This year MBK Maschinenbau GmbH, based in Kisslegg, Germany, celebrates its 50th anniversary.
In 1961 Georg Pfender started a little machine shop in which, a few years later, he designed and built his first cage machine for a local concrete pipe producer. From there, MBK’s success story took off and the original design for straight cages was quickly updated to bell cages.
For the second generation, Albert Pfender, a mechanical engineer, succeeded his father in 1985 and invested his time and energy in consistent growth of the company. He continuously updated the machines to available technology and optimized the service quality. Meanwhile, more than 800 MBK cage machines had been installed worldwide, and an international service team with 15 technicians had been established. In Kisslegg, 80 employees and about 40 representative offices worldwide handle customer inquiries and interests.
In early 2009, MBK founded a daughter company in the United States, where three service technicians, a parts manager and an administrator handle the North American market. Networking and partnerships put MBK Sales & Service Inc. in a strong position to face the challenges of the reviving U.S. and Canadian markets.
Since Jan. 1, 2011, third-generation Mario Pfender is supporting his father in managing MBK. After his studies in mechanical electronics, Mario earned a master’s degree in engineering and gained four years of practical experience with other companies before joining MBK. His primary task now is to streamline production and design, and to find the perfect match between family tradition and technology. The MBK philosophy, “The quality of our machinery is our best PR promotion,” remains the key issue.
Realizing that standing still means moving backward, MBK has designed a new generation of cage machines. New control and drive systems combined with new and existing welding technology allow faster and better production of cages for concrete pipe and the construction industry.
This new model, BSM 170-R for round cages, will be the “mother” of all future models in several sizes. All sizes will be available in the standard version R for round, O for round and oval, or S for round, oval and square. These models and sizes will be built in modular mode, which will allow for upgrades and accessories.
Other equipment from MBK includes pipe testing and processing lines, portal grinders and saws, and vertical grinders for jacking pipes. New on the MBK development list includes a machine for producing tapered cages for reinforcement of wind turbine towers, with diameters up to 9,000 mm (30 ft). Also new is a modular mesh machine for producing engineered mesh for reinforcement of box culverts and wall, floor and roof panels, with and without doors, windows and stair openings.
For more information, visit MBK’s recently designed website at www.mbk-kisslegg.de.
NPCA members are invited to send anniversary announcements (50, 75 or 100 years) to the Precast Inc. editor.
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