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The JOPP Group is an owner-managed group which is operating worldwide. Its headquarters are located in Bad Neustadt a. d. Saale in the northernmost Bavarian administrative district. Primarily, JOPP is an automotive supplier, but also supplies components to other industrial sectors.
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Product range
JOPP develops and manufactures gearshift systems for manual transmissions (MT), automated (AMT) and automatic transmissions (AT) as well as corresponding plastics and electronics components, gearshift knobs and gearshift covers made of TPU and leather.
The traditional mechanical components like precision-machined and powder metal parts form another focal point of industrial production. Furthermore, JOPP develops and produces system solutions for assembly, automatization, production and testing primarily for the own company. Plastics and electronics systems and components are also developed and manufactured for external customers. The same applies to machines and equipment in automation engineering.
More than 1,900 people are employed by JOPP at the company sites in Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Mexico, the USA and China.
History
On February 6, 1919 Theodor Valentin Jopp, manufacturer from Zella-Mehlis, Thuringia, bought from lawyer Franz Mauer the monastery mill „house with attached turbine facility with generators“ located at Spörleinstraße in Bad Neustadt and founded the company JOPP.
Whereas it had been agreed upon the premises fast, there was additional need for clarification with regard to the generation of electricity, since the electricity was needed for nocturnal illumiation of the town.
At the beginning, bike parts were produced. For autumn sowing in 1920, JOPP recommended its customers sowing machines, harrows, ploughs, food cutting machines and bicycles. In the 1920s, JOPP expanded its production programme by screws and turned parts. After the Second World War, the company was temporarily foreign-managed. It grew in the 1950s with components which were manufactured according to customer drawing for the automotive industry and its suppliers, whereby the available space became too short.
At the beginning of the 1960s, a new plant was built in the urban district of Herschfeld which has been continuously expanded since.This was also the start of powder metal technology. On October 16, 1991, the factory was taken over by new share holders: Dr. Hubert P. Büchs, until then senior staff at FAG Kugelfischer und three company executives at JOPP. After their retirement, further family members of Dr. Büchs acquired shares of the company.
Company growth
In 2000, JOPP acquired plant 2 from company BSW located at Meininger Straße in Bad Neustadt, since the room in plant 1 at Kastanienallee had become too small – despite several expansions.
By acquiring today’s Jopp Plastics Technology GmbH in 2001, the production facilities were expanded technologically and spatially. The taking over of this company in the rural district of Euskirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, was the starting point for further growth in the field of gearshift technology, since essential components are manufactured there from high-strength engineering plastics.
At the end of 2002, JOPP acquired the majority shares of today’s Jopp Electronics GmbH in Rottweil, Baden-Württemberg, since in the meantime, electronics had found its way into gearshift technology. Since then, JOPP has been developing and manufacturing gear recognition systems with corresponding sensors.
In the meantime, the room available has been extended at Jopp Plastics and Jopp Electronics.
New company foundations
In 2003, Jopp Automotive s.r.o. was founded in Velké Meziříčí in order to deliver customer Bosch in the Czech Republic locally. In the meantime, approx. 160 employees are working on a production are of around 6,000 m². Apart from mechanical components, manual shifters (MT) are manufactured for the automotive industry worldwide.
In 2006, a representative office was founded in Weiting Town, Suzhou Industry Park and in 2008 a production company. At first, sophisticated mechanical components were manufactured for German production. In the meantime, automotive customers have been supplied locally.
In 2010, JOPP acquired 60% of the company shares of IFSYS GmbH in the course of a capital increase. IFSYS is manufacturer of feeding and automatization technology.
In 2011, the assets resp. the company shares of the Jopp Interior Group in Reichenschwand, Hungary and Mexico were taken over.
All companies within the JOPP Group are certified as per ISO 9001, ISO TS 16549 and mostly also according to ISO 1455001.
In 2015, the Verbund Elektroniksysteme St. Georgen GmbH was taken over.
In 2016, a Joint Venture was established with the Indian supplier Remsons Industries Ltd. in which both companies have a share of 50%.
In addition, the Rattelsdorf-based ELKCOM GmbH was taken over in 2016, now operating under the name of EMSO Electrical Mechanical Solutions GmbH.
Business Sectors
External gearshift systems
JOPP develops and produces external gearshift systems for various vehicle transmissions and vehicle interior: gearshift systems for the centre console which are either installed on the vehicle floor or below the vehicle floor and shifters, which are mounted at the bulkhead of the vehicle. The necessary gear recognition sensor system is also developed and built by JOPP.
Shift shaft modules
Shift shaft modules, which comprise - beside the shift shaft - numerous functional elements for ergonomical and secure shifting of gears in the transmission, including start-stop sensor system.
Oil-bearing systems
Oil-bearing systems are a speciality of Jopp Plastics Technology. There exist very high requirements regarding material and processing.
Clutch actuator technology
Various components made of aluminium, plastics and rubber enable the hydraulic operation of double clutches and their jerk-free shifting.
Knobs and covers
Knobs and covers for external gearshift systems are developed in Germany and manufactured in Mexico and Hungary. Materials such as polyurethane, leather and plastics are used.
Mechanical components
Mechanical components for the industry have a long tradition at JOPP. Materials such as aluminium or different steels are used. These are manufactured pre-finished on various turning machines and machining centres. For honing and grinding work, there exists a corresponding inhouse production possibility as well as for various deburring steps. Tempering and galvanic coating are realised with efficient sub-suppliers.
Mechanical components can also be delivered as powder metal parts from own production. There exists an own tool shop.
Corporate citizenship
JOPP supports numerous initiatives and projects in arts, sports and education. For 10 years already, the Gründervilla has been placed at disposal of the art club for exhibitions and initiatives. JOPP supports the motorsport club Rhön MSC to expand the hill climb course and to host the annual hill climb race. HSC Bad Neustadt in the 3rd handball league as well as TSV Großbardorf in the Bavarian football league are also supported.
JOPP supports the Formula Student Teams of the University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt and the University Bayreuth and engages in the endowed chair electromobility in the technology transfer centre Bad Neustadt and allocates essential resources for the project „bidirectional loading of electric vehicles in company smart grid“. Furthermore, JOPP plays a decisive part at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and in the employers' association at various places.