Built. On. Strenths.
About
us
Since 2003, the Göttinger Dreh- und Frästeile GmbH has been a supplier of the laboratory-, medical and optical industries. We have empowered these industries to fulfill the highest quality standards in healthcare and microscopy – and provide these high standards to their customers over the long term. For years, one of our main customers has been the Göttingen-based Sartorius AG – for whom we manufacture and ship components worldwide. Other well-known customers include Thermo-Fisher (USA), as well as the German companies Gerhardt Laborgeräte, Phywe, Zeiss and Mahr Messtechnik.
If you want to meet us and our company in a one-one one consultation, please let us know.
Generational Change at Göttinger Dreh- und Frästeile GmbH
Since 2003, Göttinger Dreh- und Frästeile GmbH has established itself as a reputable supplier for laboratory, medical, and optical industries both in Germany and internationally. The company has always kept up with the times, grown steadily, and is now well-positioned in all aspects. Co-owner and managing director, Mr. Arnold Sommer, born in 1961 and a trained machining specialist, has passionately built up the company since 2003 and shaped an era. Starting with just four employees back then, the company now employs 47 people.
However, the time has come for a change, and with mixed emotions, Mr. Sommer is now passing the proverbial baton to the two new, younger managing directors, Mr. Niklas Beulke and Mr. Jan Neuhaus. Both are qualified engineers and will take over leadership of the company starting October 1, 2024. Mr. Sommer will remain on hand to support the two new managing directors for a while. All parties agree that Göttinger Dreh- und Frästeile GmbH will continue to be led into the future smoothly and positively. Of course, maintaining the highest level of customer satisfaction remains the top priority for the future.
A heartfelt thanks from the departing managing director goes to the customers who place their trust in the company, especially to Sartorius AG for the decades-long business relationship and trust, and to the employees of Göttinger Dreh- und Frästeile GmbH, without whom the company’s success story would not have been possible.
Founding of GDFT GmbH
In the year 2003, after the death of the previous owner, GDFT was sold by the community of heirs of the Kleinhans family. The specialized portfolio of turned and milled products piqued the interest of Mr. Arnold Sommer, who at the time was an expert in the field himself already. After the purchase, the company was transformed into the legal structure of German GmbH. Changes were not only made in management, but also in terms of company location. The company moved from Florenz-Sartorius-Straße to its current location at Gustav-Bielefeld-Straße 8, which was formerly known as the production facilities of toha-plast GmbH. In 2021 the entire plant was purchased by the community of heirs of the Hackel family.
Every beginning is difficult
The takeover of GDFT was viewed with scepticism by some of the former customers. Most of their core customers preferred to purchase their parts from competitors. But with a lot of convincing, some of the old customers could be retained. It still took until the year 2007 when we could establish the business of GDFT through newly- and re-acquired customers as well as the hiring of additional experienced employees. This economic revival came to a grinding halt when the global financial crisis hit in 2008.
After successful restructuring measures, investment in new machine equipment, additional customer acquisitions and a sustainable re-building of trust, we were able to increase our revenue from that point on, year over year. Nowadays, we can proudly present revenue numbers exceeding 30 times of the sales realized in 2004. We have also grown to serve about 100 local, national and international customers.
Times are changing
Companies who want to be successful in a sustainable way must constantly optimize their supply chains and manufacturing processes. This also means keeping up with state-of-the-art technology and deploying more efficient machine equipment. For example, our machine fleet has been replaced or refurbished to a rate of 90 per cent since the year 2018. Since then, we have invested more than 4 million Euros in our facilities – capital, which was almost completely generated by our business profits.
In the year 2020 we built a class 8 cleanroom (ISO 8) for the manufacture of vaccine filtration equipment for one of our customers – which is still today state-of-the-art for the entire Göttingen area. We are also proud of not only producing parts, but also having an entire department dedicated to the assembly of modules. We take on an active role in our customers’ new product developments when it comes to modules and components.
A turbulent history
Insights – Managing Director Arnold Sommer talks about his career:
“In the beginning I wanted to become a chef, but my father convinced me otherwise. I sort of came into this profession almost by accident. At the time Piller Group, based in Osterode, was looking for apprentices in the field of machining. I passed the admissions test and was hired. Looking back, I can say that I still like doing the job of transforming metals, although the modern form of this job has little to do with what it entailed back in the year 1976. With a lot of ambition, grit and continuing education, I was able to become a manager for the tool-making and clean room departments at toha-plast. It was here, where I was able to gain the necessary knowledge and experience for owning and running my own business. …”
Profile GDFT:
- Founded: 2003
- Legal structure: GmbH
- Managing Director: Niklas Beulke & Jan Neuhaus
- Number of employees 2003: 4
- Number of employees 2023: ca. 50
- Customers in Europe, North America and Asia
Now you have learned the highlights of our history.
Now it is time for the future – and YOUR project.