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International Women’s Day – Women at RAPA

International Women’s Day – Women at RAPA

March 8 is an important date for women everywhere. Women’s Day has been advocating for equal rights for women and men since 1911. Diverse issues such as women’s rights, women’s quotas and violence against women are addressed today.

At RAPA, women have played a role since the founding days. In production, women take on tasks that require dexterity and precision, such as assembly and quality control. In fact, in the post-war years, women predominantly worked at RAPA and kept production running. Today, women work at RAPA in all professional fields, full-time or part-time, and at every career level. For example, as assembly managers, like Carolin Kunz, or like Elvira Bayer, who manages our central workshop.

Furthermore, RAPA is committed to training young women in technical professions. Currently, the share of women in the active workforce is 43%. This is evidence of a working environment that is attractive to all genders. And there is also a woman at the top of the company: Karin Wolf is our RAPA WOMAN in the boardroom. Together with Dr. Roman Pausch, the management duo is responsible for the company’s fortunes.

How good that we now know that pink glitter and female empowerment are not mutually exclusive, but go together brilliantly!
Cheers to us RAPA women and all the women of the world!

Save the Date: Virtual traineeship fair

Save the Date: Virtual traineeship fair

Are you looking for an traineeship or do you just want to get some information? Then this fair is the right place for you. We will be there and look forward to meeting you and your parents at our virtual booth.

On March 17 and 18, we invite you to a live chat. Here you can ask us questions about the daily routine of vocational training at RAPA or get information about the application process and requirements.
From 17 March you will find more information here: www.frankenpost-ausbildungsmesse.de

At RAPA, the boss stands on the production line

At RAPA, the boss stands on the production line

A long article about us appeared in the German Frankenpost newspaper the other day. The reason was the short-term shortage of skilled workers in many companies in the area close to the Czech border. As is well known, many of our colleagues from there are currently not allowed to come to us. Editor Andreas Godawa spoke with Karin Wolf and Dr. Roman Pausch.

Both told him how RAPA found a solution in a short time. The newspaper text clearly shows that the internal call in our company for volunteers to help out in production was well received. The Frankenpost writes: “As Karin Wolf explains, the idea is to fill the shifts – for example, with employees from quality assurance or from the warehouse area who are already somewhat familiar with the machines, but also with employees or members of the management.”

Living solidarity with our 80 or so employees from the Czech Republic
Our colleagues from the Asch region would be too happy to come to work. Dr. Pausch is quoted in the article as saying, “Now it is a matter of not – literally – excluding these valuable employees, but of showing them that we are committed to them and that their jobs are being maintained and secured.” Other aspects described by Frankenpost include the cross-border commuter scheme and testing at RAPA. Our company ensures through its own pandemic plan that all German employees are tested once a week, and the 27 CZ employees who remain active are even tested every 48 hours with special permission.

RAPA is pleased about the detailed and well researched news report with a photo of the production in the Frankenpost. Let’s hope that we will soon be able to welcome all our employees from the neighboring country in Selb again.

New Key Account Manager for RAPA Healthcare

New Key Account Manager for RAPA Healthcare

We are pleased to introduce Günter Knubbe. Günter Knubbe took up his position as Senior Key Account Manager in January and will dedicate himself to sales activities and further growth in the medical and analytical technology market for RAPA Healthcare.

He is responsible for the acquisition of new customers as well as for the support and retention of existing customers. The market strategy for Healthcare is also a part of his job profile. Günter Knubbe comes from ASCO Numatics GmbH, a company of the Emerson Group. With more than 25 years of experience in B2B business and fluid technology, he has the best qualifications for this position. During this time, he has worked in sales as well as in product management and marketing. He is also well networked and has valuable contacts in the target market. “We are continuously expanding our sales department, and with Günter Knubbe we are now having an experienced professional for this responsible task. His professional experience fits perfectly into our requirement profile,” said Reinhard Schlechte, Managing Director RAPA Healthcare.

Welcome to the RAPA family.

Virtual training fair of the secondary school Selb

Virtual training fair of the secondary school Selb

We are there – you too?

You will soon be finished with school and don’t know what to do afterwards? How about an apprenticeship at RAPA: Have a look at ausbildungsmesse-selb.de and visit us at our virtual booth. Here you have the opportunity from 5.3. to 21.3.2021 to inform yourself about training and studies at RAPA. We will answer your questions in the live chat.

We are looking forward to meeting you!

RAPA Automotive Office in China: SunnyWorld Tower, Shanghai

RAPA Automotive Office in China: SunnyWorld Tower, Shanghai

Following the principle “Locals for Locals”, RAPA started a sales office in Shanghai in 2020, a production plant for the Asian future market will follow by 2023: about 100 jobs will be created in China.

A first milestone in internationalization was the foreign location in Auburn/Alabama about ten years ago. Today, RAPA is a reliable system supplier in the USA for OEMs such as FCA, Ford and the e-mobility pioneers Tesla and Rivian. As a technology partner, RAPA offers development and manufacturing of valves and systems for hydraulic and pneumatic applications. The company is characterized by know-how transfer and joint development platforms for its Automotive, Healthcare and Industry divisions.

RAPA is constantly looking for talent in the areas of electrics, electronics and software. The Selber company serves the complete value chain, from the idea to customer-specific product development to series production: 100 years of German Engineering.

RAPA – A Family Business since 1920

RAPA – A Family Business since 1920

The year 2020 was a special one for us, RAPA turned 100. Due to the pandemic, we were not able to celebrate the way we wanted to. But we did not want our birthday to pass by without a trace. To mark the anniversary, we have produced a magazine with special stories, insights and outlooks. We would like to thank all our employees, customers and partners who have supported us in this endeavor. And of course for all the congratulations!

Read our anniversary magazine online now or download it as a PDF.

RAPA donates 3000 Euro

RAPA donates 3000 Euro for the Christmas charity campaign “Selber helfen Selbern”

The donation campaign “Selber helfen Selbern” has become a tradition at RAPA. Normally, the staff collects donations during the company Christmas party. This year no Christmas party could take place due to corona, but donations were made anyway. Without further ado, RAPA donated 3,000 euros, the same amount as in previous years, for the aid campaign.

Handover of donations in front of the Selb town church; from left to right. Mayor Ulrich Pötzsch, Sabine Neudert from the “Haus am Park” support group, Peter Enzi, head of the Selber Tafel food bank, Dieter Baumgärtel, “Zuflucht in Selb” association, Renate Wölfel from the “Selb erleben” forum, Annett Kotterer, managing director of the Selb deaconry association, Rebecca Devon, Diakonisches Werk Selb-Wunsiedel, Eva Schwarzmeier from the RAPA company and Elke Schlecht, chairwoman of the “Hilfe für Frauen in Not” association.
Foto: Silke Meier

RAPA Automotive is one of the TOP suppliers

RAPA Automotive is one of the TOP suppliers

The special issue of Automobilwoche “Parts & Systems” shows the performance of automotive suppliers. RAPA’s automotive products are used in luxury models of many major corporate brands. Around 15 million components were manufactured in 2019.

Currently, we are present in the latest models of Audi e-Tron Sportback, BMW X6, in the Mercedes SUV flagship GLS, Daimler S-Class, Bentley Flying Spur, Roll-Royce Ghost and SUV model DBX from Aston Martin. Here we develop and manufacture damper and shift valves for the air suspension and valve blocks for the air supply system. In the latest evolutionary stage of the automotive industry’s flagship model, the S-Class, we are also continuing the success story of fully active chassis control in the so-called eABC. Daimler can claim no less than the best chassis in its class. And RAPA supplies part of the core technology: the highly dynamic engine-pump unit.

The components are produced at the Selb site in ultra-modern production facilities. Here, RAPA relies on technologies from the field of Industry 4.0, such as automation with human-robot collaboration. Here, RAPA once again demonstrates its expertise in providing customized solutions in accordance with the requirements of OEMs.

We are proud to be a partner of the best!
For you to read directly here (click on the pictures below) or at Automobilwoche.

For more information, please visit the product section under RAPA MPE and Active Chassis.



RAPA – one brand, three divisions

RAPA – one brand, three divisions

RAPA is a globally recognized engineering and technology partner as well as a system supplier for the automotive industry and numerous customers in the healthcare and industrial sectors. In the future, the company will bundle all activities under the umbrella brand RAPA and has divided its business by forming three market-related divisions: Automotive, Healthcare and Industry. This will enable us to serve different customer segments in a more targeted manner and achieve greater customer proximity. The new organizational structure reflects our success factors by placing our customers and their needs at the center of our business.

RAPA Automotive is the company’s largest division with the highest sales. Its service portfolio includes valves and components for the chassis and transmission area as well as mechatronic system development in the vehicle.
The new RAPA Healthcare division will expand the area of valves and systems for medical technology and transfer the performance potential of a successful automotive systems partner to the healthcare sector.
RAPA Industry is the division with the longest tradition and originated from the production of solenoid valves for the control of liquid and gaseous media established at the end of the 1960s. The industrial valves manufactured today at the Selb production site are used in mechanical and apparatus engineering as well as in heating, air conditioning and sanitary engineering.