A story worth telling.
Founded in 1926. 100 years later, stronger than ever.
STEINCO’s story isn’t a straightforward success story—and that’s exactly what makes it special. It’s a story of courage, solidarity, and the conviction that a good company is more than just its numbers.
WDR has taken up this story and tells it as it is: authentically, humanely, and with a look behind the scenes of a company that knows what drives it—and where it’s headed.
The report aired on July 17, 2026, on WDR’s “Lokalzeit”.
From a manufacturer of turned parts to a specialist in caster and weel production
What sounds obvious today was once a deliberate decision: STEINCO did not start out as a caster manufacturer. The company was founded in Wermelskirchen in 1926 and initially operated a turned parts production facility—caster production was added later and eventually became its sole core business.
This model worked for a long time. But increasing price pressure in the automotive industry put the turned parts business under ever-greater strain—while roller production continued to grow and made a name for itself in demanding industries such as medical technology, Aviation, and Commercial Kitchens.
What followed was not a failure—but a decision. A decision that required courage and made STEINCO what it is today.
A turning point. And the courage to see it as an opportunity.
In 2018, STEINCO filed for bankruptcy. A moment that would have meant the end for many—for STEINCO, it was the beginning of a new chapter.
The challenge during this phase was enormous: stabilizing ongoing business operations, maintaining the trust of customers, suppliers, and partners, and at the same time providing internal direction—at a time when so much was uncertain.
What this phase also demonstrated was just how resilient a company truly is. Not in the good times—but precisely when it matters most.
The loss-making roller business was discontinued. STEINCO was systematically realigned to focus on the roller business. A decision that was painful—but necessary to secure the future.
What Managing Director Ralf Goos has to say on this topic, along with a complete look behind the scenes—is covered in the WDR reporton July 17, 2026.
STEINCO today—experience meets commitment.
What remains when you realign a company? At STEINCO, it’s what’s been there from the very beginning: the commitment not simply to deliver products—but to provide solutions customers can rely on.
Today, STEINCO is financially sound, focused, and internationally positioned. With around 200 employees, state-of-the-art manufacturing technology, and its own development department, the company produces casters and weels at several locations in Germany for industries where reliability isn’t an option—it’s a prerequisite.
Medical technology, Aviation, Commercial Kitchen, Retail Store Design, Laboratories—STEINCO’s customers operate in environments where every detail counts. And that’s exactly where STEINCO comes in: not with standard solutions, but with a commitment to finding the best solution for each specific application.
Perhaps the best way to describe what has changed is this: a manufacturer has become a partner. One that listens, thinks along with the customer, and delivers—for 100 years.
A story that continues.
100 years are not an endpoint. They are proof—that a company that takes responsibility, adapts, and sticks together can also shape the coming decades.
WDR has chronicled this story. With the camera on the production floor, in conversation with the CEO and the works council chair—up close, unvarnished, and with a genuine interest in what makes STEINCO unique.
Watch the entire story in the media library now
Learn more about STEINCO, its products, and its history.
