Bad Homburg, August 2026. – With more than 25 years of experience as a business unit developer and sales professional in the field of industrial drive technology, detailed product knowledge and in-depth knowledge of the international markets for shaft couplings, Frank Kronmüller, a pioneer in the industry, will be at the helm of RINGSPANN StS from 1.9.2026. His know-how and commitment should quickly lead to the new product range of the youngest RINGSPANN subsidiary to date becoming much more important in the company's one-stop-shop. "On the one hand, we will turn the shaft couplings from our own production into quality products that offer the customer significant added value. We have excellent conditions for this. On the other hand, we will turn the plant in Niedernberg into a competence centre for precision couplings with international appeal. From here, we want to shape industry trends and set innovative impulses in the future," says Frank Kronmüller. To this end, a comprehensive modernization project has already begun, with which the production, design and sales structure in Niedernberg will be adapted to the standards of the RINGSPANN Group. Investments of up to 2.5 million euros are planned for this purpose by 2030.

Strategic stroke of luck

Frank Kronmüller's professional career and technical expertise are closely interwoven with the now high relevance of precision couplings for the realization of modern drive solutions in the context of industrial automation. His appointment as Managing Director of RINGSPANN StS is therefore a clever move that should prove to be a strategic stroke of luck for the group of companies. Because the inclusion of backlash-free precision couplings not only means a great enrichment of the RINGSPANN portfolio per se. Of much greater importance is the fact that the existing selection of shaft couplings – primarily aimed at heavy-duty applications with high torques – will be expanded with an attractive range of compact precision couplings for medium and low torque requirements. These include elastomer and metal bellows couplings as well as magnetic, intermediate shaft and safety couplings, with which RINGSPANN is opening up completely new market segments in some cases. "Both the
competitive environment and the expectations of users in these markets have accompanied me for decades. Since we are now moving into direct proximity to customers via the well-established channels of RINGSPANN's global sales network, I see the best growth opportunities for us both nationally and internationally," says Frank Kronmüller.

One-stop shop continues to grow

With the addition of the new portfolio of shaft couplings, the RINGSPANN Group is once again taking a big step closer to its goal of establishing itself as a one-stop supplier for important components of industrial drive technology across industry boundaries. At the same time, the company is thus increasing its attractiveness as a premium manufacturer of shaft couplings for use in automation technology, packaging technology, medical and measurement technology as well as in printing technology, the semiconductor industry and aerospace. "These are all markets that benefit greatly from the special properties of our backlash-free precision couplings – such as high torsional stiffness, compact design and the ability to compensate for axial, radial and angular errors," says Frank Kronmüller. ms

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Michael Stöcker, freelance specialist journalist, Darmstadt