History of the KAPP Group

1898

Foundation of „Deutsche NILES Werke AG“ in Berlin-Oberschöneweide as licensee of Niles Tool Works Company, Hamilton/Ohio. Licence- production of heavy turning, milling, planing and drill machines

1926

Development of technological process "gear generating grinding for cylindrical tool systems" for precise manufacturing of gears

1931

NILES produces the first gear generating grinding maschine for cylindrical tool systems "RS 0". Tip diameter: up to 500 mm

1944

Destruction of nearly whole manufacturing equipment during the 2. World War

1945

Reconstruction by sowjet forced administration. Reorganization of the production

1949

Foundation of „VEB Deutsche NILES Werke Berlin“. Serial production of tooth flank grinding machines and vertical boring and turning mills

1953

Foundation of KAPP company by Bernhard Kapp.                                             Production of wood working machines

1958

KAPP enters the market of tool grinding

1959

Extension of the KAPP-production program:                                                     Large-scale machines for the company "Waldrich", milling machines, surface grinding machines, profile grinding machines

1968

First machine for grinding of tooth flanks with stored program control

1973

First NILES gear generating grinding machine for cylindrical tool systems has been delivered. Max. tip diameter: 2,500 mm

1975

KAPP produces the world's largest hob grinding machine

1978

CBN-technology

1984

Foundation of KAPP Technologies (USA)

1985

Foundation of KAPP 2 Technologie GmbH (Germany)

1985

First NILES gear generating grinding machine for cylindrical tool systems with CNC-control

1986

Foundation of KAPP TEC (Brazil)

1988

Foundation of KAPP Tools (Joint Venture in Japan)

1990

Closure of machine tool state holding company „7. Oktober“, Foundation of „NILES Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH“ as state-run company. Beginning of development of gear profile grinding machines

1993

NILES going-private

1994

First NILES ZP-Series gear profile grinding machine. Tip diameter up to 800 mm

1997

Aquisition of NILES Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH through KAPP GmbH (Coburg).Spezialization in gear profile grinding machines for large gears

2000

Start-up of the new shop floor in Berlin-Falkenberg

2006

Foundation of KAPP Asia Technologies (P.R.China)