The history of our company

KRÖGER expertise for leading-edge grabs.

When Werner Kröger founded his machine factory in 1962, it initially produced solutions that focussed on the construction industry. These were later followed by grabs for underwater gravel and sand extraction, port and industrial bulk handling and the timber and steel industries. Since the 1990s, leading-edge grab products from the Lower Rhine region of Germany have also been employed in the refuse and recycling sector and in incineration plants.

KRÖGER Greifertechnik is now a leading supplier of premium grab solutions providing customers with fifty years of design, development, production and service expertise. Cable, motor-driven and hydraulic grabs are now manufactured using advanced production systems at the plant in Sonsbeck. KRÖGER is a medium size company that is firmly established in the region. Grabs from its production location on the Lower Rhine are used the world over and are particularly popular in Europe.

Company and product development

1962

KRÖGER Maschinenfabrik founded by Werner Kröger

1973

Grab production starts with the focus on two and four-cable grabs for the construction industry and equipment manufacturers

1975

Efficient cable grabs are developed for underwater sand and gravel extraction

1977

Grabs are developed for port and industrial cargo handling with environmentally friendly jaw design

1981

Market launch of low-maintenance cable grabs for sand and gravel extraction as well as for port and industrial cargo handling

1988

KRÖGER KG is taken over by Ruhrkohle AG

1988

Low-maintenance powered hydraulic grabs are developed for underwater sand and gravel extraction

1993

Grab solutions – an independent company under the name MB KRÖGER Greifertechnik GmbH

1993

Low-maintenance cable, powered and hydraulic grabs are developed for refuse and slag handling in incineration plants

2003

Founding of KRÖGER Greifertechnik GmbH & Co. KG (new partner Reinhard Hunstig)

2006

Development of hydraulic grabs as clamshell and multi-jaw grabs for handling cargo in ports by means of mobile harbour cranes

2008

Together with the management, ELBE PARTNERS Industries GmbH (formerly Alster Equity Partners GmbH) takes over a 100% stake in Kröger Greifertechnik GmbH & Co. KG as part of a management buy-out.

2009

Kröger Greifertechnik Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH takes over FMS Fränkischer Maschinen- und Stahlbau in Gochsheim. Kröger Greifertechnik Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH is renamed ELBE Industrietechnik GmbH.