After the acquisition by igus, connection technology specialist from Kirchheim am Neckar uses modernised production for harnessing

elko Verbindungstechnik opens its doors following the acquisition by igus GmbH and the modernisation of the factories. With new technologies and ultra-modern processes, elko presents itself in a new light. Together, customers, suppliers and employees celebrate the lean production line and future opportunities. The expansion of harnessing capacities in the field of drive technology and the proximity to customers in southern Germany are intended to help elko and igus respond even more flexibly and quickly to the customer needs.

It’s 12 o’clock and the sun is shining in Kirchheim am Neckar. The current and future CEOs of elko Harwig Nuß, Markus Grözinger, Christian Stremlau and Ralf Bierod stand in front of elko Verbindungstechnik’s factory building with great anticipation. Today is a special day: the company is opening its doors to customers and suppliers for the first time after the factory’s modernisation. A completely new design awaits visitors following the acquisition of elko Verbindungstechnik by igus GmbH in February 2025. After just five months, the company shines in a completely new light. Using new technologies and ultra-modern processes, cable and plug-in connectors are now harnessed on site. “We spent the past few months completely reorganising our processes and restructuring the factory. I am very proud of my colleagues: they have dealt with these changes very well, and working with the friendly colleagues from Cologne has been a pleasure,” says Iris Lucks, who has been in charge of production at elko Verbindungstechnik for over 25 years. Harwig Nuß, Founder of elko, also summarises the past few weeks: “The changes of the last few months show us once again that igus and elko are a great match. We have many similar corporate values, such as high quality standards and a family atmosphere. We are very pleased that elko is in good hands with igus.” Christian Stremlau, CEO elko, Vice President and Head of the readycable/readychain Business Unit at igus emphasises: “We want elko Verbindungstechnik to remain a family business with its very special customer relationships. We would like it to become an even better partner for its customers thanks to more automation, optimised processes and very good supply chains. At igus, we have the additional option of being able to access a harnessing company rooted in southern Germany. This means we can further expand our customer base, supply existing customers quickly and fulfil high quality standards.”

Customers and suppliers see the acquisition as a joint opportunity

The customers on site are looking forward to the coming months and see the takeover as a great opportunity: “elko sets high standards in terms of flexibility, quality and delivery reliability. igus has to build on this,” says Bernd Geiger, Head of Production at Gleason and Pfauter. Together with his colleagues, elko and igus employees, he is celebrating the connection that has existed for over 27 years. Suppliers such as TE Connectivity are also on site. “We are delighted that elko has been acquired by igus. Two companies have come together that we have been supporting for years and that complement each other well,” says Olaf Dieckmann, Senior Sales Manager Central Europe at TE Connectivity. With the acquisition, igus has realised its plans to expand its harnessing capacities in the field of drive technology. At the same time, the Cologne-based company is even closer to its customers in southern Germany, the centre of the German machine tool and automotive industry. Ralf Bierod will shape the future of elko Verbindungstechnik together with Christian Stremlau as of 1st July 2025. Bierod previously spent more than eight years working for Hummel AG as Key Account Sales Manager.