History
We have been producing cube cutters and strip cutters since 1966, automatic curing machines since 1972 and tumblers since 1975. Other products such as frozen meat cutters and netting machines were also included in the range as the years went on. In 2001 the curing centres came onto the market and with the packing centre in 2004 we succeeded in breaking into a different sector of the market. The company is still in family ownership and continues to be managed by the Rühle family.
Company history and key dates
Summer 1966
Company is founded by Marlene and Willy Rühle.
The company offers new and ingeniously simple technology that it uses successfully in its dicers and strip cutters for butchery.
1972
Thanks to a new generation of curing machines, automatic curing is now also available to the trade. These machines guarantee the company continued growth until well into the 1980s.
1976
The first trade tumblers for small and medium-sized companies are launched.
A multi-functional machine known as the “Mengtumbler” is introduced that, in addition to tumbling, can also mix, dry-salt and mature meats. Within just ten years, the Mengtumbler has become the most lucrative machine in the butcher’s shop and many new kinds of ham are now available from the cold-meats counter.
1980
A frozen-meat cutter is developed that, thanks to its great efficiency, is ideal for medium-sized butcher’s shops.
1981
The 1966 cutter is superseded by a new range of machines, which are regarded as the pioneers of stainless-steel processing in butchery.
1987
The final assembly division is moved into new production facilities spanning an area of 2000 m².
1991
Death of the company’s founder, Willy Rühle. Marlene Rühle takes over management responsibility along with her son Claus.
Phase of expansion is characterised by willingness to embrace new technology and to take risks
1992
The Rühle net applicator is launched and introduces the application technology of aromatic netted ham to butchery.
1993
The HighTech Tumbler is manufactured in standard production and is thus affordable for the trade. This technology revolutionises the production of cooked ham. This generation of machines is still highly successful today and is becoming increasingly widespread.
Construction of the new, ultra-modern production building spanning 5000 m²
Restructuring of the entire company and focus on high-tech marketing that is still valid today.
1994
Bavarian State Prize for Trade Innovations for the HighTech Tumbler generation of machines
Development of an innovative cutting-machine concept that uses state-of-the-art technologies and that can realise unprecedented cutting tasks.
1995
Federal Innovation Prize for the new generation of cutting machines
1996
Federal Innovation Prize for the HighTech Tumbler, which is now PC-controlled and can also boil. This is a pioneering achievement in technical control that results in a shift towards precision electronics and new machine intelligence
1997
The third generation of cutting machines is developed and, thanks to its new handling and hygiene features, is today still the most popular Rühle machine
1998
Federal Innovation Prize for new high-tech cutting machine
1999
The fully automatic SR 3 cutting machine is launched and is the first network-compatible machine on the market for line integration.
2000
Expansion of the production building by 1300 m2, further expansions are planned
2001
Bavarian State Prize for Trade Innovation for the cutting machine with lift
The curing centre is established and, with two models, delivers completely new ham qualities, handling benefits and hygiene standards.
2004
The packing centre is the first real innovation for more than 20 years and is a completely new innovation for the market.
Federal Innovation Prize for the VR 1 packing centre
The IR 112 curing centre is launched and introduces a totally new level of convenience and industrial network capabilities.
Current size of workforce: 165
