1978

Foundation

70

Employees

12 000 000 €

Annual Turonver 2022

1500

Customers Worldwide

About us

FRENCO GmbH was founded in 1978 and has since then been engaged in the special field of Gear and Spline Metrology.

Most of today’s gears and splines are precision items, for whose production both expertise and special tooling with very tight tolerances are required.

In order to measure the manufactured workpieces, companies need even more accurate measuring and inspection equipment. FRENCO has committed itself to this challenge:

One-Stop

Gear and Spline Metrology

Design

Manufacuring

Measurement

Assembly

Software

Service

 

Our FRENCO concept is characterised by consistent quality and customer orientation. Customer preferences and requirements can always be integrated, as we only start manufacturing the measurement solution on receipt of the order. We also place a lot of emphasis on service, flexibility and quality. This is reflected in our slogan:

Company Information

Our custom QM system is subject to constant changes and improvements. It contains, amongst others, the following elements:

  • description of the QM system in form of guidelines
  • at least random, if possible 100% testing of produced goods
  • incoming material inspection
  • unique identification of the products
  • production control at regular intervals
  • systematic intermediate and final inspections by means of inspection plans and inspection instructions
  • issuing of inspection certificates
  • direct traceability of measuring results to national artefacts
  • documentation of inspection results with a 10-year retention period
  • internal and external computer-aided monitoring of inspection equipment
  • recording of quality relating coststraceability to the sub-supplier
  • procedure to process complaints, identify the cause of error and prevent future errors
  • guidelines for all business sectorsquality assurance officer
  • FRENCO is not certified in accordance with ISO 9000 et seq. and only aims at such certification in the longer term. The main reason for this decision is the fact that the quality of our products and services are not dependant on certification and cannot be proven by such certification either. Although our QA system has very much been influenced by ISO/QS 9000, many formal requirements are not fulfilled. We feel that this bureaucratic effort is unreasonable with respect to a predominantly single item production and a workforce of approximately 70 employees. In this respect, we fulfil what is essential for us, e.g. documentation of rules in specific problems.
  • Advanced tasks, such as application-relevant support for our customers and quick implementations of new findings and experiences are important to us. Accordingly, we have set ourselves the following medium-term targets, from which our customers in the main will benefit:

100% final inspection of all gear profiles that must have gauge quality. Reduction of measurement uncertainties during gear and spline inspection improving existing and developing of new inspection methods for industrial metrology of gearing Guaranteeing of comparability of all measuring results with calibrated artefacts and ring comparisons Instead of a certificate, which is with regard to product quality rather questionable anyway, we offer the following:

  • Every customer is welcome to visit us on short notice to learn about our QM system.
  • We are happy to undergo auditing by our customers.
  • In audits according to IATF 16949 we constantly score 95% to 100% results.

This ensures that our customers can verify requirements, which may even exceed those of ISO/QS 9000, and establishes mutual trust.

The future development of FRENCO GmbH is continuously focused on improved technology. The further development refers to the qualification of staff, the internal processes and their transparency as well as to the products offered on the market consisting of mechanics, electronics and software.

FRENCO is striving for uniqueness, with the services and products offered, which are otherwise not available on the market in this particular form. None of the products is to be comparable to those of the competition. Our efforts are focussed on good products and services and should not be devoted to offering comparable products at a cheaper price compared to those of our competitors. There is a particular emphasis on the humane personal characteristics of our employees, as well as their best possible qualifications and placement at the right position within the company. All employees shall take pleasure and pride in testing new technologies and in implementing them. This requires much creativity, which is encouraged within the company through high levels of freedom for the employees. The interaction between people within the company and outside should be honest and straightforward.

Control is limited to the essential, excessive control is avoided. FRENCO’s planning schedules are long-term. Continuity should be connected to steady growth of expertise in gear metrology.

An excerpt of our list of world wide customers:

Kunde Ort
Acopecas Industria de Pecas de Aco Brazil
American Axle Buffalo, NY (USA)
American Axle Detroit, MI (USA)
Audi AG Ingolstadt, Germany
Automotive Axles India
Bishop Steering Technology GmbH Langenfeld, Germany
BMW AG München / Dingolfing, Germany
Bosch MICO India
Bosch Rexroth Japan
Borg-Warner-Automotive GmbH Ketsch, Germany
Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG Coburg
Brüninghaus Hydromatik GmbH Horb / Ulm, Germany
Carl Zeiss AG Oberkochen, Germany
Daimler AG Gaggenau / Stuttgart / Rastatt, Germany
Getrag Ford Transmissions GmbH Köln
GKN do Brasil Brazil
GKN Driveline Sanford Sanford, SC (USA)
GKN Driveline Deutschland GmbH Offenbach / Zwickau, Germany
GKN Driveline International GmbH Lohmar, Germany
GKN Gelenkwellenwerk GmbH Kaiserslautern, Germany
GKN India Faridbad / Pune / Chennai, India
GKN Toyoda Driveshafts Ltd. Japan
GKN Sinter Metals AG Bruneck, Italy
Graziano Trasmissioni GmbH Cascine Vica Rivoli, Italien
Harley Davidson Milwaukee, WI (USA)
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG Wiesloch, Germany
Helios Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG Dörzbach, Germany
Honda Japan
INA-Schaeffler KG Steinhagen, Germany
Klingelnberg GmbH Hückeswagen, Germany
Koyo Japan
Leistritz Produktionstechnik Nürnberg, Germany
Liebherr-Aerospace GmbH Lindenberg, Germany
Linde AG Aschaffenburg, Germany
Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik Graz, Austia
Mahr GmbH Göttingen, Germany
Metaldyne Zell GmbH & Co OHG Zell am Harmersbach, Germany
MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH Friedrichshafen, Germany
Neapco Düren, Germany
Nissan Japan
NTN Gardelegen / Columbus, IN (USA) / Japan
Paul Bippus GmbH Oberkochen, Germany
Reishauer AG Wallisellen, Switzerland
Robert Bosch GmbH Stuttgart, Germany
Robert Bosch Automotive Steering Schwäbisch Gmünd (Germany) / Florence, KY (USA) / Maclar (Ungarn) / Nanjing (China)
Sinterstahl Asturias S.A. Mieres (Spain)
Thyssen Krupp Schönebeck / Mühlheim / Eschen, Germany
Toyota Japan
Visteon Deutschland GmbH Düren / Kerpen, Germany
Volkswagen AG Salzgitter / Braunschweig, Germany
Wenzel GearTec GmbH Karlsruhe, Germany
ZF do Brasil S.A. Sorocaba (Brazil)
ZF Friedrichshafen AG Friedrichshafen / Brandenburg / Saarbrücken / Gray-Court (USA)
ZF Sachs AG Schweinfurt, Germany

FRENCO attaches great importance to good and long-term relationships with suppliers and partners, mutual trust is a solid foundation for cooperation. Here is a list of our most important cooperation and development partners:

Metallbearbeitung

Munkert GmbH
Wolfgang Munkert
Am Umspannwerk 8
DE 90518 Altdorf

+49 9187 41929 (Office)
+49 9187 41568
munkert@munkert.com
http://www.munkert.com
Contact as vCard
Software/Entwicklung

Gall EDV Systeme GmbH
Horst Gall
Kemmathen 3
DE 91604 Flachslanden

+49 9829 93293-0 (Office)
+49 9829 93293-22
info@gall.de
http://www.gall.de
Contact as vCard
Automation

Eckart Anlagenbau GmbH
Steffen Eckart
Bruckäcker 63
DE 92348 Berg

+49 9189 41494-0 (Office)
+49 9189 41494-99
info@eckart-anlagenbau.de
http://www.eckart-anlagenbau.de
Contact as vCard

Milestones in FRENCO`s history:

2022 Company founder Rudolf Och retires from the operational business.
2020 Changes in shares: 80% owned by Idur KG, 15% owned by Thomas Peter, 5% owned by Philip Jukl.
2020 FRENCO's calibration laboratory is awarded accredited conformity assessment body status by DAkkS (Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH, the national accreditation body for the Federal Republic of Germany) in accordance with DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 (registration number D-K-15199-01-00) for all measured gearing variables and can exhibit the smallest measurement uncertainties in the world.
2020 Philip Jukl appointed as general manager.
2017 Changes in shares: 80% owned by Idur, 20% owned by Thomas Peter
2016 AGIECHARMILLES Cut1000 and Cut2000 investment to extend manufacturing capacity.
2013 Thomas Peter appointed as general manager.
2012 New wire cutting machines AGIECHARMILLES Cut1000 for high precision cutting of micro contours with a wire diameter of 0.05 mm (min.) and Cut2000 as replacement investment.
FRENCO's calibration laboratory is awarded accredited conformity assessment body status by DAkkS (Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH, the national accreditation body for the Federal Republic of Germany) in accordance with EN ISO/IEC 17025 (registration number D-K-15199-01-00) for all measured gearing variables.
2011 Additional 5 axis gear grinding machine KAPP VUS 57 P, increasing the capacity for high precision profile grinding of gears.
2009 Completion of the extension and renovation of the company building.
2008 Yearly turnover increases to over EUR 10 million.
Manufacture of internal helical gearing.
2006 Takeover of the product line 'double flank gear inspection' from Hommelwerke.
2005 Increase in nominal capital to EUR 1 million.
FRENCO measuring laboratory is awarded accreditation for all external gear features.
2004 Drafting and adoption of the new FRENCO constitution.
Takeover of the product line 'double flank gear inspection' from Mahr.
Development and construction of the MEG electronic measuring unit.
2002 Increase in nominal capital to EUR 500,000.
2001 NC gear grinding machine Kapp and start of master gear production.
Takeover of the 'gear flank analysing' technology from Ford.
2000 Implementation of 3D CAD system Pro-Engineer.
FRENCO measuring laboratory is awarded DKD accreditation for tooth flank artefacts and profile artefacts.
Company Munkert moves to nearby Ludersheim.
1997 Change to pillar style management structure.
New gear and spline measuring laboratory.
1995 Buyback of Frenco shares from Frost Ltd.
Development starts into the gear flank analysing.
1993 Start of the CNC gear inspection with a Höfler EMZ.
Start of the EDM machining of small ring gauges.
Frenco takes the chair for the DIN standards committee AA2 (splines).
1991 Increase in nominal capital to EUR 200,000.
CAD system 2D, HP ME 10.
1990 Extension of the company premises in Altdorf.
Patent for URM rolling inspection.
1988 Move to Altdorf (FRENCO and Munkert).
1987 Development of the INO system for spline gauges.
1986 Increase in nominal capital to EUR 100,000.
The first seminar on 'splines'.
1984 Development of the FAPP system and application for a patent.
1983 Start of partnership with Munkert GmbH for pre-machining work.
1982 Move into new premises in Nuremberg, Germany.
First patent for indicating gear and spline inspection instruments.
First financial year with net profit.
1978 Foundation of FRENCO Verzahnungslehren GmbH in Nuremberg, Germany.
Employees 8, nominal capital of EUR 50,000.
Production of gear and spline gauges.