Foundation of OTTO JUNKER GmbH
Otto Junker founds the company of the same name based on the water-cooled mould for brass plates invented by his father Andreas.
100 years of OTTO JUNKER
Company anniversary in 2024
Welcome at OTTO JUNKER Group
the world's leading provider of industrial furnace systems for melting, heat treatment and recycling
OTTO JUNKER is the global technology and system partner for thermal processes of the aluminium, copper, semi-finished products and foundry industries as well as a European supplier of special stainless steel castings. We strive for leadership regarding innovative technology for the benefit of our customers.
We offer our employees safe jobs with room for advance.
We are a fair partner for our suppliers. Consistent increase in value and continuous growth are the basis of our entrepreneurial activities for the benefit of the owner.
History
In 1924, Otto Junker founded the company bearing his name at Lammersdorf, some 20 km south of Aachen. The economic foundation of what was originally a craftsman's establishment lay in the water-cooled billet mould for the nonferrous semi-finished products industry that had been invented by the founder's father, Andreas Junker.
Over the decades that followed, OTTO JUNKER GmbH evolved into a successful medium-sized industrial enterprise with a comprehensive product range.
Since the death in 1982 of Dr.-Ing. E.h. Otto Junker, its sole proprietor, the company has been owned by the Otto Junker Foundation, an institution set up in 1970 with the primary aim of supporting young engineers.
- 1924
- 1929
First heat treatment plant for the copper and brass industrie
The first electric heated continuous annealing and pickling line for brass strip is developed.
- 1934
First heat treatment plant for the aluminium industry
Construction of electric chamber furnaces with intensive air circulation for heating aluminium ingots
- 1937
First melting furnace
The first electrical melting furnace for the foundry industry is developed.
- 1940
Start of production of today's OTTO JUNKER CM GmbH
The test and demonstration foundry - today's OTTO JUNKER CM GmbH - becomes a production foundry.
- 1940
Mains frequency technology
Construction of the first mains frequency induction channel furnaces for non-ferrous heavy metal and light metal
- 1949
Mains-frequency coreless induction melting furnaces
Start of fabrication of mains-frequency coreless induction melting furnaces
- 1959
Medium-frequency technology
First medium-frequency crucible melting furnace with statically tripled frequency by means of triductors.
- 1963
Heat treatment plants for the rolling mill industry in the copper and brass sector
Delivery of the 200th continuous annealing and pickling plant for copper and brass strip
- 1964
Heat treatment plants for the extrusion industry for the copper and brass branch
Commissioning of the first gas-heated rapid heating systems for copper and brass billets
- 1966
Heat treatment systems for the pressing plant industry for the aluminium branch
Commissioning of the first gas-heated rapid heating systems for aluminium billets
- 1967
Milestones in the field of melting systems
The first two larger vacuum induction furnaces for vacuum treatment of 10 tonnes each of high-quality steel and nickel alloys go into operation at the customer's site
The first orders are placed for mains frequency induction channel-type furnaces for grey cast iron with usable capacities of 20, 35 and 50 tonnes. - 1968
Alternative heat treatment option
Commissioning of the first jet-heating large-chamber furnaces with a capacity of 20 tonnes for annealing aluminium coils
- 1969
Successful further development
Commissioning of the first high-performance strip flotation furnace and development and construction of the first induction-heated casting furnace for cast iron.
- 1973
Thyristor technology
Commissioning of the first medium-frequency crucible furnace with thyristor resonant circuit inverter
- 1978
Milestone in our stainless steel foundry
Our high-grade steel foundry supplies the world's largest ring bowl for automatic bottle filling .
- 1981
Another milestone in the field of heat treatment systems for the aluminium extrusion industry
First induction-heated billet heating system with hot billet shears for aluminium extrusion billets
- 1982
Decided during the lifetime of the deceased founder:
Otto Junker Foundation becomes the owner of Otto Junker GmbH.
- 1985
Sales and service office in the United States of America
Junker Inc. is founded in the USA.
- 1986
Heating and homogenising aluminium rolling slabs
Commissioning of the first large indirect gas-fired deep furnace for heating aluminium rolling slabs with high heating speed and temperature accuracy
- 1990
Optimisation of process control and monitoring in melting operation
Safety and reliability of melting furnace operation is significantly improved by the introduction of the JUNKER JOKS furnace control system
- 1994
Innovative plug casting device
OTTO JUNKER introduces a new type of unheated plug casting device for spheroidal and grey cast iron.
- 1995
New production site in the Czech Republic
Foundation of Otto Junker Industrial Equipment s.r.o. in Boskovice, Czech Republic, for production and workshop assembly
- 1995
Milestone for heat treatment systems for the aluminium rolling mill industry
First strip flotation furnace for aluminium strip for use in the automotive industry
- 1998
Another milestone for the heat treatment furnace line for the aluminium rolling mill industry
A heat treatment furnace line for aluminium plates for the aircraft industry is commissioned in a major European semi-finished products factory. The system achieves an outstanding temperature uniformity over the entire plate length of 36 m.
- 2000
High system availability is the goal
First IGBT converter system put into operation
- 2004
Sales and service office in the People's Republic of China
Otto Junker Metallurgical Equipment is established in Shanghai.
- 2006
INDUGA becomes part of OTTO JUNKER
Expansion of OTTO JUNKER products through the product portfolio of INDUGA GmbH & Co. KG. / INDUGA Industrieöfen und Giesserei-Anlagen GmbH & Co. KG
- 2011
Milestone in melting furnace construction
Delivery of a coreless furnace with a capacity of 25 tons and a power of 15 MW
- 2012
Significant development of heat treatment plant construction
Patent granted for new 2VX belt floatation furnace
- 2014
Another of numerous developments
Development of a proprietary air knife for hot-dip tinning systems
- 2016
Expansion of the coil production
Expansion of coil production by two additional production halls
- 2016
And another of numerous developments
Patent granted for strip stitching machine
- 2017
Significant development in heat treatment plant construction
Patent granted for HiPreQ® mist quench for aluminium strip AND commissioning of the longest floating annealing line for aluminium strip, 118 m, with HiPreQ® mist quench
- 2018
Milestone in heat treatment plant construction
Commissioning of the largest pusher furnace for aluminium rolling slabs with a maximum batch weight of 1000 t
- 2019
For the foundry industry in China and worldwide
Successful launch of the German Foundry Standard series in China
- 2021
Modularity that pays off!
OTTO JUNKER introduces new modular oven series: JUPITER Line
- 2022
Development work in the field of battery recycling bears fruit
First battery recycling furnace goes into production
- 2022
Market expansion in India
Foundation of OTTO JUNKER India Pvt. Ltd. in Mumbai
- 2023
Expansion of the development department
Relocation of the R&D centre to its own hall area
- 2023
Solutions for the transition to climate-neutral, green energy sources are offered by our
OTTO JUNKER SOLUTIONS GmbH start-up with green technologies
- 2024
Interesting not only for plant operators in the metal industry:
First power-to-heat plant for the food industry goes into operation
- 2024
Traditionally rooted, fit for the future - OTTO JUNKER celebrates its 100th anniversary
100 years of innovation and transformation in the metal industry - OTTO JUNKER - a manufacturer of industrial furnaces and systems for melting and heat treatment of metals and for recycling scrap and Li-ion batteries as well as ‘Power to Heat’ energy storage systems.
Experience, sustainability, future orientation
„Our primary objective is the promotion of technological progress in order to increase the customer benefit in the foundry and semifinished products industry, but not only in this industry”, Erik Miček, CEO of OTTO JUNKER GmbH, stresses. In 2024, OTTO JUNKER can look back at a century of experience, technical progress and highest quality standards and will continue to follow the path towards sustainability and transformation it has started. Especially after the clear positioning towards electrification in the planning of new equipment and modernizations and the approval of visitors at the GIFA/Thermprocess 2023, the company is looking forward to the future with confidence.
General Management
Erik Míček, CEO
„The ability to consistently and quickly adapt to market requirements – both technically and organizationally – remains an important success factor for us. This is guaranteed by the technical competence and the flexibility of our employees which characterize our company.”
Sabine Höfer, CFO
"For 100 years, innovation and quality have been our mission. We create a competitive edge. Together. All over the world. Pioneering spirit is what pushes us on. Every achievement and every product is a result of this amalgamation and offers our customers all over the world added value and helps them to turn their visions into reality."
At OTTO JUNKER, added value is the consequence of the interaction between different fields of competence. Everything we at Otto Junker do is based upon corporate responsibility and sustainability, both internally and externally. The customer and his demands are the focus of our attention.
Our OTTO JUNKER world is characterized by diversity and we are convinced that its strength can bring progress and positive change. Equal treatment and justice reflect the corporate image we at OTTO JUNKER commit to every single day. It is important to us to create a working environment based upon empathy, respect and fairness. This is a place where everybody can express themselves and be heard.
Philosophy
OTTO JUNKER stands for:
- Innovative technology
- Safe jobs
- Value-oriented growth
- Profitability
OTTO JUNKER is the global technology and systems partner for thermo-processing solutions – mainly to the aluminium, copper, semifinished products and foundry industries – and a European speciality supplier of high-grade steel castings. Our claim is innovation and technology leadership for the benefit of our customers. To our employees, we provide secure jobs with development potential. Our suppliers find in us a fair partner. Consistent value-adding and continuous growth form the basis of our business activity which we pursue in the interests of the owner.
Our promise
Towards the stakeholders and towards the foundation:
- Value guarantee
- Increase in value
- Dividend payment
- Positive image
Towards our employees:
- Fairness
- Safe jobs
- Room for advance
Towards our customers:
- Quality
- Faithfulness to deadlines
- Innovative technology
- Close contact
- Expert solutions
- Qualified project management
- Economic stability
Towards our suppliers:
- Towards our suppliers:
- Cooperation as partners
- Fair market prices
- Qualification for cooperation
Corporate philosophy
Determine all problems impartially, find a solution through joint academic and industrial enterprise, and deliver the result to the customer in the form of quality products.
This motto of our company's founder, Dr.-Ing. h.c. Otto Junker, applies more than ever today.
However, achieving this goal necessarily involves a number of success factors.
First and foremost among these is our workforce - about 450 skilled, experienced and highly motivated employees, plus about 25 technical and commercial apprentices each year, who excel at their diverse duties and share a commitment to the guiding principle established by the company's founder.
At OTTO JUNKER, product and equipment requirements are identified side by side with the customer, always with a view to attaining the desired final product quality. The vast stocks of experience accumulated by the plant operator and equipment manufacturer are thus combined to achieve a tailor-made solution. We also cooperate closely with the customer in reviewing existing installations for performance, energy efficiency and other improvement potentials.
Furthermore, OTTO JUNKER has efficient in-house R & D capabilities which allow us to address all aspects of industrial furnace engineering. Our proximity to RWTH, the Technical University of Aachen, gives us access to extensive expertise and enables us to engage in joint research projects. The insights thus gained will then find their way into innovative solutions implemented in specific industrial furnace projects.
The quality of the end product is our measure of success.
OTTO JUNKER foundation
Otto Junker studied at RWTH Aachen University and later always gave students, undergraduates and doctoral candidates at the Foundry Institute and the Institute of Electrical Engineering the opportunity to gain practical experience at the company. In 1943, Otto Junker was made an honorary citizen of RWTH Aachen. In 1962, he was awarded an honorary doctorate for his great commitment to the university.
In 1970, the Otto Junker Foundation was established by Dr.-Ing. h.c. Otto Junker as a foundation to receive his estate.
He pursued two main objectives in setting up this foundation:
On the one hand, he wanted to ensure the continuity and continued existence of his company; at the same time, however, he also wanted to use the income from his company to sustainably promote science and research, the growing importance of which Otto Junker had recognised early on.
Become a part of our team
Career with OTTO JUNKER!
Whether you are just beginning your professional career or are already an experienced pro - we offer you exciting career opportunities to match your talent and experience.
Our career portal offers you a wide range of opportunities to develop your potential in a future-oriented and innovative company. We are looking forward to meeting you and to being successful together!
Phone
+49 2473 601-0
E-Mail
info@otto-junker.com