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A success story since 1882. What began as a small village smithy has now developed into the world's leading specialist in professional pliers. Learn more about our development and the milestones from more than 140 years.
Our KNIPEX story
2025
With SIB Tooling, KNIPEX strengthens the machining expertise within its group of companies. The company also switches all of its pliers steel to steel from lower-emission production routes, an important step toward sustainably reducing its reported greenhouse gas emissions.
2023
New prospects for production and logistics: moving into the new logistics centre in Ronsdorf and commissioning Hall 23 in Cronenberg mark important milestones for KNIPEX. The new hall provides modern space for production, assembly, offices and material storage, improving the use of space and making pliers production more flexible. Logistics also takes a major step forward: since the beginning of 2023, order picking and shipping have operated from the new Wuppertal-Ronsdorf site, only around 11 km from the main Cronenberg plant. Worldwide pliers distribution is now more efficient, faster and more capable.
2020
New user needs require new tools. The extensive KNIPEX Cobra family developed over the previous 36 years is available in many sizes and special versions. Its newest member is the KNIPEX Cobra XS: at just 100 millimetres long, it is an exceptionally small yet fully functional water pump pliers, ideal for any trouser pocket or as an on-board tool for a bicycle or motorcycle.
2019
After many years of commitment to sustainability in a wide variety of ways, KNIPEX receives the renowned German Sustainability Award 2019 as the winner in the medium-sized companies category. The award recognises companies that combine economic success with social responsibility and environmental protection in an exemplary manner, thereby making a special contribution to a sustainable society.
2018
KNIPEX employs around 1,200 people at its Wuppertal site and around 1,900 across the group. Additional production and office space is built, accompanied by extensive investment in machinery and equipment, including an automated hardening shop.
2017
A new member joins the KNIPEX Group: the Osnabrück software company LMIS, in which KNIPEX acquires a majority stake, contributes expertise in special tools of another kind, programming and digitalisation. It is an important step into the future, giving the KNIPEX Group direct access to increasingly important information technology topics.
2016
KNIPEX launches a world first, the KNIPEX ErgoStrip universal dismantling and stripping tool. It combines three cable processing tools in one, enabling users to work quickly and effectively. KNIPEX once again expands its expertise in tools for electrical installation.
2007
KNIPEX celebrates its 125th anniversary. Sales have doubled over the previous ten years. By now, 800 employees manufacture 45,000 pliers every day, sold in more than 100 countries. KNIPEX has become the world's leading brand of pliers.
2003
ORBIS in Ahaus, Münsterland, becomes part of the KNIPEX Group in 2003, followed by WILL in Neustadt, Hesse, in 2006. The two long-established companies manufacture pliers under their customers' brands.
1996
Ralf Putsch, who joined the company in 1987, takes over overall management. The international share of the business grows steadily to more than 60 percent today. KNIPEX opens a sales subsidiary in Moscow in 1998, followed in later years by subsidiaries in the USA, China, Dubai, Japan, Mexico, Brazil and India.
1994
The Pliers Wrench is developed: a completely new tool with parallel gripping jaws and a ratchet action that can also grip sensitive surfaces gently.
1988
The CoBolt compact bolt cutter is launched. Its ingenious lever action amplifies the user's hand force by up to 20 times, while the design remains simple and highly compact.
1984
KNIPEX develops the Cobra: water pump pliers that can be adjusted quickly in fine increments at the push of a button.
1954
Karl Putsch, the founder's grandson, takes over management of the company. A passionate engineer, he modernises the manufacturing processes and expands the product range. Karl and his wife Ilse, who has worked in the company since 1951, develop KNIPEX into the European market leader.
1942
Carl Putsch develops and registers the KNIPEX brand. The distinctive name is intended to stand out more clearly than the Putsch family name, which is common in the region.
1882
In Cronenberg, Carl Gustav Putsch establishes a small forge for pliers with one journeyman and two apprentices. In the basement of his home, they forge carpenter's pincers and farrier's pincers by hand.
