After enduring round upon round of mergers and acquisitions, Northeast Ohio native Kris Klingmann and his longtime colleagues discovered imminent plans to close one of their production facilities in Medina, Ohio. The facility and the people had been rooted in the community for decades, dating back to the 1930s – when the company was Leitner Fabrication. Since then, the company was acquired by TLT Babcock, followed by Howden. Families worked here, and friends worked here. Rather than see all his comrades and professional teammates lose their livelihoods, Kris was determined to find a way to purchase the longstanding Medina facility along with two fledgling product lines: GÝROL® Fluid Drives and TLT-ASH Handling. In 2018, he put his life savings on the line to start the new business and simultaneously save the jobs of forty of his co-workers. They haven't looked back since.

The name Kraft Werks and the logo with two K’s and a W was chosen for several reasons. Kraft Werks literally means Power Plant in German (which is a core market we serve). Additionally, some of our product lines have German roots – and our engineers are a fan of the spirit of German precision. Finally, Kris Klingmann’s name is German. One of his favorite pastimes is golf – and all of his golf balls are emblazoned with two mirrored K’s, reflecting his initials. It’s the little-known secret behind why we have two Ks in our logo today.

While Kris had always felt very entrepreneurial, this move to take ownership of what is now Kraft Werks was a transformative decision that greatly impacted him, his family and his team forever. Together, the people of Kraft Werks set out to create an organization unlike any other they’d ever worked for before – one that focuses on and highly values its people, truly embodies the attitude of continuous improvement and sincerely cares for its surrounding world. In just a few short years, the company doubled in size and expanded internationally – all while maintaining its small entrepreneurial spirit and mindfulness of its people.

In 2025, Kraft Werks joined forces with Rafter Equipment, a leader in rollforming technology, under the newly formed parent company Ridgecrest Ventures. This strategic merger brought together two Ohio-born companies with complementary expertise and shared values: innovation rooted in craftsmanship, and a relentless drive to serve customers with excellence. Today, as part of the Ridgecrest Ventures family, Kraft Werks continues to grow its global reach, invest in its people, and deliver the kind of precision, reliability, and care that has defined its story since day one.