The roots of the Leipold Group lie in the Black Forest. Carl Leipold founded the company 100 years ago. "We are committed to our long tradition of high-quality workmanship made in the Black Forest, but thanks to our special machining expertise with highly qualified employees, we are looking to the future with great expectations," says Pascal Schiefer, Managing Partner of the Leipold Group. "Thanks to our investments in new production and tooling technologies, we are well equipped for future challenges." Leipold stands for a high level of reliability towards its employees and a high delivery capacity towards its customers.

Founded in 1919 without any start-up capital

At the time Leipold was founded, the Black Forest was already highly industrialized. Born in Thuringia and a trained mechanic, Carl Leipold settled in Nußbach near Triberg after the First World War in search of work. In 1919, he founded his own company without any start-up capital of his own.

The circumstances of the post-war years are adverse, but the Golden Twenties bring an upswing for Leipold. In 1927, the company moves to its current location in Vorstadtstraße in Wolfach. Against the trend of the global economic crisis, Carl Leipold invests and expands the factory. With the beginning of the Second World War, development comes to a standstill. Leipold workers are increasingly sent to the front. The company is forcibly reorganized and produces goods essential to the war effort. Forced laborers are also deployed at Leipold during this time - the Leipold Group therefore participates in the "Remembrance, Responsibility and Future" foundation fund to this day.

Economic miracle period spurs expansion phase

In the economic miracle period after the Second World War, the company picks up speed again. Carl Leipold does pioneering work, designs new automatic lathes and processes material from the ring for the first time. In 1953, the company already has 40 employees, and by the time it celebrates its 50th anniversary in 1969, the number of employees has grown to 100. Leipold develops into one of Wolfach's most important employers.

Carl Leipold's son-in-law Ludwig Schiefer, who is firmly integrated into the company's operations, also plays a key role in this. After Carl Leipold's death in 1979, he assumed full responsibility, but died suddenly in 1982. His son, Dr. Karl-Heinz Schiefer, moved into the top ranks earlier than planned. At that time, the company had 124 employees.

From craft business to industrial company

The grandson of the company founder transforms Leipold from a large craftsman's business into an industrial company with standardized processes and procedures. He not only establishes the company's own sales department. Even at this early stage, he invested in the digital infrastructure. Leipold manufactures new products, particularly for the automotive, industrial technology and electrical engineering sectors. The company processes copper and steel alloys as well as aluminum and titanium - today, 50 percent of its highly complex products are made of stainless steel. In 1997, Leipold becomes the first turning shop in Europe and the first company in the Kinzigtal valley to have an eco-audit in accordance with the EC Eco-Regulation.

In 2012, the fourth generation takes over full responsibility. This continues the family history. Karl-Heinz Schiefer's son Pascal becomes the new Managing Director of Carl Leipold GmbH. In addition to specializing in various industries, he pushes ahead with investments in new technologies. In 2017, he doubles the production area in the US plant. He is currently pushing ahead with the expansion of production in Wolfach. "With our efforts, we are making a clear commitment to Wolfach as a production location," says Schiefer. "Where our history began, we also see a successful future for our company."

To this day, the company's success is based in particular on the expertise of its employees. In some cases, third-generation families are already working at Leipold - there are even retirees who have experienced all four generations of management. With the expertise of its employees, Leipold is increasingly supporting its customers along the entire value chain for the production of complex parts, says Pascal Schiefer: "Experience has shown that the most successful business relationships are always those in which Leipold is involved in the customer's projects at a very early stage." Today, Leipold Group sees itself as a solution provider in the manufacture of precision parts.