Passionate about wood. Since 1903.
2023
In July, our company will be 120 years old and we are celebrating this with a new brand with an international focus, the new logo ‘KECK wood.passion.1903’ and the change of name to ‘Keck GmbH’.
2022
After a long period of austerity due to the coronavirus pandemic, we are celebrating our new-found freedom with a family party in May. All employees and their families experience an eventful day with a rally through the various production sites, delicious food and a coffee mobile for the adults, as well as fun and games for children of all ages.
2018
Markus Rathke starts as the 5th generation in the family business and brings with him sufficient experience in the areas of IT and sales. In the coming years, he will use this experience to digitalise workflows in production and administration.
2014
The new biomass heating centre goes into operation and is equipped with state-of-the-art waste gas purification and filter technology. Further details can be found under energy management.
2010
Our new cutting line in the sawmill goes into operation. It consists of a log band saw and a circular resaw. With this line, we can respond to customer requirements even more individually and at the same time increase the added value of the precious raw material wood.
1990
Re-focussing from softwood to hardwood products, combined with the development of international direct sales. It is orientated towards the production locations of our customers. Today, these are mainly located in other European and Asian countries.
1980
The 4th generation of the family business takes over: Steffen and Bernhard Rathke.
1976
The first trainee starts his apprenticeship as a ‘sawyer’ with us. This year lays the foundation for the successful model for recruiting skilled labour in our own company.
1961
The 3rd generation of the family business takes over: Dorothea Rathke, née Keck, and Karlheinz Rathke manage the company with expertise, social commitment and foresight. In the 1980s, their sons Bernhard and Steffen gradually took over responsibility as the 4th generation.
1907
Keck opens its own timber store in Stuttgart-Rohr in order to supply our construction timber customers over short distances. It is supplied with horse-drawn carriages from the Ehningen sawmill. In the course of motorisation, the branch is closed again in 1950 and Keck serves its customers with its own lorries.
1903
Bernhard Keck acquires the Haldensägemühle on the Würm in Ehningen. The trained sawmill operator runs the business successfully until his sons Paul and Bernhard junior take over the business in the 2nd generation.
