A Future-Oriented Family Business – For Generations

Our company history begins with entrepreneurial spirit and expertise in the production of stainless steel and chrome-nickel wire. This shared passion united Rudolf Pack and Willi Vongehr when they founded PACK & VONGEHR in Gummersbach-Derschlag in 1933. They built a customer base of renowned companies, including Telefunken, Blaupunkt, Grundig, and Becker Autoradio. A representative office was established in Paris from the very beginning. The picture shows company founder Rudolf Pack.

The company building in Gummersbach-Derschlag was further expanded in 1948. This was followed by the era of the "Wirtschaftswunder" (economic miracle), during which our company grew to one hundred employees.

As television sets began to conquer living rooms in the 1950s, founder Rudolf Pack expanded the product portfolio: Using self-made enamelling machines, we began producing enamelled copper wire – which has been a core part of our business ever since.

Rudolf Pack's two sons, Günter and Gerhard, took over the management of the family business in 1961. At this time, the company began operating under the name RUDOLF PACK Elektro-Feindrahtwerk. As innovative entrepreneurs, the brothers had the courage to challenge established methods and were always on the lookout for superior solutions. The company logo, corporate colors, brochures, and trade fair presence were also updated to reflect the times without breaking with tradition.

Since the 1980s, we have focused exclusively on the production of enamelled copper wires and HF litz wires. During this time, the brand name → RUPALIT® was created – an acronym derived from "Rudolf Pack Litzen," which was later trademarked.

In 1985, we launched → RUPALIT® Profile: A litz wire with a square or rectangular cross-section instead of a round one. This increases the copper fill factor and minimizes space requirements while boosting the performance of the respective component.

RUDOLF PACK Elektro-Feindrahtwerk was renamed PACK Feindrähte.

In addition to representatives throughout Western Europe, partners in Eastern Europe and later across the globe were added. With the construction of a second production hall in 1994, Günter and Gerhard wrote another important chapter in the company's history.

In 1991, we had our RUPOL fine wire and RUPALIT® litz wire certified according to UL standards. This made us the first manufacturer of enamelled copper litz wires to carry an international safety test mark. Over time, many more of our products were certified, with certifications expanded and renewed as needed.

In 1999, → RUPALIT® Safety revolutionized the market. Thanks to reinforced outer insulation, separate layer insulation is no longer required. This saves space and weight while reducing component manufacturing time. This litz wire design is tested and approved by VDE according to various standards (IEC 60950, IEC 61558).

With → RUPALIT Planar, we developed a high-frequency litz wire for high currents. By profiling the individual strands, we achieved efficiencies for large cross-sections that were previously unattainable.

Since 2004, we have been meeting the demand for particularly wide and flat litz wires with → RUPALIT® Flecht. Specific requirements for litz geometry and subsequent processing using appropriate connection technology were central to its development.

In 2005, Jürgen and Rainer Pack joined the management team. In 2010, Claus-Peter and Marcus also joined as shareholders. PACK Feindrähte has now been serving customers in medical technology, drive and railway engineering, automation, and power electronics for over 60 years.

With → RUPATEX®, we launched a triple-extruded single wire. This wire allows for direct tinning without prior stripping. Further advantages include the possible elimination of layer insulation and significantly shortened winding times during processing.

In 2007, we launched our first research project, "Characterization and Optimization of Litz Wire." In collaboration with the Chair for Electromagnetic Fields at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Spezial-Transformatoren Stockach GmbH & Co. KG, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, and Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, we investigated ways to reduce proximity and skin effects. This resulted in a comprehensive database of optimized HF litz wire properties, which we have been continuously expanding ever since.

In 2008, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of PACK LitzWire – a milestone reflecting our long tradition, innovative strength, and reliability in wire processing.

The anniversary was marked with a gala event overlooking the skyline of Cologne. Together with our employees, partners, and long-standing companions, we looked back on a success story defined by technical progress, quality, and strong values.

In 2009, we introduced a variant of → RUPALIT® Profile specifically designed for the fully automatic winding of HF litz wires for photovoltaic products.

For several years, our company served as the exclusive supplier of HF litz wires for the solar inverters of a world-leading manufacturer. This successful partnership underscores our expertise in developing and producing high-quality specialized conductors for demanding renewable energy applications.

Since 2013, our company has been a development partner for leading Tier-1 suppliers in the field of inductive charging technology. Working closely with these partners, we develop customized HF solutions and specialized litz wires that ensure maximum efficiency and reliability for contactless energy transfer systems.

Our commitment to research and development has been regularly recognized by the German Stifterverband since 2014. This confirms our strategy as an enabler of innovation and technology for our customers.

From 2014 to 2016, as part of the project "Power Inductors with Factor 4 Higher Power Density," we investigated loss-optimized power transmission and energy efficiency while accounting for optimal thermal conditions. The focus was on the optimized serial production of aluminum litz wires.

By focusing our corporate design on litz wire production, we underscored our strategic orientation toward the manufacturing and consulting-led distribution of high-frequency litz wires.

Doubling our production space in Gummersbach in 2016 further increased our capacity. Today, on a total of 3,000 square meters, HF litz wires and fine wires are manufactured for customers worldwide using state-of-the-art equipment.

Our long-standing development partnerships with leading manufacturers of inductive charging technology continue to yield results. Since this year, we have been the exclusive supplier for two Tier-1 suppliers of premium German automotive manufacturers in the field of on-board chargers.

Joined the European Center for Power Electronics e.V. (ECPE). Since 2003, leading companies in the power electronics industry have formed this industry-oriented research network. Its mission is to promote education, innovation, science, research, and technology transfer in power electronics across Europe.

Start of the research project "High-frequency inductive energy transfer for autonomous electric drives." This project explored innovative inductive energy transfer systems for autonomous electric drives. In contrast to existing technologies, new and challenging combinations of mechanical and electrical properties were achieved.

As part of a comprehensive digitization strategy, all production data were digitally recorded for the first time, and core workflows were automated. This enabled real-time visualization of process data and informed decision-making based on current values. Operational and machine data are continuously recorded, forming the basis for targeted analysis of plant performance. A special focus is placed on predictive maintenance, ensuring higher plant availability and consistent quality. These measures led to a significant increase in efficiency and improved transparency across all manufacturing areas.

In 2022, we deepened our collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute IISB. The integration of the LiWiCalc® calculator on our website was completed, expanding our customer service by allowing for the exclusive calculation of power losses for our HF litz wires.

The research project "UnivoLt – Universal Use of Regenerative Energies through High-Efficiency Megahertz Power Electronics" launched in 2023 with renowned partners and customers. Funded by the Federal Ministry for Research and Technology as part of the "SME-innovative" program, we are expanding our range of services in megahertz litz wire technology.

In 2023, we proudly looked back on 90 years of company history – an anniversary we celebrated with our employees, partners, and companions. This celebration was not only a review of our successes but also an expression of appreciation for everyone who has contributed to our company's growth and stability.

Those who enable new technologies with HF litz wires and fine wires and increase the efficiency of existing solutions should also ensure they are used. In 2024, we installed six charging stations for electric vehicles at our company headquarters. These 22 kW charging stations are available to employees, customers, and other users.

Through an EU-wide selection process, we were chosen as one of fifty European companies to participate in the EU Business Hub South Korea. The program aims to promote business relations between European and South Korean companies working on green and energy-efficient technologies.

With the launch of our new company website, we present ourselves as a more modern, user-friendly, and future-oriented partner. A special highlight is the integration of our new product configurator, RuPaFox® – developed specifically for design engineers.