Company

Königsee Implantate is one of the leading German medical technology companies in the field of osteosynthesis. Our company has been developing, producing and supplying implants and instruments for traumatology and orthopaedics for over 25 years. The motivation of our daily work is aimed at the development and optimisation of health-promoting products – always with the focus on the well-being of the patient. With our innovative products for almost all bone segments – from the collarbone to the toes – we actively shorten the healing process of fractures compared to conventional treatment methods, reducing both the costs of the clinic as well as the burden on the patient in an ideal scenario.

Current vacancies

On the way to the GREEN IMPLANT. We take environment protection seriously and aim to be pioneers by setting a good example.

History

The history of Königsee Implantate reaches back to the end of the first world war. In 1919, the orthopaedic technician Otto Bock founded the company in Berlin, to treat those injured in the war with prostheses and orthopaedic products. The company moved to Königsee in Thuringia shortly after. Otto Bock was able to put the idea of the series production of prosthesis components into practice and to supply them directly to the local orthopaedic technicians. After the Second World War in 1948, the company suffered a serious setback: The company founder’s assets were confiscated and the company was nationalised.

With the fall of the Berlin Wall the company was privatised again and some of it was returned to Otto Bock. The Treuhand (state holding company) sold the division for the production of implants and instruments for osteosynthesis to a French investor under the name “Orthopädie Königsee”. In September 1993, however, the company filed for bankruptcy.

This opened a door for Eroch Orschler: After brief negotiations with the town and federal state of Thuringia, in October 1993 he founded a completely new company “Königsee Implantate und Instrumente zur Osteosynthese GmbH” based in Königsee. Equipped with a small range of machinery and the determination of the workforce left standing after from the former Orthopädie Königsee folded, he set Königsee Implantate on its route to success.

2021

Königsee Implantate also overcame the second year of COVID-19. Unlike other manufacturers that source their materials in third countries, as a domestic supplier we were able to provide a very reliable service. Be it tibia plates, sterile implants, explantation sets or screws – our extensive portfolio from the collarbone to the foot is always ready and available.

2020

Königsee Implantate goes sterile! Königsee Implantate places a high value on innovation and change. However, as a company we have critically analysed the sterile trend. The flip-side of sterile packaging is the enormous increase in the volume of packaging, the resulting astronomical extra costs for packaging, logistics and disposal, rising processing costs in hospital and, above all, the severe detrimental impact on the environment. So we decided that we should at least avoid virgin fibres for the outer packaging of our sterile goods and instead use material that was already recycled to produce our boxes. We have also continued to avoid composite materials and unnecessary additional packaging in as far as this is possible without jeopardising the safety and quality of our products. At this point we would like to advise you that the new Medical Device Regulation (MDR) 2017/745 of 5 April 2017 does not mandate the sole use of sterile products.

2019

Frank Orschler opens the Logistics Centre of Königsee Implantate GmbH with the Minister President of the Federal State of Thuringia, Bodo Ramelow (from “die Linke” political party) Rebuild not new build Walking instead of driving means more time for your family. These are the cornerstones on which the new company site is built. When choosing our location, Kümmelbrunnen was not some random choice. The advantages are self-evident: Many of the employees in the logistics centre live in Königsee and can walk to their “new” place of work. You can get to the local nursery school quickly in emergencies. We did not need to build on greenfield site. Instead, an existing brownfield site and building materials were to be used — just to name a few of the criteria.

2018

The German Excellence Award was presented for the first time by the German Institute for Service Quality and the “DUB UNTERNEHMER” magazine to honour outstanding performance in German business. The patron is former Minister Wolfgang Clement. We, the Thuringia-based company Königsee Implantate, are now among the lucky winners of this award. Our Managing Director Frank Orschler accepted the award last Thursday in Frankfurt. The award honours projects and people, regardless of the size of the company. The German Excellence Award thus places deserving companies and partners who have distinguished themselves by going above and beyond and by their outstanding achievements. The award goes to outstanding products, services, campaigns, projects and makers.

2017

This year marks the launch of our variable angle-stable radius plate 2.4. With its innovative features, it allows the treatment of radial fractures and expands the comprehensive range of our existing radius plates.

Königsee Implantate also presents the TRILOB nail, a compact system to treat fractures in extremity bones in dogs and the expansion set for TIS™ screws.

What sets Königsee Implantate apart is its holistic energy management, for which it is awarded the Thuringia Energy Efficiency Award 2017.

2016

The superb design quality of the target instruments for the PolyAxNail® developed in collaboration with the company OT Medizintechnik make it a Reddot award winner in 2016. The best-in-the-state machining engineer is from Königsee Implantate. With an outstanding overall result in the skilled worker test, Stephen Ludwig not only achieves the highest score of all in the field of Gera Chamber of Industry and Commerce, but is also the “state best” of 2016.

2015

Königsee Implantate continues to invest in the Aschau site. We invest some EUR 1.8 million in six more state-of-the-art automated turning and milling machines. Once again, a trainee from Königsee Implantate is named the best in his field. In 2015, 20-year-old Benjamin Geyer is awarded as the best apprentice CNC machine operator in the Gera Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) examination. In total, since 2010, Königsee Implantate trainees have won 1st place three times, 2nd place three times and 3rd place four times. This is out of 70 to 100 trainees who take this exam every year

2014

With its competition entry “Training Centre for Machining Technology – Career in the Countryside”, Königsee Implantate is one of the 100 winners of the nationwide competition “Ausgezeichnete Orte im Land der Ideen” (Excellent Places in the Country Of Ideas) 2014. Around 1000 research facilities, companies or clubs throughout Germany competed for the 100 awards. On 7 October the certificate and cup of the President of Germany are officially awarded to the Managing Director Frank Orschler. After 2006, Königsee Implantate is then awarded this commendation a second time.

2013

In this year, Königsee Implantate celebrates its 20th anniversary and can look back on its successful development, which all comes down to the dedication of the management and the entire Königsee team and many external partners. The combination set for the variable angle-stable patella plate and the hand arthrodesis plate 19.671.xxx is the latest set configuration for the combination of 2.7 and 3.5 mm systems from Königsee.

2012

Spring of this year sees the launch of the distal humerus plate and the elbow set.

2011

The launch of RoSA® introduces an innovative principle to secure the head-neck fragments in the event of fractures to the coxal end of the femur. The autumn of this year marks a cooperation agreement with the secondary school Bad Blankenburg as part of the “KURS 21” initiative. The aim is to give school kids a taster of working life while they are still at school. Königsee Implantate savours its success as a finalist in the competition “Entrepreneur of the Year” and the “German Innovation Award”. Our company is also a member of the jury for the Prize for Medium-Sized Businesses awarded by the Oskar Patzelt Foundation. In this year, Königsee Implantate had a workforce of 152.

2010

Frank Orschler becomes the sole shareholder of Königsee Implantate. His father and company founder Erick Orschler retires from the business. In August our training workshop in Unterschöbling is opened with pomp and ceremony and attended by Minister President of Thuringia, Christine Lieberknecht. Königsee Implantate is recognised as one of the Top 100 most innovative companies in Germany for the 6th time. By this point the company boasts a workforce of 150, including nine trainees.

2009

In collaboration with the University of Jena and the technology group INNOVENT Jena e.V. we develop a special coating (TiOB®) for titanium implants and patent the product. We again need more production space to grow. All processes involving surface finishing are brought together in a 290 m2 building. The construction of a modern training workshop starts and an instructor is employed. At this point there are 141 employees at Königsee Implantate, nine of whom are trainees.

2008

The project week as part of the business initiative “Jugend denkt Zukunft” (Young People Envisage the Future) is held this year with pupils in year 10 of the Königsee secondary school. In this year Königsee Implantate receives its fifth award as one of the TOP 100 most innovative companies in Germany. By this point, our workforce has grown to 130.

2007

In this year we add the spinal products from the company Spineart (Switzerland) to our product portfolio. One exceptional undertaking is a project week with pupils in year 11 at the Odenwaldschule Heppenheim as part of the national business initiative “Jugend denkt Zukunft”. For the fourth time in a row, Königsee Implantate is declared one of the TOP 100 most innovative companies in Germany.

2006

Königsee Implantate is selected for the initiative “Deutschland – Land der Ideen, 365 Orte” (Germany – a Country of Ideas, 365 locations). To mark the event, the company hosts an open day. The district Saalfeld-Rudolstadt awards our Managing Director Erich Orschler with the title Entrepreneur of the Year. Our company also achieves third place in the development award “Nachhaltiger Mittlestand” (sustainable medium-sized company). In February of this year, another company building is officially opened by Thuringia’s Minister President Dieter Althaus. Under the patronage of Thuringia’s Minister of Culture, Prof. Dr Jens Goebel, we sponsor the company’s own innovation competition “Next generation ideas (NGI) – Give the world an idea”, a research project for young people and students.

2005

With the construction of a production and office building to residential building standards that features a rainwater utilisation system and integrates the machine processing heat into the energy concept, we are being very clear about our commitment to environmental protection. As demand for our products grow, so too does the need for further investments in development and production technology. As our exports grow, we supply markets in China, Brazil, Russia, Mexico and Scandinavia. This year the “metal working club” starts at the secondary school in Königsee. Königsee Implantate is once again among the top 100 German medium-sized companies. We are also prize winners in the “Mutmacher der Nation” (local heroes) Thuringia and “Ethics in Business” competitions. In 2005, our workforce exceeds the 100 barrier for the first time.

2004

This is also the year in which Frank Orschler, son of the company founder, is appointed as Managing Director. We expand our range of machinery with a high-pressure press to anatomically pre-shape implants. We set a milestone in terms of delivery speed: An impressive 95% of incoming orders are shipped within 24 hours. Our regular user meetings have been recognised as continuing medical education since this year and demand continues to grow. The Radius Set is awarded the “Most Innovative Product of the Year” award by the “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sterilgutversorgung” (German Society for Sterile Supplies). Furthermore, we can once again look forward to being ranked among the top 100 most innovative companies in the German SME sector and to winning a silver medal at the Geneva Inventors’ Fair

2003

Königsee Implantate celebrates its 10th anniversary. The highlight this year is the ceremony in which the Golden Lightbulb is awarded by the TV science programme “Einfach genial”. The company invests in new technology and in expanding its export and development team. The demand after the user meetings continues to rise and to date we have a workforce of 88, with seven of these in R&D and two trainees.

2002

This year we invest once again in production: The machinery inventory is expanded. The first highlight of the year is the first user meeting with leading international traumatologists. Another highlight is our stand at Inventions Geneva, where Königsee Implantate wins a silver medal. At this point, Königsee Implantate had a workforce of 75.

2001

Special plates and screws and the first veterinary implants are incorporated into the portfolio. This expansion of the range then means the R&D department needed to be expanded too. An efficient production planning and goods management system also optimises the workflow. Our company will go to receive two silver medals at the International Fair for Ideas, Inventions and New Products (iENA Nuremberg). The workforce grows to 71.

2000

In collaboration with Spanish orthopaedic experts, Königsee Implantate develops a patented screw/rod system for the spine. A collaboration agreement is concluded with Johnson & Johnson for global sales. The consistent growth of the company means that the new production area needs to be doubled with new manufacturing halls. This year Königsee Implantate is awarded the OSKAR for medium-sized companies and again receives the Thuringia Innovation Prize. By the end of the century, the implant manufacturer’s workforce stands at 67.

1999

In this year, Königsee Implantate develops new angle-stable systems which significantly shorten fracture healing times. Königsee Implantate receives the Neuland 2 award and the MO Science Award. By this point, there are 50 employees on the payroll.

1998

NASA technology optimises the quality of the titanium implants: The advantages of the new procedure are increased strength and significantly lower risk of friction corrosion and cold welding. In this year, a global patent is filed, protecting the spinal implants. The adjustable height vertebral body cage X-tenz® is used for the first time in surgery in 1997. Our company gains its ISO 46001 & RL 42/93 EEC certification. There are now 48 employees at Königsee Implantate and together, they are awarded the Thuringia Innovation Award.

1997

The developers are able to take a giant leap forwards: For the first time ever, a vertebral body implant can be implanted with a minimally invasive technique. Königsee Implantate is nominated for the Thuringia Innovation Award and at this point the company has a workforce of 28.

1996

This year, Königsee Implantate patents its non-contact plate, cutting edge CNC manufacturing technology is purchased and the sales structure is expanded to cover all of Germany. At this point, the workforce stands at 20, all working hard to ensure the company’s success.

1995

As the production site in Königsee is no longer sufficient, the company buys a large parcel of land in Aschau. In October of this year the workforce of 13 moves to a new company building boasting 600 m2.

1994

Just one year after the company was founded, the range of products is expanded and titanium is introduced as a manufacturing material alongside steel.

1993

Company foundation: Erich Orschler founds the company Königsee Implantate und Instrumente zur Osteosynthese GmbH in Königsee. Production starts out with just seven employees.

Development projects

ZIM 16KN062380 ProAnimalLife - RupturRepairDL surgical set suitable for routine use for 16KN062345 RupturRepair

Development of a surgical set suitable for routine use for the system solution for the arthroscopic treatment of a cruciate ligament rupture in dogs, considered one of the most common injuries. The method to be developed in parallel must ensure that the procedure is completed within two hours. The aim is life-long recovery of the physiological load capacity and motion patterns.

DIaManT - Decentralised Information Architectures in Medical Technology Application Domain in Thuringia

The collaborative DIamAnT project was launched on 1 April 2019. The aim of the project is to use blockchain technology to improve information availability, traceability and feedback in cross-company business processes and, above all, to be able to present them transparently.
Homepage: www.diamant-verbund.de

QST 45203 Use of highly efficient multidisciplinary technologies in SMEs

Implementation of a systemic optimisation according to 3.1.2. of the guideline for investment grants for the use of highly efficient cross-sectional technologies in SMEs. Two measures are set out to improve energy efficiency:

  • Upgrading the exhaust air fans
  • Upgrading the heat recovery system

ZIM 16KN062345 RupturRepair Development of a system solution for the arthroscopic treatment of a cruciate ligament rupture in dogs

Development of a system solution for the arthroscopic treatment of a cruciate ligament rupture in dogs, considered one of the most common injuries. The method to be developed in parallel must ensure that the procedure is completed within two hours. The aim is life-long recovery of the physiological load capacity and motion patterns.

ZIM 16KN062325 ProAnimalLife - OsteoSynth Material investigations and constructive implementation of a bending and rotation stable implant

Material testing and constructive implementation of an implant that is stable in bending and rotation.

ZIM KF3450601AK4 OPTI-SPINE Development and optimisation of a novel lumbo-sacral spinal implant system

Development and optimisation of a novel lumbo-sacral spinal implant system.

ZIM 16KN051627 - INDI-SYN motion system

Motion system – INDI-SYN / innovative, individual implant system and efficient workflows.

Project no. 2015 EEI 0089 promoting energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources in companies: Energy advice and efficiency measures

A heat pipe distributes residual heat from technological processes throughout the building for various uses. A heat buffer allows a delay in the delivery of the recovered heat. A higher-level control system ensures optimal operation.

The project, funded by the Federal State of Thuringia, was co-financed by European Union funds within the scope of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Project no. 2014 EEI 0027 Energy efficiency measures in SMEs

Measures to increase energy efficiency in companies:

  • Data collection system to reduce stand-by losses.
  • Residual heat utilisation in server room
  • Supply and exhaust air system with heat recovery for production halls

The project, funded by the Federal State of Thuringia, was co-financed by European Union funds within the scope of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Project no. 2014 EEB 0012

Advice and project support with measuring technology:

  • Avoid unnecessary standby using continuous data capture supported by measuring technology
  • Installation of a centrally controlled heating/ventilation system
  • Supply and exhaust air system with heat recovery for production halls
  • Convert lighting to LED in a production hall
  • Electric load management
  • Heat pipe with additional buffer storage
  • Residual heat utilisation in IT server room

The project, funded by the Federal State of Thuringia, was co-financed by European Union funds within the scope of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Funding programme 2013 EM 0013 Elektromobilität des Freistaates Thüringen (Electromobility in Thuringia)

The aim of the electromobility support programme

  • Funding of “project-flanking measures” for ongoing R&D support projects at companies and research facilities in Thuringia as part of the EU and German technology programmes (R&D consortia)
  • Purchase of a BMW i3 in 2014

Project no. 2012 EEB 0006

Funding for energy efficiency measures in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs):

  • Advice supported by measuring technology:
  • Stand-by loss
  • Optimisation/upgrading of milling room
  • Supply and exhaust air system with heat recovery
  • Optimisation of compressor

The project, funded by the Federal State of Thuringia, was co-financed by European Union funds within the scope of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Dates

Head quarter

Standort_Aschau

Sales and logistics center

VLZ_Königsee

Training center

Ausbildungszentrum_Oberschöbling