History

Fastenrath was founded in 1909 by Mr. Ernst E. Fastenrath for the production of punched nuts
The highly innovative spirit of the founder and developments in machinery and methods of production, allowed FASTENRATH to produce initially square nuts, within a few years they were able to produce hexagon nuts.

In the year 1924 a procedure was introduced to produce turned nuts. A sales boom resulting from this development gave them the opportunity to buy a five-storey production facility. During the years 1931-1934, they moved to the new Plettenberg Plant in Herscheider Straße.

In 1934 they were able to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the company. At this time they employed 50 workers, with their own facilities for treatment, rolling and wire drawing. The warehouse was connected to the main rail line by a siding.  Also new types of machines were created.

In the turmoil of the war the management decided, in 1941, to build a further plant in Westerburg, in the “Westerwald” forest in Germany, and to proceed with the relocation of the production facilities, due to the danger of bombs along the Plettenberg - Herscheid railway line.

In 1949, the first machine able to produce cold forged nuts was designed and developed in-house. This led to the birth of ERFA nuts.

After the war FASTENRATH evolved quickly to a flourishing company, this was documented in 1955 with the construction of a new factory in Plettenberg. They also created a further 3.5000 square metre production area in Westerburg.

1957 saw the construction of an office building in Plettenberg. This success was based, among other things, on the development of cold forged nuts - later these were known by a brand name, “ERFA nuts” (ERnst FAstenrath).

1959 FASTENRATH GmbH achieved a turnover of 7 million DM, with over 400 employees.

In 1975, Fastenrath integrated the manufacture and sales of Cold Forged Parts into the range of products. By 1984, the company’s 75th anniversary, this innovation had begun to make a significant contribution to turnover.

In 1997 we were first certified to DIN ISO 9001, and also to the environmental management system DIN ISO 14001, this demonstrates the importance of quality management at FASTENRATH

Today FASTENRATH Befestigungstechnik GmbH works with 200 employees at two sites and serves over 850 customers both within Germany and abroad. More than six million product units are made every day and shipped to destinations in Europe, North and South America, Australia and Asia.
Nearly all the world’s automotive-industry and sub-suppliers, as well as many electrical product and bicycle manufacturers, use nuts and cold forged parts produced in our plants. Our plants cover a total production area of 13,500 square metres.
High level advisory capabilities and flexible technical solutions, service and logistics are the factors which guarantee Fastenrath its top position in its field.
Let us prove to you how we meet the ever changing demands of the market.