RAFI NEWS

Dear employees, esteemed customers, partners, and other stakeholders,

this year marks the 125th anniversary of RAFI’s founding – a milestone of which we can all be truly proud, myself included. Or to put it in the striking words of Mathias Haas, who spoke as a TREND OBSERVER at our anniversary celebration in the summer: “It is rare and p…

Berg, July 15, 2025 – Together with 200 guests from around the world, the RAFI Group – originally founded as the “Institut für Elektrotechnik, Optik & Mechanik” on November 15, 1900 – celebrated its anniversary at Inselhalle Lindau. As part of the Future Impact Symposium held under the slogan “Zeitgeist. Megatrends. Courage.” on July 10, …

In 1898, Johann Josef Keller and Jakob Knappich laid the cornerstone for an acetylene gas plant for street lighting. Some 127 years later, KUKA is helping to shape the future of industrial work on a global scale. Together with RAFI, the international automation group with headquarters in Augsburg develops and manufactures control componen…

What began with the symbolic ground-breaking ceremony on May 2, 2023 will be completed with the official opening on May 16, 2025: the construction and commissioning of the new RAFI factory in Bad Waldsee. It is great success for the RAFI Group, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. Dr. Lothar Seybold, CEO of the RAFI Group…

From Upper Swabia to the world. Whether intuitive human-machine interaction systems or tailored electronics solutions: From its German headquarters and plants in Hungary, Italy, Poland, China, and the USA, RAFI supplies a diverse range of industrial sectors. Throughout its corporate history, the company has continuously set new benchmarks…

The world’s largest truck factory can be found in Germany’s Wörth am Rhein, where more than 100,000 vehicles roll off the production line every year. Since 2002, the UNIMOG has been another standout vehicle produced alongside the “big” Mercedes-Benz trucks of the A series, the Econic and the Zetros. For the latest UNI-TOUCH vehicle genera…

RAFI has introduced a second variant of RAFIX FS short-stroke adapters. In addition to the version with 1 mm switching travel, we now offer a 2.5 mm version with identical dimensions. By using the adapter, the stroke is reduced from 4.0 mm to 2.5 mm or 1.0 mm. In conjunction with the RAFIX FS pushbuttons, the short-stroke adapters are an …

"We would like to thank all RAFI employees for their voluntary work and are proud that we have so many colleagues in our ranks who are committed and contribute for the benefit of others. We would like to congratulate this year's RAFI HEROES and wish them continued success in all their projects," summarizes Dr. Lothar Seybold, CEO of the R…

RAFI has developed a new technology platform for the market-ready series production of touch systems for safety-critical applications at performance level d. Based on reliable, durable hardware components, redundant sensor architecture and comprehensive diagnostic software, the safety concept offers far more flexibility than hard-wired sa…

The RAFI Group has been awarded a gold medal by the rating agency EcoVadis 2024 for its sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR). This means that RAFI has made it into the top five percent of companies rated by EcoVadis. The global rating platform has so far created more than two million sustainability assessments, examini…

At electronica in Munich from November 12 to 15, RAFI will be presenting innovations in the fields of human-machine interaction and electronic engineering and manufacturing services. At the exhibition stand in Hall A2/341, RAFI will be showing new solutions for intuitive touch operation, secure transmission of high-resolution multimedia a…

Football unites – and helps: every RAFI employee at the Berg site was able to take part in this sporting event by donating 5 euros per person. 560 euros were raised in the end. Management added another 440 euros, bringing the total to 1,000 euros. The money will now go to the “Brennessel” association in Ravensburg.
 

For intuitive and simplified operation of loaders and various implements, Fendt contracted RAFI to develop a new generation of the loader joystick with unique features. Fendt specified that the new joystick should have a third valve, enabling simultaneous control of up to three loader functions, e.g. lifting the loader with bale gripper, …

The construction of the new RAFI plant in Bad Waldsee, which began in May 2023, has reached an important milestone. On May 16, the completion of the shell was celebrated with a hearty craftsmen's party. The RAFI organization team took part in the event alongside the site management and the trades. The construction project, with which RAFI…

As part of its corporate strategy to achieve sustainable, resource-saving and climate-friendly growth, RAFI GmbH & Co. KG has joined the UN Global Compact. This participation by the German parent company is a further step in the alignment of its corporate development with the UN Sustainable Development Goals for safeguarding human rights,…

In 2023, RAFI will once again forgo Christmas gifts for its customers and instead donate to charity. This year, RAFI has launched a new initiative to specifically highlight the volunteer work of its employees. Under the motto “RAFI Heroes – Volunteering in the Spotlight”, all employees were invited to present their volunteer work and thei…

RAFI has developed a multifunctional armrest control system for the new generation of tractors from agricultural machinery manufacturer Massey Ferguson, part of the AGCO Group. The scalable solution is characterized by a wide range of variants, offering customers a choice between twelve expansion levels with different ranges of functions …

Discover the future of safe operation of agricultural machinery and agricultural vehicles at AGRITECHNICA 12 - 18 November 2023 with RAFI. Learn how RAFI is implementing safety and efficiency in agriculture with its innovative solutions. 

 

RAFI will present a selection of its extensive product portfolio at this year’s SPS in Nuremberg from November 14 to 16. At its booth in Hall 8/128, RAFI will display not only a wide range of electromechanical actuators, but also haptic input solutions for touchscreen operation. The pushbuttons, rotary/push encoders and finger wheels from…

RAFI has been honored with the Dual Training Award (“Förderpreis Duale Ausbildung”) by the District of Ravensburg on June 28 for its achievements as a training company.

Dr. Lothar Seybold, CEO of RAFI, and Jana Brielmayer, RAFI’s head of training, were presented with the official certificate by District Administrator Harald Sievers at an…

To strengthen its market presence in the USA and accelerate its global growth strategy, RAFI Group acquired the U.S. company, Xymox Technologies, based in Milwaukee, WI.

Xymox Technologies, Inc. has over 40 years of experience developing and manufacturing capacitive sensors and membrane switches of the highest quality, with a broad custo…

With a symbolic ground-breaking ceremony on May 2, the start of construction of the new RAFI factory in Bad Waldsee was celebrated. After a welcoming speech by RAFI CFO Lothar Arnold and an address by Andreas Reisch, Managing Director of the construction company, presiding mayor Matthias Henne underlined the importance of the construction…

With the MICON 5 S, MICON 5 SL, and MICON 5 SAFETY series, RAFI has launched a new generation of robust, ultra-small tactile switches. The extremely compact micro-switches measure just 5.1 x 6.4 x 3.85 mm. Thanks to their optimized sealing system, they achieve IP67 degree of protection and can therefore be installed on PCBs protected by c…

As part of its innovation process, RAFI awards an annual prize for the best innovation within the company. Markus Riedesser, Manuel Högg and Dominik Stolz were honored as Innovators of the Year in 2022. The three award-winners received this honor for the development of a new button and input system for commercial vehicles adapted to very …

RAFI continues to accelerate the internationalization of its components business. To this end, we concluded a new distribution agreement with Demsay Elektronik at the electronica fair held in Munich in November. The sales company, which was founded in Istanbul in 2014, has established itself on the Turkish market as a respected distributo…

RAFI’s tried-and-tested RACON 8 and RACON 12 S tactile switch series are now available in a temperature-optimized version intended for various PCB protection procedures. Thanks to the additional sealing system, the new RACON ST tactile switch series (sealed & extended temperature range) is ideal for casting, lacquering and nanocoating of …

Industry knowledge and engineering enable RAFI to implement complex E²MS projects quickly and reliably. Let's talk at electronica about how we can support you in your upcoming tasks. In addition, RAFI will provide information about the FLEXSCAPE, EXTENDED DISPLAY LINK, and ECU HMI platforms, as well as the expanded capabilities of KIS.ME,…

The tactile switches of the MICON 5 series are now available in the MICON 5 SAFETY version with a two-channel contact system. With a footprint of only 5.1 x 6.4 mm and a height of 3.85 mm, the switches have the same dimensions as MICON 5, but integrate two isolated NC and NO contacts. The tactile switches thus enable a particularly econom…

RAFI offers HMI and digital solutions as well as a comprehensive range of E²MS services. Our high vertical range of manufacture - from injection molding to assembly and mounting to touchscreen production - enables us to adapt production to changing market situations. Supplemented by proactive procurement management, we are also well posit…

Bauma 2022 will be held in Munich from October 24 to 30, 2022. It is the world's most important meeting place for the construction, building materials and mining machinery industry. Visit the RAFI booth in Hall A2, Stand 432. Let's talk about how RAFI, as an industry-experienced partner, can comprehensively support you with complete HMI s…

As part of its growth strategy, the RAFI Group is investing massively in its facility in Berg. Tens of millions of euros will go into energy-saving building refurbishments and production capacity expansion. Among the latest expansion activities in the HMI standard product segment is the commissioning of a new automated production plant. T…

RAFI has optimized the sealing system of its RACON 12 tactile switch series for glob-top applications. This means the switches can now be used on PCBs that require encapsulation, lacquering, or nanocoating to protect them against condensation, contamination, and other media. The RACON 12 S (sealed) key switches achieve IP54 and IPx7 degre…

In the context of its growth strategy, RAFI is investing a sum in the high tens of millions in the extensive renovation and green modernization of its headquarters in Berg near Ravensburg. 
The construction work will stretch over a total of three years and successively renew roofs, façades, and glazed façades. The start of construction on …

Last December, the RAFI Group’s Chinese branch, RAFI Electronics, moved into its new production facility in Shanghai. In the new factory in Quingpu, RAFI Electronics has a production area of 7,800 m², of which 4,600 m² is a clean room area for the production of electronics using SMT and THT assembly. The HMI specialist will use five SMT l…

On the occasion of its 30th anniversary this year, RAFI Hungaria Kft. looks back on three decades of success. In 1991, RAFI founded RAFI-BBP in Mezőtúr, Hungary, to expand its assembly capacities for electromechanical operating elements. Even in its first year, the number of employees increased from 5 to 21. Starting in 1995, RAFI-BBP gra…

In October, RAFI and BeeWaTec agreed on a partnership for the sale of RAFI’s innovative KIS.ME communication and process control system. BeeWaTec is a solution provider for lean manufacturing, agile production and Industry 4.0. In the future, its customers will be able to directly order all KIS.ME hardware components and services, includi…

During the typical working day of a floor cleaner, the control technology must be able to withstand a good deal of wear and tear and, in addition to mechanical stress, must also withstand many a rustic actuation. That’s why Dr. Gansow Gmatic AG uses robust, easy-to-install switches from the RAFI RAMO 22 series as the control units in its …

At the SPS 2021, RAFI will be represented in Hall 4A at Stand 512. The company will present new haptic FLEXSCAPE operating elements for its GLASSCAPE touch technology as well as the current IO-Link versions of its E-BOX control components and TILTED DIAMOND⁺ signal lamps. Visitors will also be able to see KIS.ME, RAFI’s innovative communi…

Just like all the control components from the RAMO range from RAFI, the illuminated pushbuttons in the RAMO T series are available for mounting hole diameters of 22.3 mm or 30.3 mm. While the RAMO 30 T comes as a standard with stainless steel bezel, RAFI now supplies the slimmer RAMO 22 T models not only in the classic black plastic housi…

Joachim Tosberg, Life Cycle Manager at RAFI, has been re-elected for the second time as a Board Member of the Component Obsolescence Group Deutschland (COGD). Since 2017, RAFI has been a member of the association, which currently comprises more than 160 companies, and is working there on recommendations for action and guidelines for best-…

With new types of its outdoor-capable E-BOX control units and TILTED DIAMOND⁺ signal lamps, RAFI now offers two innovative product families for the IO-Link interface. As a control box with an IO-Link interface, the E-BOX IO-LINK makes it possible to integrate switches and key switches for simple control tasks in any field bus. The slimlin…

RAFI is expanding its rugged RAFIX 22 FSR control component range with a signal lamp featuring a stainless steel collar with IP65, IP67 and IP69 degree of protection to the front side. The integrated red/green LED can indicate three signal statuses. The translucent indicator is a neutral white in standby mode, green indicates regular oper…

RAFI uses its own standard ECUs in customer-specific touchscreens and control panels. This has allowed us to quickly realize a large number of projects for industry, agricultural and construction machinery, or medical technology to date, while saving resources. RAFI develops and produces the ECUs and touchscreens including sensors in-hous…

With its JOYSCAPE joystick platform and extensive add-on options, RAFI is able to implement custom control solutions for any application purpose and with optimum ergonomics for the job. Four differently dimensioned platform modules cover all use cases in various industries such as mechanical engineering, medical technology or construction…