the corporate culture within a medium-sized business, our company produces and provides ideal solutions, customized to particular applications of our more than 300 customers who are located in 25 countries worldwide.
There are currently about 100 staff members on two facilities, who strive day after day to find perfect results for our customers.
With a strong customer focus, individual advice for individual requirements and solutions, decades of experience and a high level of competence in material and production technology, we can call ourselves one of the world’s leading manufacturers of
special solutions in the field of roller technology. Based on your requirements and our know-how, we create a special product that is fitted to the needs and purpose of the customer. This makes us to your reliable partner from the first draft to series delivery.
Thanks to our experience, strong innovative power, competence and flexibility, we are able to respond quickly to new and changing market demands. Our machinery allows us, in cooperation with our customers, to grasp challenges as an opportunity.
Milestones
Learn more about SKT’s milestones and the development of our company. From our early founding steps to significant mergers and innovative realignments – our timeline offers a fascinating insight into the history that has made us what we are today: a reliable partner in international competition.
1979
Founding
Company foundation ball bearing production
Roland Schneider and Helmut Schwarzwälder decide to start and push ahead with the manufacturing of ball bearings.
1980
Creation of a building
Tennenbronn ball bearing factory
Foundation of the separate ball-bearing plant in Tennenbronn. The company – now named Schneider Schreibgeräte Plant No. 2 – moves into the newly erected building with 3,200 m² floor space.
1986
Factory expansion
Tennenbronn expansion
Extension of plant by 1,000 m² to 4,200 m².
1990
Finacial spin off
Founding of SKT Schneider and Schwarzwälder Kugeltechnik
Financial spin-off of the plant for writing instruments leads to SKT Schneider Kugellagertechnik – the ball-bearing technology company. Schwarzwälder Kugeltechnik is founded in the same year – this enterprise specializes in producing and distributing balls of highest precision. The existing building in Schramberg – Tennenbronn is enlarged to 7,500 m².
1991-92
Plant establishment
Founding of the Apolda plant
To be able to meet the ever-expanding demand, a further plant is established in Apolda (Federal Land of Thuringia) with 2,600 m² floor space.
1998
Factory expansion
Extension Apolda
Extension of plant in Apolda by 2,600 m² to now 3,300 m².
2004
Merging
Merger to SKT Schwarzwälder Kugel & Rollentechnik
The merging of Schwarzwälder Kugeltechnik and SKT Schneider Kugellagertechnik results in the new company SKT Schwarzwälder Kugel & Rollentechnik GmbH & Co. KG. Ever since, the company has been managed by both acting partners Helmut and Andreas Schwarzwälder.
2009
Restructuring
Strategic realignment for sustainable growth
Decision to restructure SKT. Targeted purchasing from external providers in addition to in-house production will assure the company’s persistence when facing international competition. This, in future, will allow us to implement balanced risk management.
2016
Company anniversary
25 years of production plant Apolda & Schwarzwälder Kugeltechnik
25th anniversary of the establishment of the Apolda production site. Schwarzwälder Kugeltechnik was also founded 25 years ago and merged in 2004 with the ball bearing plant.
2017
New department
Plastic turning department
Foundation of the new plastic turning shop at the site Schramberg – Tennenbronn.
2020
Generational change
Helmut Schwarzwälder hands over to his son Andreas
Helmut Schwarzwälder leaves the operational business. He will continue to be available to his son, Andreas Schwarzwälder, in an advisory capacity.
2022
Promotion of trading
Trading business
To complement the company’s existing focus, Managing Director Andreas Schwarzwälder decided to specifically push the trading business.
This will give the company additional flexibility and strengthen its market position.
Today
Further development
Continuous development for a strong future
Due to the constant challenges on the market, we keep on adjusting and improving in all areas of our company, thus ensuring that we keep up with the times and progress even further while remaining a stable and efficient partner for our customers.