Leidel & Kracht is one of the few companies that combines prototype development, design, and sample construction at this technical level from a single source. Complex requirements are turned into functional solutions—from one-off production to series-ready product development. Join us on a tour behind the scenes!
Processes, requirements, and a working day full of variety
What at first glance appears to be a small team with clearly defined tasks is in reality a highly complex hub between development, design, sample construction, and production. Every day is different. Every prototype brings new challenges. Our department manager Hans-Jürgen Groß emphasizes: "For us, prototype construction always means maximum flexibility, the highest quality, and an understanding of a wide variety of industries – from single pieces to series production."
Every day, our specialist department navigates the tension between quantities ranging from 1 to 100,000 , between cost-efficient samples and high-precision one-offs for test or series production runs. These key requirements make the department a core part of Leidel & Kracht – a place where expertise and creativity are called for every day.
Challenges in everyday work:
- High diversity of requirements due to different industries and product families
- Every series production is preceded by a prototype – also in our own interest: How will the part behave later in production?
- Sustainability is gaining importance: new foams, efficient use of materials, minimization of waste
- Use of recycled materials, e .g., 30% share for certain raw materials
- Multiple samples in development projects to reliably evaluate material variants
Innovation meets reality: our prototypes
Among the many special projects, some stand out – especially those that push our engineering teams to technological limits. One example of this is our collaboration with companies in the defense technology sector. Here, complex technical systems have to be integrated into the smallest of spaces – including battery technology, cabling, connections, and sensitive components. These projects require detailed design, absolute dimensional accuracy, and a deep understanding of the application. Leidel & Kracht not only supplies products here, but also actively supports the innovative strength of modern defense companies – with know-how, prototype quality, and the ability to precisely implement highly complex requirements.
Teamwork as a success factor – from prototyping to series production
New projects often mean new processes – and new skills in the manufacturing process. The team is constantly growing with its tasks. This also includes integrating new colleagues: skilled workers as well as motivated career changers. The prototyping department is the first step in the value chain and works closely with:
- Production
- Design
- Sales and customer service
- Quality assurance
Note for applicants:
The department is growing—we regularly have open positions for interested candidates. We also welcome unsolicited applications.
Proud of quality and a team with extensive experience
There is a high level of personal identification within the team – not least because many colleagues have been working together for years and there is low staff turnover. The main factors for this are:
- High quality standards
- Continuous development
- Sustainable working methods
- Modern tools and AI-supported development processes
At Leidel&Kracht, AI is no longer a topic for the future, but a reality: from CAD assistance functions to optimizations in the CAM area, intelligent tools support design and manufacturing and enable more efficient processes and more precise results. This change is part of the broader digitalization and change process at Leidel & Kracht, which is making the company fit for the future.
What makes us unique in the industry?
Leidel & Kracht clearly stands out from the market in several ways—in particular through its combination of experience, technology, and flexibility.
Our key strengths:
- A wide range of product options for almost all branches of industry
- EVO technology for highly customized foam structures
- Production of batch sizes ranging from 1 to six figures
- More than 2,500 new projects per year – from simple cut-to-size parts to development projects lasting several months
- Specialization in complex application and transport systems, e.g., in rescue services or for operator cases
This diversity reflects the DNA of Leidel & Kracht: individual thinking, precise work, and a genuine passion for functional solutions.
