Ernst KNOLL Feinmechanik GmbH

Tradition, precision and responsibility

Established as a family business over 60 years ago, KNOLL Feinmechanik is a recognised specialist for automation solutions in the manufacturing of medical articles as well as for industrial assembly processes where the highest precision is required.

Environmental awareness encompasses all key aspects of operational environmental protection, such as waste management, water use, air pollution control and energy saving. The company’s own solar power production contributes significantly to covering its energy needs.

Company history

Family business since 1956

1956

Foundation

Founding of the company by Ernst Knoll and moving into the first premises of Ernst KNOLL Feinmechanik. The main field of activity was the manufacture of precision mechanical components.

1968

Machine assemblies

Manufacturing of integral machine assemblies. Here, the staff of the time present a head section of a rocket that was built for the Ionosphere Institute in Freiburg, Germany.

1970

New developments

The company starts manufacturing equipment and machines for ski and snowboard services. The first new development in this area was a repair device for ski bases.

1974

Production machines

In the 1970s, Ernst KNOLL Feinmechanik developed machines for the production of gauze swabs. This marked the company’s entry into the field of production machines for medical disposables.

1980

Family tradition

Gerhard and Silvia Knoll joined the company.

1982

Tube assembly

First fully automated system for a medical product with tube assembly. Today, the assembly of flexible components is considered a core competence of Ernst KNOLL Feinmechanik GmbH in the business field of automation.

1990

Foundation

Development of devices for the movement therapy of different joint types. Development and production were outsourced to the independent company Medireha GmbH. Today, the devices are distributed worldwide by Ormed GmbH / DJO-Global under the ARTROMOT® brand.

1992

Expansion

Expansion of the production area at the Umkirch site. Projects and systems for the production of customised automation solutions are realised on the premises at Stöckacker 2.

1998

Expansion of ski & snowboard service

Expansion of production areas for ski and snowboard service. Today, distribution takes place under the worldwide known name MONTANA.

1999

Robot systems

Introduction of robot systems into automation. Today, both single-robot systems and dual-robot systems from different manufacturers and of different designs are integrated into the system solutions.

2001

Foundation

Foundation of MONTANA Technology for Wintersports GmbH in Montafon, Austria, as a service and sales subsidiary.

2005

Regenerative energies

Entry into the field of regenerative energies through the development and production of stringer systems for the automated connection of solar cells. The resulting SOMONT GmbH was sold to Meyer-Burger AG, Switzerland, in 2008.

2010

Expansion of electrical engineering

Expansion of the electrical engineering / electronics department and the storage areas at the Umkirch site.

2012

New development Vacura

Development of the vacuuming system VACURAPRO for the hygienic disposal of infectious waste. The devices are now distributed by the company Illenseer Hospitalia GmbH.

2012

Foundation

The German subsidiary MONTANA Sport Germany was founded.

2013

Foundation of ASD

Foundation of the subsidiary ASD Automatic Storage Device GmbH. ASD develops and produces power storage systems for the private and commercial sector. The PACADU® technology is based on LFP battery cells connected in parallel.

2017

Family business

Lena Knoll joined the company.

2019

Family business

Hannes Knoll joined the company.

2021/22

PACADU Pro and PACADU Compact

Roll-out of the next generation of PACADU® Energy Storage Systems by ASD Automatic Storage Device GmbH. Based on the proven approach of operating all LFP battery cells in the entire storage system in parallel using PACADU®-Technology, this generation impresses with optimized operational management and increased efficiency. The new overarching Energy Management System (EMS) completes the portfolio.