Historic milestones

RAPA expands into the Chinese market and opens a representative and sales office in Shanghai.

As a MedTec supplier for medical technology companies and manufacturers, RAPA Healthcare produces components and systems for medical and analysis technology devices. With the new RAPA Healthcare division, RAPA is consistently pursuing its strategy of diversification and focusing on innovative products in the growth market of the healthcare industry.

The starting signal was given on December 1, 2019: the Automotive, Healthcare and Industry divisions were spun off from RAPA to three newly founded subsidiaries, namely "RAPA Automotive GmbH & Co. KG", "RAPA Healthcare GmbH & Co. KG" and "RAPA Industry GmbH & Co. KG", which became the parent company (holding company) in this step. This clears the way for RAPA to align and further develop the companies in separate divisions in line with market and industry requirements.

RAPA receives the Daimler Special Award for Innovation for the development of the motor-pump unit and is a recognized technology partner of Daimler AG. The component is being used for the first time in the new E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL chassis for the Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV. The motor-pump unit consists of three main components: an internal gear hydraulic pump, a permanently excited synchronous machine as an electric motor and the 48 V control unit including software from cooperation partner Silver Atena.

The further technical development and industrialization of a stainless steel micropump with piezo actuators opens up innovation potential for medical applications. The areas of use range from simple device applications such as contactless disinfectant dispensers to dosing systems in diabetes and pain therapy as well as drug dosing and implantable pumps.
This partnership is a decisive step for RAPA towards expanding its medical technology business.

The order volume of 330 million euros with thyssenkrupp Bilstein for the new Adaptive Damper System Plus (ADS+) has a term of 11 years.

In addition to the automotive industry, the medical technology sector is becoming increasingly important for RAPA. Fresenius, the global market leader in both dialysis services and dialysis products, and a RAPA customer for 30 years, is now also equipping its latest generation of dialysis machines with media-separated solenoid valves from RAPA.

The first RAPA plant in the United States goes into operation. At the Auburn, Alabama site, RAPA will build components for major US customers and for the automotive systems manufacturer ZF.

Horst Pausch retires from active business as Managing Director and moves to the company advisory board. His son Dr. Roman Pausch takes over the sole management of the company. Dr. Pausch, who holds a doctorate in physics, supplemented his MBA degree in Canada and Australia with a Master's degree in financial mathematics at Oxford and thoroughly prepared for his role at a well-known management consultancy.

RAPA is honored with the "Daimler Supplier Award" as Supplier of the Year 2010 in the Chassis category in Stuttgart. This is followed in 2012 by the Continental Supplier Award in the electromechanics category (mechanical inductors) and in 2013 by the ZF Supplier Award. RAPA is now 100% owned by the Pausch family.

The end of 2008 was dominated by the global financial and economic crisis. However, RAPA was able to manage this crisis. The company was able to secure more new orders this year than in any previous financial year. RAPA is clearly one of the winners of 2009, which will be remembered as a "crisis year".

Dr. Roman Pausch joins Rausch & Pausch GmbH and takes over product development. From 2010, he manages the company together with his father.

The automotive industry initiated a momentum of its own at RAPA with an incredible speed of development. RAPA develops into a specialist for air suspension and manufactures shift valves and valve blocks. Products for the chassis sector with hydropneumatic suspension are also increasingly in demand. RAPA is a sought-after engineering and systems partner for customers in the automotive industry.

The automotive sector accounts for 76% of total sales, followed by medical technology with 9%, burner construction with 9% and apparatus and mechanical engineering with 6%. In 2009, the automotive sector accounted for 97% of sales: RAPA is a pure-bred automotive supplier.

In the field of supplying complete convertible drives equipped with RAPA solenoid valves, Power-Packer has a global market share of around 40%. RAPA is honored as best supplier

The KG is converted into a corporation: RAPA Rausch & Pausch Elektrotechnische Spezialfabrik GmbH.
The sole managing director is Horst Pausch.

Horst Pausch completely restructures RAPA. This led to a concentration on the core automotive business, which was consistently expanded from 1985 onwards.
An inquiry from Mercedes Benz for small solenoid valves for an electro-hydraulic convertible top drive provided the decisive impetus in the mid-1980s. RAPA becomes an automotive supplier! Today, RAPA has a 100% market share in the field of hydraulic valves for convertibles.
A key to this success model was the abandonment of primary parts production. Non-compliant product families were sold to competitors. This initially reduced the need for investment in a wide range of machinery. The capital saved and freed up in this way flowed into the development of new products.

One of Horst Pausch's first planning priorities: planning, construction and relocation to the new plant on Vielitzer Straße. After just 11 months of construction, the move took place in the summer of 1979.
The company's subsequent upswing was only possible thanks to this new building and the development opportunities it provided.

The third generation takes the helm: After graduating as an engineer and industrial engineer at the Technical University of Munich (1961-1969), Horst Pausch joins the family business in 1969 and takes over the management as general partner in 1977, replacing his father Albert Pausch. The product launch of solenoid valves, especially in the heating, sanitary, refrigeration and pneumatics markets, characterized Horst Pausch's first years in the company.

Born from the smallest of beginnings, guided by economic and political difficulties, RAPA developed over the course of five decades into a company with a main plant in Selb, a plant in Wunsiedel, branches in Schirnding and Thierstein and a total workforce of around 450 employees.
In 1970, the Selb-based company celebrated its 50th anniversary. The product portfolio includes fuse material, industrial switching relays, voltage testers, solenoid valves, remote switches and technical porcelain.

In April 1969, the production facility of sister company Elektropa in Wunsiedel is taken over by RAPA. In modern tunnel kilns, technical porcelain is also produced for the rest of the electrical industry in addition to the company's own requirements. In addition to the expansion of the broad product portfolio, investments are made in the expansion of the premises and the installation of the most efficient machinery. The extension building in Pfaffenleithe with new production and administration rooms and modern canteen facilities was occupied. In this year, Horst Pausch, grandson of company founder August Pausch, joins the company.

Based on the experience gained in the construction of electromagnetic devices, a further market area is being developed: Solenoid valves for controlling liquid and gaseous media. The focus was placed on the economical design and efficient production of solenoid valves for light heating oil. Further solenoid valves for heavy oils, gas, refrigerants, water, etc. are added to the product range. What nobody suspected at the time was that this would later develop into the most successful RAPA product family.

From apprentice to company boss
Albert Pausch, son of August Pausch, is already on board in the founding years and takes his first professional steps as an apprentice. After his return from Russian captivity (1945), Albert Pausch took over the development of a sales network in West Germany. In 1960, he became a general partner of Elektrotechnische Spezialfabrik Rausch & Pausch and managed it until 1977, demonstrating skill and empathy in sales and shaping RAPA's dealings with customers.

In 1959, the sister company Elektropa started manufacturing technical porcelain. This made the production of fuse material independent of suppliers.

In line with technical progress and, above all, automation, high-quality industrial relays were added to the range in 1952. These were used in machine controls as well as measuring and control systems. In addition, relays were manufactured in large series for washing machines, televisions and later also for postal switchboards.

In 1951, the resourceful engineer Hans Gundlach introduces electromagnetic technology to RAPA.

Transformation into the limited partnership Rausch & Pausch Elektrotechnische Spezialfabrik.

From the late 1930s, RAPA exclusively produces fuses in large quantities. Towards the end of the Second World War, RAPA is the largest manufacturer of fuses in Germany.

If there is one indicator for innovation, inventiveness and thus also for the increase in value of the company, then it is successful patents. From the founding days of RAPA to the present day, we have filed around 160 patent applications. Of these, a good 50 DPMA patents are still active and some are listed with the European Patent Office as well as with the appropriate US authority, which proves the international demand for RAPA solutions.
Incidentally, our first patent application was filed in 1925. RAPA's special and test lamps, which were new at the time, helped to prevent accidents at work among electricians.

Despite inflation, the founders are able to acquire the company premises in Pfaffenleithe, the former Ludwigskeller, which is still familiar to many. It is known to old Selbern residents as the "Kanzel". In 1924, the company moved to the much larger site. Innovative products such as the electric test lamp and the fitting wrench contribute to the company's success. The company address is now:
Rausch & Pausch,
Elektrotechnische Spezialfabrik,
Pfaffenleithe 9, 8672 Selb

In the "Golden Twenties" - on September 23, 1920 to be precise - the technician August Pausch and the businessman Hans Rausch take the plunge into self-employment: they found the company Rausch & Pausch as a general partnership (OHG). The production of installation materials begins in rented premises in Selb am Badershof.