History of the company
2005
June 9th, 2005: On the occasion of the Volkswagen Supplier Symposium the Küster-Group is presented with the "Volkswagen Group Award 2005" for outstanding achievement in the category product quality. Küster is one of 25 companies out of about 10,000 world-wide suppliers of the Volkswagen Group receiving this prize.
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November 8th, 2005: Roland Koch, Prime Minister of the German Federal State Hesse, and Dieter Weidemann, President of the Federation of Hessian Employers Assocations (VhU) present the "Hessen-Champions 2005" on the 14. Meeting of Hessian Employers in Wiesbaden. Küster receives this award for its international top position in the product field electronic parking brake. |
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2004
May – September: Enlargement of the EPB production hall – phase 2. Since the positive marketing trend of our Electric Parking Brake (EPB) in 2003 is anticipated for the following years, the creation of additional production space is necessary.
The ground-breaking ceremony takes place in May. The new EPB production line is installed at its final destination in the new hall already on September 15th, 2004.
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June: Two companies of the KÜSTER-Group at a time, KÜSTER Automotive Door Systems GmbH and KÜSTER Automotive Control Systems GmbH, receive the ‚Preferred-Supplier-Award’, a special award by the truck manufacturer DAF, on June 9th, 2004 in Eindhoven/NL.
July:On July 8th, 2004, KÜSTER Automotive Control Systems GmbH receives the "Supplier of the Year 2003" award by Dr. Ralf Kramer, member of the management of the Continental Automotive Systems Group (CAS). This is the second customer award the company receives within one month.
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 Supplier of the Year 2003 |
2003
August: On August 12, 2003, the Mr. Wilhelm Küster, founder of the company, would have been 100 years old.
On September 23, 2003, District President Wilfried Schmied visits KÜSTER headquarters.
2002
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First series production of the new Electric Parking Brake (EPB) of KÜSTER Automotive Control Systems for Renault VelSatis.
Juli – October: Start of construction of a new production hall for EPB-products (Electric Parking Brake) in Juli 2002. Installation of the first production line in October 2002.
November: KÜSTER Automotive Door Systems GmbH is the winner of this year´s benchmarking competiton "International Best Factory Award" in the category companies in the fields mechanical engineering/vehicle construction/electrical engineering/electronics.
The best companies of this benchmarking competiton, annually arranged by the export academy Baden-Wuerttemberg/Reutlingen, are honoured by Dr. Walter Döring, Minister for Economic Affairs in Baden-Wuerttemberg, on November 21st, 2002, in Stuttgart on the occasion of the International Best Factory/Service Awards ceremony.
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 2002 - International Best Factory Award |
2001
1 July 2001: The company celebrates its 75th birthday. The anniversary is marked with an "OPEN HOUSE" event on 18 August.
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KÜSTER builds an industrial park close to the VW plant in Bratislava. This is also home to the Slovakian Door Company (SDC), a joint venture mandated with the task of building door modules for the new VW Polo.
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 2001 - Industrial park |
2000
In November and December, KÜSTER Holding, KÜSTER Automotive Control Systems, KÜSTER Automotive Door Systems and KÜSTER automobilová technika are certified to ISO/TS 16949, making the KÜSTER Group-one of the first companies to be certified under this new international standard.
1999
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18/19 June:
KÜSTER & Co. GmbH receives the 1998 "Audi Supplier's Award" from Audi AG, the first time such an award has been given to the door modules segment.
01 October:
KÜSTER & Co. GmbH is restructured. KÜSTER Automotive Control Systems GmbH takes over the control cable systems division, whilst a separate company, KÜSTER Automotive Door Systems GmbH, is created for the door systems division, with KÜSTER Holding GmbH as the parent company.
19 November:
KÜSTER automobilová technika spol. s r.o. is awarded the 1998 "Corporate Supplier Award - The Leading Edge" by the Volkswagen Group.
1998
KÜSTER launches the first structure-supporting door module for the Audi TT.
1997
KÜSTER & Co. GmbH and KÜSTER automobilová technika spol. s r.o. are certified to QS-9000 and VDA 6.1. A strategic partnership with the Spanish corporation Grupo Antolin is founded in the door module and window regulator segment.
1996
Certification to DIN ISO 9001 by the German technical inspectorate TÜV Rheinland. Certification includes KÜSTER & Co GmbH, W.H. KÜSTER GmbH & Co.KG and Meflex Telecontrol. On 22 August KÜSTER becomes the sole shareholder of KÜSTER VS spol. s r.o., which is soon renamed KÜSTER automobilová technika spol. s r.o.
1992
On 1 January, the joint venture company KÜSTER VS spol. s r.o. commences production of speedometer cables and control cables in Slovakia.
1991 - 1994
KÜSTER is awarded the "Formel Q" trophy twice in succession by VW for its Wustrow factory, and three times in succession by Audi for its Ehringshausen factory. This award recognises product quality and supply performance, as well as flexibility, communication and cooperation.
1988
On 1 January, production commences at the Aßlar plant with a staff of 95.
1986
Following cooperation between Audi and Küster, the Procon-ten system is ready for series production. This safety system pulls the steering column forward and puts extra tension on the seatbelts in the event of a frontal collision.
1980
The company opens its first branch abroad in Ebreichsdorf, Austria. The company is entered in the commercial register on 11 March. The factory is officially opened in the presence of the Austrian Minister for Economics, Dr. Staribacher, on 3 October.
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 1999 - Audi Supplier Award  1999 - Corporate Supplier Award  1998 - Structure-supporting door module  1986 - Procon-ten System |
1976
KÜSTER celebrates its 50th anniversary. The official celebrations are held on 27 August in Ehringshausen.
1974
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KÜSTER is named "Supplier of the year" by Adam Opel AG in Rüsselsheim. A new administrative building, which continues to characterise the visual appearance of the parent company to this day, is inaugurated.
1972
On 13 July 1972, a major fire in Ehringshausen destroys an entire production hall and warehouse. The damage amounts to more than DM two million. Thankfully, no one is injured.
1967
On 13 November 1967, KÜSTER takes over Schubert in Wustrow, a plant which manufactures control cables for motorbikes.
1964
Another factory is acquired in Bad Marienberg, Westerwald. An initial workforce of 35 starts work assembling brake cables.
1963
Production of drive cable window regulators, also known as tube window regulators, commences. This window regulator was designed for the VW Beetle 1200 series.
1958
On 1 June 1958, Wilhelm Küster dies at the age of just 54. His sons Dieter and Klaus take over the management of the company.
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 1974 - Supplier of the year  1963 - Tube window regulators |
1955
A decomissioned factory in Züschen/Hochsauerland is acquired, modernised and prepared for production. On 4 May, an initial workforce of 15 trained employees commences the production of control cables, whilst the rope factory begins production at the end of the year.
1951
KÜSTER celebrates its 25th anniversary. Since its inception, the company has developed into one of the largest companies in the Lahn/Dill region. At the same time, a new factory hall with a manufacturing area of 4500 m² is completed.
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1949
KÜSTER exhibits at the first international industry fair in Hanover. It makes contacts with the mining industry in the Ruhr region. An export order worth DM 500,000 is received from Argentina.
1945
The partially destroyed factory is rebuilt. Production begins with a workforce of 90. The average hourly wage is 72 Reichspfennig.
1942
The company KÜSTER & Co. is set up to supply the automotive industry. On 2 February 1942, Wilhelm Küster signs the first contract to supply brake cables for the VW Beetle.
1936
The company continues to grow. The rope factory is expanded to enable the production of brake cables and control cables. The automotive industry launches the first vehicles with independent suspension, and KÜSTER are quick to respond by developing and producing the necessary flexible brake controls. The first purpose-built cable machine is produced.
1932
Within just a few years, the workforce has grown to 45, and the company is moved to Ehringshausen.
1926
The company is officially founded on 1 July 1926. With the assistance of his two brothers, Heinrich and Fritz, Wilhelm Küster begins production in Werdorf with a wire braiding machine and a wire sack sealing machine. |
1942 - The first contract
Wilhelm Küster
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