ALKA Engineering Services

In August 1959 , 24-years old Manfred Böttcher bought the Fritz Kühne Company, until then the company had been specialized in marketing machine tools. Two employees and two apprentices operated the company from Hamburg Billwerder. 1960 the company became the German trade representative of the Belgium branch of the Norwegian crane manufacturer Munck. But soon after they opened their own branch, Manfred Böttcher founded KÜHNEZUG. 1965 another KÜHNEZUG company was founded: the KÜHNEZUG Kran- und Containerbau GmbH in Hamburg, Quickborn. Then the KÜHNEZUG-Group, which is today's name, was for the first time in possession of her own production. They produced hoists following a new technology. 1968 KÜHNEZUG Kran- und-Containerbau was sold and KÜHNEZUG Handelsgesellschaft renamed to KÜHNEZUG Hebezeuge, located in Hamburg Billstedt. Already at that time KÜHNEZUG was using densified polyamid wheels to reduce the amount of noise and save weight, which resulted in a smooth crane handling. By trying to manufacture the main girder in a simpler way, the idea of the oval girder emerged, which is produced by pressing steel pipes in an oval shape. Complicated welding works could be saved. Together with engineers from the company Kampnagel the idea was further developed. Already in 1970 the first test with an oval main girder was held at the shipyard Blohm & Voss in Hamburg.