August Rüggeberg GmbH & Co. KG

August Rüggeberg GmbH & Co. KG is a German tool manufacturer headquartered in Marienheide, North Rhine-Westphalia, which markets its products under the brand name PFERD TOOLS. The family-owned company traces its origins to 1799, when Johan Caspar Rüggeberg began producing files and rasps in the village of Rüggeberg. In 1897, August Rüggeberg relocated the business to Marienheide in the Oberbergisches Land region and, together with his sons Alfred, Emil and Robert, founded the firm that still bears his name. Today the company describes itself as a developer of solutions for surface finishing as well as for the cutting and machining of materials, a field it has served since its founding. The product range comprises roughly 11,000 tools for surface finishing and for the cutting and machining of materials. Its portfolio includes files and rasps, resin-bonded roughing and cutting discs, POLIFAN flap discs, carbide burrs, high-speed discs and drive systems. PFERD TOOLS operates nine manufacturing sites in Germany, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, the United States, South Africa and China, alongside 24 sales companies within the PFERD TOOLS Group. Worldwide, about 2,100 employees work for the company. The company has a long record of patented innovations, beginning with its first documented patent in 1929 for a rotating tool with cut teeth. In 1942 it developed and patented the rotor cutter for freehand use. From 1951 it began developing resin-bonded, fibre-reinforced roughing and cutting discs for angle grinders, a product line that contributed significantly to the company's success. In 1987 it introduced the first POLIFAN flap discs, offering vibration- and noise-reduced grinding. The company launched its first website in 1998 and later added an online shop, advancing its digitalisation. In 2011 it was recognised as one of Germany's Top 100 most innovative small and medium-sized enterprises and as a partner of the trade. Between 2010 and 2024 it brought further innovations to market, including the High Speed Disc ALUMASTER, material-specific carbide burrs, the POLIFAN CURVE grinding disc, the CC-GRIND VIEW grinding disc and the RCK drive system. In 2024 PFERD TOOLS acquired a majority stake in the Silmax Group, and in 2025 the brand was relaunched from PFERD to PFERD TOOLS.

The history of August Rüggeberg begins in 1799, when Johan Caspar Rüggeberg started manufacturing files and rasps in Rüggeberg, laying the foundation of the company. His son Johan Friedrich took over the hammer forge in the 19th century. During industrialisation, August Rüggeberg decided in 1897 to relocate the business to Marienheide in the Oberbergisches Land region. Together with his sons Alfred, Emil and Robert, he founded the firm August Rüggeberg. The move to Marienheide marked the beginning of a new era for the enterprise. The 20th century brought a series of patented innovations. In 1929 the company received its first documented patent for a rotating tool with cut teeth, followed by further patents and innovations. In 1942 it developed and patented the rotor cutter for freehand use. In 1951 it began developing resin-bonded, fibre-reinforced roughing and cutting discs for use on angle grinders; these discs contributed significantly to the success story of PFERD TOOLS. In 1987 the company introduced new grinding dimensions with the first POLIFAN flap discs, designed for vibration- and noise-free grinding. Digitalisation began in 1998 with the launch of the company's first website, later followed by an online shop. In 2011 the company was recognised as one of the Top 100 most innovative small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany and as a partner of the trade. Between 2010 and 2024, PFERD TOOLS brought numerous innovations to market, including the High Speed Disc ALUMASTER, material-specific carbide burrs, the POLIFAN CURVE grinding disc, the CC-GRIND VIEW grinding disc and the RCK drive system, demonstrating its role not only as a manufacturer but also as a solutions provider. In 2024 PFERD TOOLS acquired a majority stake in the Silmax Group. In 2025 the brand was relaunched, changing from PFERD to PFERD TOOLS. Today the product programme comprises about 11,000 tools for surface finishing and for the cutting and machining of materials. Around 2,100 employees work worldwide at nine manufacturing sites in Germany, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, the United States, South Africa and China, as well as in the 24 sales companies of the PFERD TOOLS Group.

• 2025

  Brand relaunch: PFERD becomes PFERD TOOLS.

• 2024

  PFERD TOOLS acquires a majority stake in the Silmax Group.

• 2011

  Recognised as one of the Top 100 most innovative SMEs in Germany and as a partner of the trade.

• 1998

  Launch of the first website, later followed by an online shop.

• 1987

  First POLIFAN flap discs introduced for vibration- and noise-free grinding.

• 1951

  Start of development of resin-bonded, fibre-reinforced roughing and cutting discs for use on angle grinders.

• 1942

  The rotor cutter for freehand use is developed and patented.

• 1929

  First documented patent in the company's history for a rotating tool with cut teeth.

• 1897

  August Rüggeberg relocates the business to Marienheide and, with his sons Alfred, Emil and Robert, founds the firm August Rüggeberg.

• 1799

  Johan Caspar Rüggeberg begins manufacturing files and rasps in Rüggeberg, laying the foundation of the company.

Family-owned German tool manufacturer and solutions provider for surface finishing, cutting and machining, marketed globally under the PFERD TOOLS brand.

• Files and rasps

• Resin-bonded roughing and cutting discs

• POLIFAN flap discs

• High Speed Disc ALUMASTER

• Material-specific carbide burrs

• POLIFAN CURVE grinding disc

• CC-GRIND VIEW grinding disc

• RCK drive system

• Rotor cutter

1. 1August Rüggeberg – Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2August Rüggeberg – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3PFERD TOOLS official websitepferd.com