Latest news

Being a partner of the industry and as one of the leading innovators of the market, we are continuously developing our products as well as ourselves and we always are implementing new ideas. What’s new? Which patent applications have been made recently? Which technologies are we using?

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Modern bonding technology has made considerable progress in recent years. It now replaces or complements traditional joining techniques in many companies and also offers many advantages over conventional methods in Cleff. Riveting can be replaced by bonding, especially when a smooth surface is required. Gluing enables full-surface connections and thus better load distribution. It is also an alternative to bolting as it provides a more even load distribution without material penetration. In addition, bonding can replace welding as it joins dissimilar materials without melting or deforming them. In electronics and precision engineering, soldering and brazing can also be replaced by adhesive bonding. Adhesive bonding also makes it possible to achieve tight joints, as required in particular for windows and doors.

Our technical experts have a huge knowledge of industrial bonding technology. This includes the preparation processes such as cleaning, activating and priming as well as the actual bonding process. They are also familiar with different adhesives and know which is best suited for which application. A high standard for this technique has been established, and the employees involved in the bonding processes are of course trained accordingly.  Precise adherence to all previously defined specific requirements and parameters of a project - including specification of the adhesive suitable for all parameters - ensures that the materials used and the adhesive are compatible. Depending on the specified adhesive system and the surface conditions of the substrates, different operations are carried out to pre-treat the surface.  In brief, a typical bonding process includes careful preparation and cleaning of the surfaces to be bonded, activation and, if necessary, priming, application of the adhesive, joining, fixing of the components if necessary and curing - and finally a quality control. The entire process is precisely documented to ensure traceability and compliance with relevant standards.

The future belongs to industrial bonding!

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The people of Hamburg love to travel on the red double-deckers - and not only them ...
Because the buses of the "Hamburger Stadtrundfahrt - Die Roten Doppeldecker GmbH" offer different tours to the sights of Hamburg and visitors quickly get to know all the beautiful places of the Hanseatic city. With the hop on/hop off principle (interruption and continuation of the journey with a day ticket) and according to the motto "To experience Hamburg is to experience Hamburg", you can explore the Hanseatic city and even combine the trips with harbour tours.

The striking red MAN SD 200 convertible double-decker buses have 82 seats and a "sliding roof" over the entire upper deck. The buses date back to the 1970s and were converted into convertible sightseeing buses after they were taken out of service as regular service buses in many cities. As double-deck buses, they are particularly well suited for this - due to the good view from the upper deck. Their new engines also meet contemporary and environmentally oriented standards. The fleet includes not only the double-decker buses for tours, but also a playmobile for trade fairs and events, a multifunctional mobile with a living cabin, an infobox for trade fair meetings and a jumbo trailer with a living area - equipped with windows by Cleff. We have been working with "Hamburger Stadtrundfahrt - Die Roten Doppeldecker GmbH" for four decades. Especially when it comes to modernising older bus models such as the MAN SD 200, we demonstrate our expertise: being able to build individual window solutions even for older and modern vehicles. This is demonstrated by the installation of new Cleff windows during the general overhaul as well as the adaptation of windows for special purposes, such as the event kitchen vehicle for the International Tourism Exchange in Berlin, where cooking is done for trade fair guests of honour.

It all started with the "Hummelbahn" in 1980, which took guests across the island of Sylt - and was already equipped with Cleff windows. Then owner Heinrich Schuster shifted his tours to Hamburg's city centre - with sightseeing buses. He gave them an open "convertible roof" and was the first to implement this vehicle principle throughout Europe. In the meantime, the company has developed significantly: In addition to the classic city tours in the Red Double Decker, the Hamburg-based company, which is now also represented in Dresden with its city tours, offers transfer and charter trips, boat tours on the Elbe, excursions into the surrounding countryside, catering and cooking events.

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Does a company like Cleff need strong and flexible partners? The answer clearly is "yes". This is especially true for the areas of transport and logistics. In February 2018, therefore, the successful cooperation between Kraftverkehr Lückerath GmbH and Cleff began. Founded in Wuppertal in 1979, the freight forwarding company Lückerath carries out transport orders throughout Germany and in neighbouring countries, except for Switzerland. It works closely with our shipping department and - with the so-called "day car" - takes care of the daily collection of profiles and components for transport to further processing, such as surface treatment at anodising and powder coating companies. Jörg Lückerath, owner of the company, emphasises the efficient communication and fast transport solutions in cooperation with Cleff. For Lückerath, reliability and punctuality are a priority, supported by German-speaking staff and the company's own fleet of vehicles.

Kraftverkehr Lückerath has more than 30 trucks. The haulage company has many loyal drivers who have been with the company for many years. After all, these long-standing Kraftverkehr Lückerath GmbH employees represent the company, and their reliability, punctuality and cleanliness are essential to its business success. The company operates a secondary location in Saxony and has its headquarters in Wuppertal in the Sonnborn Flieth industrial estate, i.e. in our immediate vicinity. With 26 drivers and 3 office employees, it operates regionally within a radius of 150 km around Wuppertal and serves national destinations such as Stuttgart, Nuremberg and Hamburg. Internationally, it concentrates on transports to the Netherlands and Belgium.

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Warehouse logistics is central to our medium-sized company in order to optimise material stocks and the flow of goods. We have an aluminium warehouse with aluminium profiles and a small parts warehouse with accessories. Both ensure our competitiveness. After the flood damage in 2021, we rethought and reorganised our warehouse logistics. Due to limited storage capacities, we focus on maximum efficiency: an IT-supported warehouse management system minimises costs and mistakes, shortens picking times and ensures optimal delivery times. Since our products have constant storage requirements, we rely on careful storage space organisation and make the best possible use of space. In addition, well-trained staff and automation have significantly improved storage costs and delivery times.

Before storage comes the incoming goods inspection, especially for aluminium extrusions. It ensures the quality and safety of our products. It starts with a document check and includes visual inspections, measurements and technical tests to ensure that the profiles meet our standards and customer requirements.

At the heart of the Cleff company, the "watchman" works for the quality of our products. With his experience in quality inspection, he uses his technical know-how and sense of quality to ensure that the aluminium profiles delivered are checked in detail. Using the so-called profile projector, he monitors the dimensions and ensures that every profile that passes through our doors meets the highest quality standards and all the required dimensions. In addition to the aluminium profiles, he also takes care of the inspection of all products that are further processed in the company. This concerns attachments, handles and connecting elements to ensure that everything that reaches the production line is first class. He is also involved in quality management, enters the test procedures into the ERP system and the test results into the documentation system.

Therefore, quality is no coincidence, but the result of a long and careful process chain at Cleff.

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The period of Christmas has come to an end. For many of us, these were days of recreation, relaxation and reflection.

Now it's time to start again ... the new year has begun and with it many new challenges and tasks. We accept them, because we will be there for you again in 2024 and will be happy to adapt to your ideas and demands. Because our work does not consist solely of the development and production of vehicle doors and windows, rather we also define our role as a supplier in the vehicle market as a "service provider". This begins with extensive communication in the development processes and continues in the after-sales area.

Because in our view, this is precisely where the quality of a modern production company proves itself. Is the supplier still there for me in case of complaints? Is there delivery reliability? Will I get spare parts? We would like to be able to answer these and many other justified questions, which are often in the foreground for our customers, with a clear "yes". In the spirit of this quality demand on ourselves, we will continue to work for you in the new year 2024.

Now we wish you a good, energetic start into the new year 2024 and look forward to successful, joint activities.

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This year was characterised by many imponderables. Price increases and supply bottlenecks have once again presented us all with many previously unknown challenges. But in close cooperation - together with our customers and suppliers - we have always found good ways to get problems out of the way and make deadlines possible. In short, the events in the world have once again put us to the test and were mastered thanks to the committed, flexible approach in all areas of our company.
We would like to thank all our customers for their loyalty, for the many goal-oriented discussions and, last but not least, for the understanding that carried us over the hurdles of a demanding daily work routine in 2023 in all departments of the Cleff company.
And of course we would also like to thank our suppliers and service providers, who once again stood firmly by our side with a great deal of energy in the past year and made their contribution to consolidating and further expanding the position of the Cleff brand in the international commercial vehicle market.

We wish you, your families and all those dear to you, with whom we hope you will find some peace and quiet this festive season, a wonderful Christmas season. And for the new year 2024, we wish you all the best in health, happiness and success!

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Our employees now have a choice: should it be a pedelec, an e-bike, a racing bike, a mountain bike or a folding bike? Whether electric or muscle-powered, the leased job bikes always promise environmentally friendly mobility and are one of the most popular employee benefits not least for this reason. On top of that, employees have a tax and contribution advantage. In our workforce, together with our leasing partner "Lease a bike", we have already attracted numerous interested parties. Approximately 6,000 specialist dealers nationwide offer them a wide selection of brands and models. The leasing model runs for 36 months and includes a wide range of insurance, breakdown protection and maintenance services, which of course also apply to private use. And since our company headquarters is located directly at the Nordbahntrasse cycle path, many parts of Wuppertal are now easily accessible for our employees by job bike. In this way we increase fitness and employee satisfaction and at the same time make our contribution to environmental protection.

Jobbike leasing: health and financial benefits.

Cycling promotes health and through bicycle and e-bike leasing, employees can save up to 40% compared to a direct purchase. A salary conversion reduces the taxable gross income and thus also taxes and social security contributions. In this case, part of the salary is not paid out in cash, but as a benefit the form of the company bike. By means of an additional agreement to the employment contract, the salary is adjusted for the useful life of the bicycle, which brings tax advantages. For Cleff, leasing is cost-neutral and easy to implement. It also increases employee satisfaction and promotes environmental protection. The offer includes comprehensive protection against theft, vandalism and other damage. In addition, there is a Europe-wide mobility guarantee with 24/7 roadside assistance, towing service and a replacement wheel in the event of a breakdown.

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Refurbishment is primarily about bringing older vehicles up-to-date using new products with new technology. The upgrade is achieved, among other things, through optimisation by means of redesigning existing components. This leads not only to a general visual upgrade, but also to an adaptation to important dual-use requirements. In the case of vehicle doors, windows and partitions, this means on the one hand adapting to important safety standards, water and pressure tightness and on the other hand improving the indoor climate and user-friendly ergonomics in the vehicles. The modernisation of existing vehicles can also include cost advantages in terms of ease of assembly and disassembly through component redesign, which promises significant cost benefits.
A good example is the ET 481 series, which we are currently equipping with our products. Based on the body cut-outs of the car bodies, we have improved the complete system glazing with rubber clamping frames, glass panes and hinged windows. You could say that we have "engineered" modern solutions "into the body openings" in order to offer passengers some extra comfort and to ensure that the vehicles retain their value over the long term as well as smooth component functions.
But the scope of services goes even further, in that in addition to system glazing for the side windows, we also optimise font and rear windows, partition walls, partition wall doors, grab rails and keep spare parts for these solutions in stock for the long term. In addition, there are structurally sophisticated door solutions for driver's cab doors, which convince in modern refurbishment with a multitude of detailed technical solutions in the hinge and lock area. The range is rounded off by the design and manufacture of matching door frames.
The product portfolio of the Cleff brand is always paired with a customer-oriented after-sales service, which ensures that customer projects are subject to intensive ongoing support and that proactive specialists are therefore available to our customers as advisors during and after installation if required.
Hand us your specifications for carbody cut-outs and the design specifications for the interior - we will adapt to them technically customised solutions that meet - and can even exceed - the most modern standards.

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In August, we filled three new apprenticeship positions: The trainees started their apprenticeships at Cleff as industrial clerks, metal technology specialists, specialising in cutting mechanics and as warehouse specialists. The picture shows them together with their trainers Mrs. Winter and Mrs. Christ.
The 3-year apprenticeship as industrial clerk offers many challenges in the departments of sales, purchasing, work preparation, human resources, finances, shipping/logistics, production - and thus exciting insights into projects for different customer companies in the Europe-wide commercial vehicle market.
Different machining possibilities and the great vertical range of manufacture of our company characterise the 2-year technical training course for metal technology specialists.
And, wihtin 2 years, the warehouse specialist learns everything that ensures a smooth process in our goods logistics. The training also lasts two years and opens up the possibility of obtaining a qualification as a warehouse specialist in a further training year after completing the training.
The advantages of our medium-sized company for the trainees are diverse: They are supervised by professionally and personally competent trainers with many years of training experience with regard to all examination-relevant and company-specific tasks. In addition, there is an attractive training allowance, voluntary special payments and 30 days leave per year. Furthermore, our trainees also have the option of receiving a job bike. Our convenient location directly at the "Nordbahntrasse" cycle path makes this particularly interesting.
All apprenticeships are characterised by changing requirements and tasks and offer the best future prospects ...

Is there a better way to enter the modern working life?

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Our brand celebrates its anniversary this year.
88 years of Cleff - this period of an entire lifetime covers many things that have moved people - and we have also moved a lot ...
Especially in times of increased challenges, it has proven to us that it is right to focus on healthy growth:
With numerous investments in energy-saving, more efficient plants and with a commitment to an ecologically oriented future.
But our greatest assets are certainly our decades of experience in the construction of vehicle windows and doors and a workforce that is committed to our customers - every day anew..:
88 years of Cleff also means a commitment to values that were already important to our founder Carl Wilhelm Cleff in 1935. First and foremost, it was always his axiom to stand by a spoken word and to be proactively there for customers.
We are sticking to this more than ever and will continue to be the reliable partner for the vehicle industry that you can count on in the future. This is to be taken literally, because in addition to experience, quality and service orientation, we offer an attractive price structure for development services and products.
For us, being ready for the future also means looking positively at the current mobility turnaround. After all, the expected growth of rail transport, especially local public transport, will result in new exciting tasks that we are looking forward to.
We are ready. Because the future has no time to wait. It has already begun.

 

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The political signals regarding the environmentally friendly expansion of local public transport are clear: For example, in April the Bremen Senate approved measures from the climate protection package for more than 400 million euros, which include improvements in local public transport. This includes the financing and procurement of seven additionally required trams and 15 articulated electric buses, which are to be available from the beginning of 2025. And it is not only in Germany that things are happening: the city of Strasbourg wants to invest more in hydrogen mobility in the coming years and has recently awarded Caetano Bus the contract for the delivery of 60 hydrogen-powered hybrid buses (fuel cell/battery). Austria's regional railways are also reporting strong growth figures and Deutsche Bahn is talking about record passenger numbers in this year's Easter service.
In order to be able to follow the trend in local public transport, older trams, regional trains and buses are technically overhauled or converted in addition to the procurement of new vehicles. The focus here is on the rapid availability of vehicles and maintaining their reliable operational capability. Refurbishment is therefore an important measure to meet the currently increasing demand for vehicles for local public transport.
Throughout Europe, Cleff contributes to the safety of future public transport tasks with its range of products for the refurbishment of older vehicles.

Numerous product solutions await you, which on the one hand ensure the availability of vehicles and on the other hand promote their value retention and comfort enhancement ...

• Vehicle doors (mechanical) and vehicle window systems including all add-on parts such as door frames, hinge and lock systems
• Windscreens
• Innovative driver protection partitions
• Partition screens and partition systems - with and without retaining bars
• Numerous customisation options, e.g. for the different types of glass, anti-reflective coatings, cut-outs in the glass, lettering, stickers, etching, etc.
• Glass with attachments
• Rubber elements and seals
• Aluminium parts
• Handles and accessories
• Reproduction of components

But the complete Cleff refurbishment offer has further advantages:

In addition to the extensive range of spare parts for buses and trains, system deliveries of complex assemblies are also possible. Many years of experience in the implementation of projects for European public transport ensure high product quality in small and large series production. Cost advantages result from individual project management with optimised, service-oriented communication processes and highly efficient production with modern machinery.
Another advantage is optimisation through replacement: the products and assemblies to be renewed always correspond to the latest state of our development and are in part functionally and qualitatively better - e.g. with regard to higher corrosion resistance for metal parts or the improvement of insulation values for vehicle windows - than the original equipment quality. Compliance with all normative requirements, e.g. fire protection, is also ensured. In addition, dismantling and assembly can also be carried out by us on site in the event of damage.

When vehicle fleets require a contemporary overhaul, Cleff is always the right contact - today just as it was 88 years ago.
 

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Occupational medicine is a significant issue at Cleff. The treatment and prevention of occupational diseases are essential components of occupational medical care. The aim of occupational medicine is to ensure and maintain the health of employees in the best possible way. All the stresses to which our employees are exposed in their daily work are taken into account. As an employer, we are committed to taking the right measures to protect the health of our workforce. To do this, we need the advice, support and examination of our occupational physician. The occupational physician who accompanies our employees is a general, palliative and company physician and has been working with us for years.

In addition to occupational medicine, occupational safety and all related measures to prevent accidents at work are of central importance. The legal requirements for occupational safety ensure that all employees in the Cleff company can work in a safe and healthy working environment. In this area, our company is accompanied by an expert. This specialised consultant supports us as an occupational safety officer in the implementation of all occupational safety regulations as well as in the introduction and implementation of measures for the prevention of occupational accidents, or occupational diseases can.

To ensure occupational safety and health protection, meetings of the occupational safety committee (ASA) are held regularly. This occupational health and safety committee is a body of the company's occupational health and safety. In Germany, it is mandatory for companies with more than 20 employees. It also includes the company medical officer and our occupational safety specialist. The committee meets at least once quarterly and discusses all health and safety concerns - recommendations are proposed here, especially concerning risk assessment.

With the medical officer keeping an eye on health protection and our occupational safety specialist focusing on all aspects of safety, we ensure the well-being of our 100 employees.

Our company's sales team is always taking on new challenges ...

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Under the leadership of our sales manager Mrs. Anna Szal, the Cleff sales team is always taking on new challenges - flexibly, service-oriented and proactively. This is because Cleff projects often cover a comprehensive range of services: these include design solutions and manufacturing, accompanied by a high degree of safety aspects involving quality tests, verifications and standards. All this has to be coordinated together with customer communication, complex agreements and service. Almost every door, window or partition project is bearing these performance characteristics.
The sales team sees itself as the interface between our development and production department, the work preparation department and the purchasing department - and of course the customer. Therefore, our sales staff must be true "all-rounders" - with high commercial, but also social and technical competence.
They are also language talents, because the team is fluent in English, French, Italian and Spanish.
You can already see the complexity that our five-person sales team faces with every project. A lot of time is spent on communication and consultation alone for each Cleff product. At the same time, the speed with which today's target markets operate has increased considerably. New trends and ever-changing requirements must therefore be recognised and implemented even faster - and with shorter project lead times.

The sales perspectives of tomorrow ...
Innovations, environmental issues and local public transport offer good perspectives for 
new technologies within the framework of increasing digitalisation could soon make the glass itself even more useful for the transmission of information or as entertainment for the passenger.
Due to an increasing change in thinking about mobility, people will switch more to public transport in the future - and these vehicles will always need doors, windows and partitions. This trend is already becoming apparent in the enquiries from manufacturers.
Our goal is clear: to build and maintain long-term business relationships with customers.
As a partner of the commercial vehicle industry, we always offer the "total package" - consisting of know-how, quality and service as well as good availability. This is especially true for small or special projects, for whose implementation Cleff is always available as a strong partner.
 

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The roots of this locomotive, which was used for decades on non-electrified branch lines in Germany and replaced the steam locomotive series used there until then, go back to 1958. In 1961, the series delivery of the locomotives took place which were manufactured by Deutz, Henschel, Krauss-Maffei and Krupp. It has a weight of 63.0 tonnes. Its Maybach, Daimler-Benz or MAN engines produce 1,100 hp and enable a speed of 65 km/h in shunting mode and up to 100 km/h in mainline mode.
After all locomotives had been parked at Deutsche Bahn until 2005, some of them have been reactivated for construction train service since 2008 after being modernised by the Cottbus factory. The advantage for track construction companies is the design with a high central driver's cab. This offers a much better overview compared to locomotives with an end driver's cab. 
Second-hand V 100s were reused - partly converted to other gauges - in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, Great Britain, Guinea, Italy, Nigeria, Romania, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Bangladesh and Algeria. In Germany, some locomotives of the V 100 series have been preserved in museums.
Currently we have designed and built 2 driver's cab windows for each of 10 locomotives. With the help of sample windows, the design of the windows was rebuilt in our CAD systems and the windows were implemented on this basis.

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The Mercedes G Class is now almost legendary: its body design was only slightly changed between 1979 and 2018. Technically, however, there were always improvements and updates. These mainly concerned the engine variants, the interior and many safety features. Mercedes-Benz achieved record sales in 2016 with almost 20,000 vehicles sold. From 1979 to 2017, a total of over 300,000 vehicles were built.
The Puch G (G stands for off-road vehicle) evolved from the Mercedes-Benz G model series and was produced by the Austrian Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG, which was a major conglomerate in the metalworking industry and one of the largest employers in the country. In 1987, the group was split into several subgroups which are now independent. Developed in cooperation with Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG and manufactured in Graz, the off-road vehicle was sold to Austria, the former Yugoslavia, Switzerland and parts of Africa until 2000. In addition to military use, it is also extremely popular in the private sector, such as for hunting and off-road use, as well as with forestry and woodland owners and, last but not least, with enthusiasts of the brand. Here, the model's robustness, value stability and versatility are appreciated.

For the Puch G, Cleff  has currently supplied several thousand door window units as spare parts to various partners in Europe.

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Our company has been involved with solar energy for a long time. The "solar tower" that we installed in front of our aluminium warehouse in the 1990s was groundbreaking for its time. We have now opened a new chapter on the future tasks of environmental protection and resource conservation: With 1.636 solar modules covering 3.145 m2 of the Cleff company's hall roof surfaces, we are ensuring a CO² saving of 248.747 kg per year. This means that the annual electricity consumption of about 176 households can now be covered.
This has made our company a great deal greener again.

 

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… this is a speciality of the company Cleff. Value retention and the improvement of suitability for everyday use are often the reasons for overhauling vehicles in public transport networks. Would you like to modernise your public transport vehicles, and replace the vehicle windows on your city and regional buses? Cleff, as a supplier, is on hand to help you find solutions that not only replace old windows, but also improve functionality and durability, in some cases significantly, be it side windows, rear windows or cab windows. State-of-the-art solutions include Cleff’s flush windows, that are also available with various mechanical and electromechanical functions, even as hinged models. When overhauling buses, why not upgrade them with state-of-the-art window solutions? You can also contact us, if you are looking for interior partition walls or hygiene protective walls for drivers as part of your vehicle renovation project. Our high-quality protection walls made of glass are very popular; either as original parts or for retrofitting. We can also meet the demands of public transport networks for fast and easily delivery of spare parts: we have a broad range of stocked parts, e.g. seals, handles, hinges, holding rails etc.

Discover what a strong partner Cleff can be for your next refurbishment project, and find out more about our reference projects, products and services ‘Made in Germany’ in this field, be it large or small unit volumes. Simply contact us.

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Flush windows are the modern alternative in the functional glazing of vehicles. The “window within a window” provides a contemporary, closed appearance in exterior glazing. Their shapes are extremely variable, ranging from rectangular to round solutions, and they come in folding, sliding or rotating designs. The glass is available in a wide range of qualities, including ESG and VSG, ISO and layered-ISO, and in different colours and tones. Besides this diversity in shape and function, the flush-mounted design is more burglar-proof: prying the window open from outside is complicated due to the flush fit. The integration of ergonomic handle solutions is also possible on flush windows. We can design customer-specific and customised solutions. For example, we can incorporate the customer’s logo or a vehicle-specific model name in the handle design. In the past 15 years, Cleff has built more than 100,000 flush windows for a wide variety of applications. As a result, we have extensive development expertise and experience in producing flush windows, which are a very elegant technical solution in vehicle window construction today.

We develop flush windows according to your specific requirements and are happy to advise you on all of the possibilities that this window solution can provide for your vehicles, for both original equipment or refurbishment projects.

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The use of vehicles in medical services, disaster control and technical emergency services is versatile and often averts a lot of suffering. Manufacturers and users of such vehicles therefore place the highest value on reliability. But this reliability can only come from the best possible quality - and this applies to all components of an ambulance, a fire engine or a technical aid vehicle. As a long-standing supplier to the international special vehicle construction industry, we offer 
•    Vehicle doors 
•    Vehicle windows 
•    Partition walls and partition wall glasses 
... and this within the framework of a complete system delivery with all associated individual components (lock systems, handles, etc.) and both in small and for large quantities.
The Cleff brand offers state-of-the-art solutions for its supplier products, such as flush windows, a wide range of functionalities for doors and windows as well as glass partition wall systems. It goes without saying that we make individually desired mechanical and electromechanical functions, glass and surface qualities or foiling possible. Because we supply these components exactly as the manufacturers of modern vehicles want them: Individually adapted to their design and functional requirements - and always designed for the required high durability for the "tough" daily use in special vehicles.

For us, "Made in Germany" is not only a promise, but a living reality, because all work - from customised design to all test procedures to production - is carried out in Germany. And we cordially invite you to visit us in Wuppertal, from where we have been reliably supplying vehicle manufacturers - including those in the rail industry - with our vehicle doors and windows throughout Europe for more than 85 years. 
Follow the path of a door or window development and get acquainted with our references by means of concrete examples.

Simply make an appointment and learn more about the Cleff company and its services in special vehicle construction.

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At Cleff, we offer the full range of vehicle window construction for a wide variety of commercial vehicles. You benefit from the brand's experience in the development and production of complex window and door constructions in combination with sophisticated glazing. We thus ensure that your vehicles are fit for everyday use in a wide range of conditions. A few of the requirements that our windows have to meet include challenging weather conditions, pressure resistance and impermeability and so on. However, here is something many people do not know yet: The Cleff company also supplies quality glass separately. We have been operating on an international level as a glass supplier for many years. The glass is individually - with regard to the properties of different types of glass and their possible applications - precisely matched to customer requirements. You define the requirements and we submit a technical solution as well as a commercial offer.

The possibilities are manifold:
In addition to glass in different colours and shapes (e.g. with bends as plane J-Bent, C-Bent or aspherical), we also supply the following types of glass:
• Partition glass with and without imitation etching
• Door and window panes
• Glasses ESG / VSG / ISO and stepped ISO, bullet-proof glass
• Glass with coatings for light transmission
• Glass for reducing UV radiation (for climate optimisation in vehicles)
• Glass for noise reduction (for lowering the dB level)
• Glass with and without ceramic printing/with and without dot patterns
• Colourfully printed glass with different tints, e.g. parsol grey/green/bronze
• Different glass thicknesses
• Glass with segmentation for mobile phone compatibility etc.
• Emergency exit glass (NEA)
• Foiled glass, e.g. with shatter protection foiling
• ISO glass with pressure equalisation valve
• Anti-reflective glass on one and both sides in 4, 6 and 8mm thicknesses
• Heating panes with wire and layer heating

The glass permits the following:
• Windscreens with pressure swing resistance according to UIC 566, shock load resistant according to body swing test according to NFPA/DIN.
• ISO glass with defined strength for safety bonding and stepped insulating glass
• BN 918 511
• DOT
• 15152
• ECE R43

Get to know the Cleff Group as a glass supplier - and take advantage of our many years of know-how on the world of glass. More on this at https://www.cleff-glas.de/en/

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Special rail vehicles are required for the construction and maintenance of track systems and overhead lines. This includes, for example, rail-mounted fire-fighting and rescue vehicles, crane trucks as well as rail milling machines. Vehicles with wheel flange, rail head or flank lubrication systems, with suction devices for cleaning ruts, with contact wire and track measuring devices, with snow clearing attachments and high-pressure water systems for cleaning points or for the contact wire de-icing device are also part of this special area of rail transport. The field is highly diverse and technically very demanding, as these vehicles are always high-precision custom solutions for very special tasks and areas of application ...
Cleff specialises particularly in the development and production of windows and doors for these special vehicles used in international rail transport. From our numerous references in this field, we would like to present our reference project for the Austrian company Linsinger, founded in 1939, which we equipped a rail milling train with access doors. The example clearly shows that this is a system delivery, which means that the door, door window and the entire lock and hinge technology come from a single source: manufactured by Cleff in Wuppertal. Every component of such a door is subjected to a series of tests in order to ensure that the individual components function reliably in the long term. Another project was a locomotive door with integrated heated windscreen and windscreen wipers as well as windscreen washer nozzles.
This example also shows the structural complexity and the technical demands with which we, as a supplier, meet the manufacturers of special rail vehicles. As you can imagine, a door of this kind is often only manufactured in manageable quantities – and this is perhaps another thing that sets us apart from our competitors on the market: We are decidedly happy to produce small series – with the same commitment and demand for perfection as we do for the large-scale orders we receive.

Do you need a window or door solution for your special rail transport vehicle? Contact us and tell us about your requirements – we will swiftly ensure that the solution you need is tailored to your individual situation.

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When local public transport carriages are outdated, they can be rebuilt with the help of a partial or complete refurbishment and restored to their best for many years of everyday mobility. Cleff supports these refurbishment processes with vehicle windows, vehicle doors, partitions and a large number of spare parts, such as new handles, glass with add-on parts and seals. Typically, it takes several years before a vehicle is refurbished after it was originally equipped. Over this time, we have often optimised processes and improved materials, which means that spare parts can possibly be used in better quality than the original parts.
We are open to all refurbishment projects, whether they involve vehicle windows - as is currently the case with the "Durability BR 481" project for the refurbishment of the Berlin S-Bahn (urban railway) series 481 - or smaller projects such as the refurbishment of an island train or a small railway. The logistical processes of our company allow us to deliver on schedule, making it easier for you to plan your individual project.

Discover new perspectives for your vehicle refurbishment - with Cleff by your side as a reliable partner for spare parts refurbishment.

 

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The new 5-spindle-CNC metal-cutting machine
It mills, it drills and it cuts threads: our new CNC-controlled metal-cutting machine will be able to do all that. We expect this high-performance "newcomer" in our company's machine park in spring 2023. Technophile readers will already know the process: The 5-axis metal-cutting machine can process components in the X, Y and Z axes as well as in an additional swivel or rotation axis - and simultaneously, of course. With the new investment, we will also be able to machine even larger window frames in the future: Dimensions of 3,000 mm x 2,000 mm x 650 mm can then be subjected to mechanical machining processes without any problems.
This investment is not a "mere" replacement investment, but will enable us to produce even larger window frames in the future and thus to proactively meet the increased market requirements. 
The stronger drive power of our new 5-axis machine is also accompanied by an increase in machining performance - which enables us to take account of the constant pressure on prices.
Incidentally, our old machine, which already had CNC-controlled 5-axis technology, will not be scrapped, but will be put on the second-hand market, where it can certainly be productive for many years to come in another company. 

The new wet separator 
Wherever work is done, as the saying goes, swarfs fall and dust is raised - and in our production, especially in the grinding shop, quite a lot of it is produced ...
In order to reduce dust exposure in the premises - for employees and the environment - as much as possible, these dusts are extracted and bound in a water bath - in the so-called wet separator.
Our wet separator was also getting on in years and in order to be able to subject the dust-laden air directly at the workplace to maximum cleaning performance, we installed a new wet separator in 2022.
However, our requirement was not to interrupt ongoing operations during the installation of the new wet separator.
This required a temporary "bypass solution", with a mobile unit taking over the cleaning function while the old system was dismantled and the new separator installed.
The dismantling and installation of the new separator was completed within one week. This required perfect planning by all the crafts involved in the work. During commissioning, the guaranteed data were checked - and more than fulfilled. In addition, the new wet separator now develops significantly lower noise emission values.
 

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A spirit of optimism has guided us throughout the year 2022, at the end of which we can look back on numerous successful projects with pride. Having said that, we fully appreciate that many of our accomplishments would not have been possible without you, the customers and suppliers of the Cleff company. We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for everything and assure you that you can keep counting on the Cleff brand in the new year - and thereby on our unremitting reliability, proactive approach and flexibility. Each year, people from less privileged backgrounds also count on us - which is why we support the Burgholz children‘s hospice and the Wuppertal food bank.
We wish you, your families and employees a truly merry Christmas season and may you embark on a happy new year in 2023 - with health, happiness, success and, of course, optimism!
For more information, please go to: www.kinderhospiz-burgholz.de and www.wuppertaler-tafel.de 

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At present, for instance, windows and doors are being built for 50 new Toshiba hybrid-diesel-battery locomotives HDB 800. Toshiba sets standards in terms of environmental friendliness with the crucial future technology of hybrid propulsion: namely, the CO2 emissions of the Toshiba HDB 800 are significantly reduced. These alternative propulsion concepts make it possible to work more resource-efficiently in the marshalling yards. The result is annual energy savings of at least 30% and the saving of 1 million litres of diesel fuel per year. What's more, the brand-new Toshiba hybrid locomotives are easier to operate thanks to the incorporation of the state-of-the-art technology.We in Wuppertal are also delighted about this forward-looking order and the great trust that has placed in the Cleff brand.This is because the locomotive combines high European and Japanese engineering standards, including being equipped with the latest technologies, such as the SCiB™ Lithium titanate battery system1 certified by TÜV Rheinland, which satisfies numerous quality and quantity-based safety requirements.Cleff's system deliveries also have to ensure safety when it comes to the driver's entrance door. Our door system delivery for the new Toshiba HDB 800 locomotives not only includes the door, but also its individual components such as the door frame, hinges, lock, handle, seals and windows. This is why all components are carefully matched to each other by our designers. New doors are subjected to host of tests at our in-house inspection and test centre, thus guaranteeing a permanently flawless function and maximum safety with regard to a wide range of loads.

1 SCiB™ is a trademark of Toshiba Corporation registered in Japan as well as other countries.

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As a system partner, Cleff is responsible for the supply of individual window and door solutions for driver's cabs of locomotives.
Here, we offer window solutions with different functions such as integrated wipers, wire and layer heaters.
Furthermore, when it comes to window construction for locomotives, the Cleff brand stands for
• the fulfilment of different transmission requirements
• coatings for noise and cold reduction
• integrated heating conductors with semi-transparent cover print as protection
• solutions for passive mobile radio support
• glass with scratch and shatter protection films
and much more.
All side windows as well as front and rear windows for locomotives can be adapted to the respective requirements and needs of our customers.
Cleff door solutions benefit from our extensive experience as a system supplier, which includes lock systems and hinge technology as well as door frames in the respective system scope.
The following applies to both product groups: We develop solutions for the most wide-ranging installation spaces – and in all conceivable forms.

Simply talk to us about your needs and we would be happy to advise you.

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You are probably wondering what kind of "good design" could be applied to our products in the first place. Good design is a fixed factor in the consumer sector, e.g. for household or hi-fi appliances - but also fo vehicle windows and doors or partition walls ...?.

Our answer is simple: design does a lot more than just some attractive shape and the right proportions. For us, product design also means perfect ergonomics, because a door, window or emergency exit handle, for example, can only be operated smoothly if it has the right shape - and under certain circumstances it can save lives. Many of our company's products also have to be designed in a way that is understandable to the layman and resistant to tampering because they are used in public transport.
To this end, design ideas play an important role. Product design can also provide valuable ideas for constructive solutions in the area of pre-design. Sometimes even tooling costs can be reduced through alternative design approaches.
And last but not least: good product design usually sells better and tops off the often sophisticated overall design of a vehicle. Especially in terms of the total development costs of a new product, such costs are relatively reasonable. For example, Cleff can implement design drafts as 3D-printed parts quickly and cost-effectively at an early stage of development. They are then used, for example, for pre-testing and for checking the functionalities. In addition, ergonomic aspects and aesthetic appeal are also evaluated very positively.

That is why our development work is often backed up by well-versed partners with many years of experience in the design industry. Together with them, we prevent possible "operational oblivion" and at the same time, create compelling solutions for our customers.
Do you need a special handle - perhaps even with an integrated logo, a hinge or a special profile solution albeit with an impressive design?

We will be more than happy to discuss product development and design with you. All you have to do is get in touch with us.

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International rail transport involves high loads. Punctuality in rail transport, be it local or long-distance, safety and operational readiness of the vehicles, depends on the quality of the individual products used to constitute a rail vehicle. Cleff contributes to this with vehicle windows and doors, partition wall systems and the timely delivery of spare parts, e.g. for refurbishment. Our full range of products in the field of functional glazing has resulted in numerous cooperations with leading manufacturers of rail vehicles in recent years.
Regardless of whether this involves driver boarding doors, partition wall systems or a complete side window system with hinged and sliding windows. The range of services is not limited to individual products, however, but also includes solutions for technically complex systems: For example, the door frame, handle, hinge and lock system are combined to form a door system solution developed and produced from a single source – and thus perfectly harmonised.
As a result, the Cleff brand has stood for expertise in products for rail traffic for well over 85 years. And we are committed to reliable and trustworthy partnerships with manufacturers and transport companies throughout Europe. A team of 85 employees at our site in Wuppertal develops, produces and tests sophisticated solutions for the demanding everyday life of rail transport. Our quality claim: We provide safety and durability of rail products in large and small series.
In the field of spare parts for rail vehicles, our customers can expect a broad portfolio of rubber profiles/seals, glass with add-on parts, aluminium parts, handles, accessories and much more. Over the past decades, Cleff has gained a reputation as a contact partner for vehicle refurbishment, specialising in products for rail transport. Not only does the quality of the spare parts from Cleff often meet OEM quality, it even surpasses it, as numerous products are constantly revised and adapted to the respective current technical standards.
As a glass supplier, Cleff offers a wealth of expertise in the handling of glass as a material and all the properties required by the modern railway industry. The range of glass on offer is diverse and the depth of expertise in the advice we offer on the possible uses of glass and its desired properties is high – we are in the position to provide just that thanks to the technical skill of the experts at Cleff.

International rail transport requires new products, spare parts and glass for a wide variety of rail vehicles – for which we are a quality-oriented contact partner. This is the contribution we make in terms of reliability and safety in rail transport.

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... we offer the full range with driver boarding doors, boarding partitions,
partition wall systems - in the passenger area and the driver's cab - as well as the complete system glazing. When it comes to functional glazing, we develop and produce driver's cab windows in different variants such as flush/semi-flush, horizontal/vertical sliding, mechanical and electromechanical. We offer glazing from toughened safety glass to insulating glass. In addition, we offer hinged windows, sliding windows and windows with holders for passenger information, door windows, front and rear windows for trams and much more. We perform all relevant tests at our company or together with strong network partners.
The advantage: You receive all deliveries vehicle-related and pre-commissioned from a single source. This reduces your workload and simplifies communication, because you always have competent contact persons who are familiar with your project at all levels.
Do you need modern side glazing for your new local transport rail vehicles? Simply ask about the possibilities that Cleff also offers you for new partition walls.
Do you need front and rear windows? Why not also discuss additional glazing options for your new vehicles? You will certainly be surprised how extensive the development and production potential is here in Wuppertal. This is also one of the reasons we have been a long-standing cooperation partner of Stadler Rail AG, Alstom Bombardier, Siemens, Heiterblick and DÜWAG. They all rely on the many advantages that our services "from a single source" offer them.
Especially when it comes to the complete fitting out of trams with windows, doors and partitions, we are sure to be able to win you over with our design expertise and strong production performance.
You are warmly invited to visit Cleff in Wuppertal.

 

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Do you need glass? A lot of glass ... or a little glass? In any case, glass for vehicle glazing? Then we should get together and have a talk about it ...
Not only does Cleff manufacture complete functional glazing, but we also supply the right glass for your individual requirements. Glass has many possibilities – and this is what we offer and as a partner for glass supply, we have evolved into a permanent fixture in the supply sector over the last few years.
You define the requirements for the glass of your choice and we will provide the appropriate offer. For glass in various colours and shapes, with and without imitation etching, as toughened safety glass / laminated safety glass / ISO and stepped ISO, as bullet-proof glass, with coatings for light transmission, for climate optimisation and noise reduction, with ceramic printing or dot patterns, with coloured printing, tinting, foiling, anti-reflective coatings on one or both sides and much more.

Do you need your glass to have even more special properties? We would be delighted to inform you personally about what we can do for you in terms of glass, because it is impossible to list all the possibilities here.

So talk to us about glass – and discover Cleff as a supply partner for glass in a wide variety of designs.

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Every vehicle window and every vehicle door is only as good and reliable as the rubber profiles that accompany them.
This is where the choice of the proper profiles and materials comes into play. Because wind pressure – especially in the case of two-way traffic – extreme changes between low and high temperatures, strong cleaning agents that regularly act on the windows and doors with steam jet equipment – rubber profiles have to withstand all this and "keep tight" at the same time. Additionally, tolerances have to be taken into account that quickly add up when components are "lined up" and can be partially compensated for by rubber profiles.
Cleff also focuses on high quality in this respect. Following Aristotle's guiding principle "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts", we pay particular attention to the quality of every component and each material that is used in newly designed functional glazing or vehicle doors. And s particular attention must be paid to the quality of the rubber profiles used: they must not become brittle or lose their elasticity, and at the same time they must remain dimensionally stable for years in order to reliably fulfil their function.
Our many decades of experience in handling rubber profiles and our selection of the right types of rubber guarantee our customers the long-lasting function of these extremely important components. And of course, Cleff rubber profiles are also available for refurbishment and in the aftermarket business for rail and commercial vehicles: Replacing ageing profiles is easy and if the glazing is "still good", replacing the rubber profiles often gives the glazing a second life.

We would be happy to assist you whenever you need to replace the profiles in your vehicles. Regardless of whether this involves a rail, commercial or special vehicle, or cable, nostalgia or island railway. Cleff brand rubber profiles are always available for small or large series.

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We wish you a perfect start to the new year.
Tumultuous times are certainly behind us all, but now we are getting back on track and looking forward to the new year with renewed confidence, and the Cleff company is approaching the new year 2022 with fresh vigour.
Our teams in administration and production are already looking forward to interesting projects. Some of them have already been added to our order books and we see many exciting tasks in the development of new products and refurbishment ahead of us. The rail transport sector will certainly play a vital role again in the new year - and we will keep you informed about all the company's news here.
We look forward to working together with you again in more familiar "waters". Team and Zoom conferences have enriched the working world, shortened distances and made communication easier. Much of this will certainly remain, as it makes sense and saves valuable time. However, we all have definitely missed the personal contacts that so greatly enrich our professional lives. Soon we will surely be able to meet each other again more often. This is something we are very happy about and look forward to visits and discussions with you in a more personal atmosphere.
We would be happy to discuss your project on-site at your company or in a personal meeting at our premises. Also, if you would like to become acquainted with the Cleff company in Wuppertal and would like to gain an insight into our company and our products, simply make an appointment with us.
We look forward to seeing you in the new year 2022.

 

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... is now behind us. 2021 has once again moved the entire world like hardly any other in the past decades.
We have all learned that health is our greatest asset in life. Many have managed to weather these past months well, but several of us have also had to go through some decidedly painful, personal experiences. And who would have thought at the beginning of 2020 that the Corona crisis would be with us for so long?

The Cleff company has weathered this period well. Our employees are healthy. That is the most important consideration.
From an economic perspective, we owe our continued success in 2021 to long-standing customer relationships, intensive acquisition efforts and our team, which has pulled together and performed extremely well during a volatile time of unpredictable market changes, uncertain supply chains, rising material and energy costs.

As the year draws to a close, we would like to extend our special gratitude to our customers, whom we were able to support in numerous challenging projects – and, of course, to our suppliers and service providers, who have faithfully stood by our side. And despite the fact that the crisis will probably continue to take its toll on all of us, we are certain that the future will be bright. We remain confident and trust in bright prospects for the new year because we all continue to stand together – and especially in these extraordinary times.
Looking ahead now, we look forward to spending time with all of you in the new year.

In this spirit, we wish you a wonderful Advent season and a happy, healthy Christmas among your family, friends and loved ones. We start 2022 with optimism and energy and wish you a wonderful start to the new year.

In accordance with the latest standards...

...it goes without saying that our design team also works this way.

The design engineers at Cleff use modern CAD systems at their workstations; in doing so, we take into consideration the growing qualification requirements of complex designs in the development stage. The design of vehicle windows, doors and partition systems is heavily influenced by complex calculations. Special material properties also play a role; in particular, the interaction of different materials, such as glass, rubber and aluminium. Due to the advanced functionality of windows and doors, which generally involves “folding”, “rotating” and “sliding”, taking into account sensitive tolerances is also required. Simulators are also frequently needed in order to be able to test the flawless operation of new designs in the development stage.

In addition to their pure design capabilities, CAD systems help to ensure the verification of finite elements. They can also perform numerous calculations that make individual, specific product requirements verifiable.

And 3D visualisations can also be generated quickly. This way, our customers get a “preview” of new products. To further help arrive at decisions, we also use a 3D printer. This is used to produce individual parts quickly and cheaply and in outstanding quality. As a result, the design and function of parts can be conclusively tested.

Product development is supplemented by the possibility of numerous tests of partial production steps or on the finished product. These tests are carried out in our own test centre or together with our network partners.

Cleff offers development competency from a single source.

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Graffiti is an irritating problem, and many transport companies must invest a great deal of time and money to remove the “artwork” created primarily on local commuter, suburban and underground trains.
We counter this with effective anti-graffiti coatings for windows and doors, which simplify the removal of graffiti and keep locomotives and rail carriages clean. Graffiti paints of wide-ranging qualities do not adhere to surfaces as well and are also easier to remove, even if cleaning takes place at longer intervals.

The coatings also permit simplified cleaning outdoors; for example, with steam-jet cleaners. The result is the possibility of a more thorough and faster cleaning process that is also more economical and benefits the environment due to the reduced use of water and cleaning products.

Windows and partition walls in buses and trains are often subject to scratching. The emergency hammer found in carriages is the “tool” used to accomplish this. We counter this form of vandalism with highly-effective scratch-resistant films, which can be applied to windows and transparent partitions in trains. Cleff ensures that its products are durable.
We will be happy to show you the options for added protection against vandalism and for simplified vehicle cleaning through coatings and films – both solutions are useful both for original equipment and for the complete or partial renovation of buses and trains.

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Company founder Carl Wilhelm Cleff was an expert in machining, polishing and anodizing aluminium strips for the bodies of large vehicles and passenger cars. Known back then as "Leisten-Cleff", since 1935 the company had been producing mouldings with a decorative but also functional character: These mouldings covered, for example, the weld seams on the car bodies.
Framed windows, especially the common, hinged windshields for trucks, were made of milled brass profiles at that time. Backed by years of experience with aluminium profiles, Carl Wilhelm Cleff began manufacturing frames for vehicle windows from extruded aluminium profiles. This proved to have two decisive advantages: Production became more inexpensive and bending became easier - and the aluminium-framed vehicle windows manufactured by Carl Wilhelm Cleff became a success – fuelled by the advancing motorisation of the 1950s "economic miracle years."

In the period that followed, the functions of vehicle windows were further developed and became significantly more complex. Under the Cleff brand, the so-called "functional windows" emerged, with a wide variety of sliding or folding functions. From synthetic windows to armored glazing with a thickness of 40 mm, Cleff now developed and produced individual windows in a wide variety of shapes. Later, complex system packages and partition walls, e.g. for rail-bound vehicles, were also added to the company's product range.
Today, the Cleff brand represents a comprehensive product portfolio with functional glazing (except windscreens), partition systems, vehicle doors and spare parts – in small and large series.
The basic construction principle in vehicle window manufacturing, namely the use of extruded aluminum profiles, has remained unchanged to this day.

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They divide interiors in many local public transport vehicles and shield entry and exit areas. In combination with grab handles, partition wall systems are essential for the safety of a vehicle. Monitors that can be mounted on partition walls can also be used for advertising and passenger information. Partition walls are characterised by a high degree of stability and provide transparency - glass elements guarantee an unobstructed view through a bus, underground or suburban train carriage. At the same time, vehicle partitions have a high degree of stability, as there is often room for prams, bicycles or wheelchairs next to them. Partition walls are the inconspicuous companions of mobility in modern local and long-distance transport.
Partition wall systems from the Cleff company are developed specifically for each customer and adapted to the high stresses of daily use. The choice of special glass provides safety for passengers and foiling can further customise the appearance or provide additional scratch resistance. And there are virtually no limits to the customised design of partition walls.

You can learn all about the possibilities of a technically sophisticated and durable solution for your new partition wall system during a consultation with our experts. We can support your project for the initial installation or a refurbishment - in both small and large series.

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...this part of our work is extremely important to us. When you understand the stresses that windows and doors in vehicles are exposed to, then it quickly becomes clear that the surface treatment must meet the highest standards. The high thermal loads that vehicles are exposed to in the hot and cold regions of the world are one example. Cleff produces vehicle windows and doors that are used worldwide. After their service life in the temperate climate regions, many vehicles can expect a “second life” in more southerly climes.

Therefore, the vehicles equipped with our windows and doors, whether trams, buses, small vans, emergency vehicles or special-purpose vehicles – depending on the area of use – must be able to withstand both Arctic and tropical temperatures, endure high humidity, offer rust protection, particularly in coastal areas, and resist changing pressure conditions. Thus, the perfectly treated surfaces of our products ensure not only a permanently attractive appearance, but also perfect functionality.

You can expect complete expertise from us: in the surface treatment of window frames and doors/door frames, e.g., decorative surfaces, 5-layer finishes and powder coatings – and with a variety of surface textures and colours. At Cleff, the corrosion resistance and durability of window frames and doors/door frames is always a priority.

Special coatings such as anti-graffiti coatings and scratch-resistant films also ensure that our products are easy to clean and prevent vandalism.

 

We advise you not only on the products themselves, but also on selecting the right surface treatment.

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Nestled in the beautiful countryside of the Bergisches Land region, infamous for its exciting excursions, Wuppertal is an active and culturally open-minded industrial city on the outskirts of the Ruhr region. Our city is also the (elective) home of countless prominent personalities of the past and present: Well-known names such as Friedrich Bayer, Ferdinand Sauerbruch, Friedrich Engels, Johannes Rau, Pina Bausch and Tom Tykwer are closely associated with Wuppertal.

From an economic point of view, we have valued our location since the company was founded 85 years ago, because Wuppertal enjoys a central position: within Germany as well as Europe. Our delivery processes benefit greatly from this outstanding location. The proximity to the most important trade fair centers and, of course, to our customers in Germany, the Netherlands, France and Belgium is a major asset. Being this close to our customers is particularly beneficial in terms of personal contact, which is often required in the case of complex developments. We also have a proven network of suppliers and service providers in the region, which has evolved over decades and with whom we cooperate in a true spirit of trust.
Development and production are closely linked at the Wuppertal site and thus stand for our commitment to "Made in Germany". Cleff has never even contemplated a possibly more cheaply priced production abroad. In doing so, we assume our social responsibility, employ people in the region and train young people to become competent specialists.

Last but not least, the immediate proximity to the Ruhr area has shaped us Wuppertalers: Here, "a spoken promise" still means a lot. This is taken seriously and is of greatest importance to us.


Aerial photo of Wuppertal at night: ©Jonathan Webb / www.webbaviation.de

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Along with vehicle windows, vehicle doors are certainly one of the core competences of our company. They are used for a wide variety of purposes, and we can refer to references in the most diverse areas: In the case of locomotives, for example, sophisticated solutions are required for access doors that have to meet high demands in terms of pressure tightness. In addition, we also develop and produce vehicle doors for completely different commercial vehicles such as fire engines and snow groomers. Other applications include engine room doors and doors for watercraft. Many vehicle doors have special features, such as "panic handles", which are designed to allow quick opening in dangerous situations.

Many years of experience with a wide range of customer requirements and the ensuing design alternatives have helped us to evolve into a team of highly skilled experts in the field of vehicle door development. This is also demonstrated by complete door systems that Cleff develops for customers as part of system deliveries, because often it is not just a matter of developing a door, but also the matching frame of the vehicle door, including all the necessary components such as handles, hinges and lock technology.

Our customers supply the design specifications for the door opening on their vehicles - we supply all the components of a door solution for this interface on the vehicle - perfectly matched to customer requirements and tested in our in-house test centre in accordance with the relevant standards.
Let us introduce you to Cleff as an experienced door developer for your vehicles.

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... the Cleff company is supporting the modernisation project with the renewal of the side glazing.

Since 2019, the Berlin S-Bahn (urban railway) has been modernising all trains of the BR 481 series, which is scheduled to last several years and the continued operation is ensured by the project "Longevity BR 481".
The appearance of the modernised vehicles will be adapted to the new S-Bahn (urban railway) trains. Paint, upholstery, floor panels and floor coverings will therefore be renewed in the same design. However, the 481 series will also be technically optimised:
For example, corrosion damage is being repaired, mechanical and electrical components are being replaced or reworked and new door leaves are being installed on the entrances. The retrofitting of additional horizontal grab rails, special markings for passengers with restricted mobility, tactile door opening buttons and the installation of a video surveillance system will thus increase safety and comfort in the vehicles. The sum of all measures can permanently prevent aging-related malfunctions and make the trains fit for the years to come.

The side window systems of the trains will also be modernised: This part of the 481 fleet renovation is significantly accompanied by the Cleff company: the scope of supply of the system includes the hinged windows and the pressure frames. These pressure frames are inserted into the window cut-outs of the carriage body structure, glued and serve to hold the clamping rubber frame and the keder profile, which are also part of our company's scope of delivery, as well as the windows.
Originally, the pressure frames consisted of a plastic profile frame that was supported on the vehicle body in precisely defined dimensions. In order to better accommodate possible tolerances of the car bodies in the future, an optimised solution, i. e. a coated subframe, was developed by the Cleff company.

However, this exemplary and extremely extensive refurbishment project is not only about improving the quality in all areas with a new design, better technology and more accessibility and making the trains technically fit for the future. Rather, the modernisation takes into account environmental aspects: the vehicles are given a "second life" as many people now have more reasons to switch to the railway again.

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... is an essential contribution to the best possible surface quality.  Since 2020, the new cleaning system at Cleff has ensured the thorough degreasing of e.g. vehicle window frames, thus creating optimal conditions for the subsequent process of powder coating.

 

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All quality tests can be carried out at our company and at partner companies: Quickly and reliably – and above all in accordance with our own high standards. That is why we have our own test centre for a large number of tests.

We check the following for you:

  • Pressure cycle testing in accordance with UIC 566 section 4.2.2.2
  • Testing of the air tightness of doors in accordance with DIN EN 14752
  • Water tightness test of doors following DIN EN 14752
  • Wind resistance to wind load according to DIN EN 12211:2016
  • Air permeability according to or based on DIN EN 1026:2016
  • Water tightness against driving rain in accordance with DIN EN 1027:2016
  • Durability test according to or based on DIN EN 1191:2012
  • Smoke protection test according to DIN EN 1634-3:2009
  • Soft body impact test according to e.g. NF F01-492 and NF P08-301
  • Calculation of sound reduction at windows and doors according to e.g. ASTM E2611-17
  • Measurement of sound insulation on windows and doors according to DIN EN ISO 10140
  • Static strength verifications and fatigue strength verifications according to DIN EN 12633-1
  • Fatigue strength verifications for vibration loads according to DIN EN 61373
  • FEM calculations for load assumptions and strength verifications


But our test centre can do even more: As a service offer, we at Cleff accompany your test series under professional guidance and make all meaningful test results available to you. Get to know the test centre. Simply make an appointment and tell us your individual test task. Together we will make your products standard-compliant and thus future-proof.

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One aspect of window and door construction is still purely manual ability. However, we always aim for the highest degree of absolute perfection with regards to precision fit, durability and surface quality, even in mechanical processing methods. We are therefore working on continually improving all production opportunities.
Our machine fleet has therefore been expanded, with the help of a high investment amount, to include two new CNC processing centres with 4-axle technology and a bending machine from the latest generation, amongst other things.
We do not just meet the demands for modern and reasonably priced product designs for vehicle windows and doors; we will also be able to satisfy our customers' individual wishes with regards to the mechanics (e.g. opening and closing mechanisms) and shaping of our products even more in future.
A high number of complex start-up projects will now be executed successfully with the help of new approaches to tools in the company. Further investments are planned …

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On the occasion of our anniversary year, we have opened up our archives and would like to share something special with you today: The "yellow giant", which was put into service by ADAC Südbayern in 1962 as a support vehicle Cleff had already equipped numerous vehicles with windows for the vehicle manufacturer Gottlob Auwärter throughout the years of what history books call the "economic miracle". 
The semi-trailer of the "yellow giant" (12 metres long and 2.5 metres wide) had space for a conference and meeting room, an office with a small kitchenette and a customer area with a counter. The towing vehicle was a Mercedes-Benz LPS 328/36 (5,070 cc six-cylinder engine with 110 hp) and the semi-trailer served as a mobile ADAC office. In addition to a 220-volt vehicle electrical system with an AC generator and emergency power batteries, it was equipped with the latest state-of-the-art communications technology at the time, such as a telephone system, a loudspeaker system on the roof connected to a Philips tape recorder, a record player and a microphone. For almost ten years, the vehicle served ADAC at trade fairs, exhibitions and sporting events in southern Bavaria to support ADAC members and to offer them eye testes and response tests. It was ultimately sold in 1971 and decommissioned another 30 years later.
But only for the time being ... because from 2010 to 2012, the complex full restoration of the semi-trailer train took place, which had meanwhile "matured" into a fully fledged "class-5" wreck – and our company was absolutely delighted to accompany this restoration in the area of windowing.
All windows (plastic glazing and real glass windows) were replaced or reconditioned, the frames newly anodized and provided with new seals. An exciting and demanding task, because the vehicle windows from the 50s and 60s often tend to have a rounded shape. We were particularly proud to discover that we still had the original window handles on our shelves - which meant we did not have to reproduce them, but were able to supply brand new "old" handles directly from our stock.
After having been put into service again by ADAC Südbayern in 2012, the "yellow giant" can now be admired at many ADAC events and at events supported by ADAC, e.g. as a historical support vehicle.
The "yellow giant" is just one of the vehicles that Cleff equipped with individual windowing in former days; numerous other developments were also made for the Auwärter brand Neoplan. If historical vehicles are to be equipped with new windows as part of a restoration project, we would be pleased to assist you. And – as the "yellow giant" has shown – it is even possible for us to "conjure up" individual window profiles, seals or handles for your vehicle from our stock again! This means you can carry out your vehicle restorations and overhauls with greatest ease.
(Photos: ©ADAC Südbayern)

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Cleff has equipped the new PistenBully type 300 Polar Antarctic with vehicle windows. 20 of these tracked vehicles, distinguished by their exceptionally high manoeuvrability, thrust and reliability, will be delivered to the Antarctic in the coming weeks to perform their service under the most extreme conditions. The PistenBully vehicles have been in service in the polar region for more than 30 years. Their overall construction is specially designed for the extreme conditions in the perpetual ice and they have since become an indispensable asset in the Antarctic for expedition and research teams from more than 15 nations.
Not only are the special vehicles, which have been further developed into true "polar all-rounders", used as supply, clearing, towing or construction vehicles, but they can even be used as vehicle for overnight accommodation – and that in temperatures as low as 50 degrees Celsius below zero. This makes it clear what stresses our windows are subjected to in terms of material quality, tightness and insulation in these vehicles.

We have been partnering with Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019, as a supplier for various vehicle series for decades. Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG develops and produces tracked vehicles for a wide variety of applications pursuant to the very highest quality standards - standards that we at Cleff are happy to meet: With the supply of vehicle windows and doors, which must also function reliably under special conditions.

You can find more about the PistenBully 300 Polar Antarctic here:
https://www.pistenbully.com/deu/de/fahrzeuge/antarktis/300-polar-antarktis.html

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On 3 June 2020, we showed numerous representatives of regional and supra-regional public utility companies the way to do this with a product showcase of our new glass divider for city buses.
The Driver Protection System, or DPS for short, is a glass divider built on the swivelling ticketing area next to the driver area of modern city buses. In this period marked by the Coronavirus, the system offers increased protection for the driver in terms of hygiene. Cut-outs in the glass enable the ticket to be issued or payment to be made. The divider can also play a part in protecting the driver from attacks. This requires the use of laminated safety glass. The DPS uses anti-glare glass in various designs (which are related to the remaining reflection) as standard to minimise reflections.

We have achieved the impressive feat of adapting our new system to various vehicle types from renowned city bus manufacturers - all in just a few weeks. These bus types are a representative cross-section of the vehicle types used by almost all German transport companies, and were available at our product showcase.

Impressive active driver protection and economic benefits

Our new divider is not only a question of occupational safety, with the DPS also offering economical benefits. The isolation of the driver’s work area means there are no longer any cash takings. The Driver Protection System is a significant step towards normalising economical driving operations: safe boarding in the driver’s area can be resumed, and therefore the purchase and checking of tickets.

Strong interest across Germany

The guests present - crew, buyers and workshop managers - did not only come from the immediate surroundings such as the Ennepe-Ruhr area, Solingen, Remscheid, Dortmund and Bochum, but also from Berlin (BVG), Münster and Cologne (KVG). We used the product showcase to introduce an innovative, technical development which will able to gain attention across Europe. A DPS pilot project is currently being implemented with the Wuppertaler Stadtwerke public utility company and the product has already proven itself to be ready for series production. The prerequisites for this are TÜV approval and obtaining a positive assessment from driving trials by Wuppertaler Stadtwerke.

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... and now it’s ready for use by our customers: the side-hung window has ISO glazing and places high demands on its design due to the heavy weight resulting from its dimensions. The window weighs in at approx. 40 kg – 20 kg of which is accounted for by the glazing alone. The viewing area measures 800 mm x 660 mm.
The weight of the window glass (28 mm laminated safety glass/toughened safety glass ISO) combined with the window’s dimensions could quickly result in imprecise opening and closing if the design wasn’t as sophisticated as it is, i.e. the window snags when opening and no longer closes precisely and tightly.
This problem has been eliminated through the use of a two-point lock and opening via an integrated gas strut. The new side-hung window also offers a latch position at 10°, which can be fixed using the ergonomic rotary handle.
The opening angle is also restricted to 90°.

 

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This week Cleff produced its largest ever sliding window for use in the rail industry. The dimensions (external dimensions) of 2028 mm wide x 1317 mm high with an opening clearance of 1644 mm wide x 445 mm high are unusual and require complex and extensive preparation work – particularly with regards to the weight of the countersunk part, which weighs approx. 30 kg due to the window’s dimensions.
Ergonomics was the main focus of our development: the countersunk part, in other words the extremely heavy sliding area of the window, had to be user-friendly and easy for passengers to move.
This was achieved through our proprietary “Soft Elevation System” (SES), which significantly reduces the opening and closing forces thereby allows even heavy window elements to open and close effortlessly.
The design and implementation of a large, yet easy to operate window: another exciting challenge we were glad to face.

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A special construction feature was implemented for one of our long-standing customers. The top-hung windows were
intended to be closed by the passengers – but only to be opened by the driver. We complied with this special wish of our
customer with a respective construction feature: now the window can only be opened by the driver with a key tool. The
background of this necessary construction change was the special climatic and safety technical requirements for the
window and its design.

 

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Motorhomes place high demands on all aspects of functionality, design and longevity. This also applies without limitation to the driver and passenger windows in our product range.
The windows on the driver’s side for fully integrated motorhomes should not of course require too great a sliding effort to open and close them. At the same time, the window should not suddenly open or close “by itself”, e.g. when braking or accelerating. In addition, one of the requirements was to exactly measure the construction and range of movement of the window handle in order not to affect the function of the blinds situated in front of the window. The constructive solution of the window mechanics and the ergonomic design of the handle – with very little construction space available – was the main focus of this development in order to ensure a good compromise between comfort when using the handle and the best possible level of safety.

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The year 2020 has begun, which is also a very special year for us. Since 1935, the Wuppertal-based company Cleff has been finding answers to questions such as: What is the best window solution for your vehicle?
What is the best door design to ensure that it functions safely and reliably in the long term?
Is there a large selection of spare parts for your train, commuter train, bus or passenger ship?

These questions are just as important today for many international vehicle manufacturers as they were 85 years ago – and Cleff provides answers with flexibility, fair prices and reliable delivery of high-quality products – today, just as we did back then. Our optimal and individual solutions have ensured the company‘s continued existence for decades – be it for small, medium and large quantities.

Feel free to download our anniversary brochure „Producing vehicle windows and doors since 1935 – Over the course of time“. Discover how our company has developed over the past 85 years and learn more about our exciting company history from 1935 to the present day. Join us in our anniversary year and celebrate 85 years of vehicle windows and doors from Wuppertal with us at Innotrans 2020 in Berlin in September.

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For more than 80 years, Cleff has been the brand for individual vehicle windows and doors.
Starting with the compilation of all customer wishes and the planned usage, continuing with the meticulous in-house construction and development, into which we incorporate the empirical values of decades of experience, up to the initial sampling and serial production: the Cleff company illustrates the entire development and production process. This also includes, e.g. the possibility for pressure cycle testing according to the UIC in our in-house test centre. Do you need a small series for a nostalgic train? No problem.
You want trains or busses equipped with a bigger series of innovative windows? We will be pleased to take this on. Your locomotives require doors with numerous functions? Cleff is your partner to contact.
Regardless of which vehicle you wish to refurbish – the Cleff company will supply you.
And the range of services extends even further. Cleff also offers complete solutions with a comprehensive range such as door frames, locking systems and gaskets – profit from the product range of an experienced full-service company to supply your system needs.

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In particular, nostalgic trains or busses for sightseeing tours need individual windows and doors. The same applies to special and commercial vehicles … the Cleff company supplies windows and doors for trains, busses and ships – but also offers small series for vehicles which are seldom used, or used just once, and are therefore highly individual. The island railway or the city train for tourists most likely arose as an individual production – the requirements on their windows and doors are correspondingly special – and therefore a "case" for us. And we dedicate ourselves to such tasks with the same quality requirements and love for detail as is used in the serial production of new vehicles.

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With our spare parts, we are able to offer you the possibility to exchange defective parts – and thus also a complete refurbishment of your vehicle. These spare parts are often even better than the original, as they are partly newly constructed, comply with new norms or use better materials – e.g. with regard to fire protection. The Cleff spare part offer is particularly interesting, for example, for local transport operators, who want to impart “new life” into their vehicles. In the field of railway transport in particular, we are able to prolong the service life of the vehicle fleet – and for historical vehicles we even offer spare parts with a historical charm, which are, however, state of the art in terms of modern technology.
The offer comprises all types of rubber elements and gaskets, aluminium parts, handles, fittings and glass with attachments.
If you need individual spare parts for older vehicles or decide to refurbish and restore your vehicle fleet, then we are your partner to contact.

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Currently, “AI” and Industry 4.0 are the focus of many discussions. At the Cleff company, we are also having a tendency toward more automation, but there are still regions of industry where clearly defined boundaries set the limits. We also encounter these limits, as our daily work is defined by a high level of manual craftsmanship – and this will continue to be the case. Window construction does not only need manual dexterity, but rather the right “feeling“ for materials and construction parts, which can only evolve after many years of working in window construction.
An example: Our staff in assembly bring window frames in the right form with exactly targeted blows with a hammer and can thus align frames with exact tolerances.
Only a few employees have this highly specialised ability after a lot of experience – and thus the above-mentioned “feeling” is only able to develop after many years of working in window construction. An ability, which even the most ingenious robots are not able to perform, even today …
The same also applies to construction: numerous developments are determined by creativity. Many vehicle doors require very individual solutions on account of the special installation situation and the high demands, e.g. on their pressure tightness. In this case, considerable constructive creativity is needed in order to provide acceptable results which can be implemented and keep the cost aspects in mind at the same time.
Individual developments, as they are offered by the Cleff company, always rely on the individual expertise of our staff in construction and assembly – and we are proud to have such talented employees and their individual abilities.

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This is not just the epitome of engineering design and technical pioneering spirit, but also the landmark of Wuppertal since 1901: the Wuppertal suspension railway.
Enjoy a breath-taking view and a continuously changing view of the town when sitting in the bright blue carriages – through windows made by Cleff. After all, the entire functional glazing with the windscreen and rear window, side glass panes, flush window top-hung windows and partitions stem from our production, produced for the manufacturer of the “new suspension railway“: the company Vossloh-Kiepe/Stadler.
As a “ traditional Wuppertal manufacturer“ of vehicle glazing, we are naturally proud that our products now accompany the “Schwebebahn” on each journey it makes.
We wish the “Schwebebahn” and all who travel on it a pleasant trip … and enjoy the view!
You can find more about the history of the Wuppertal suspension railway and some of the interesting stories about it here:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuppertaler_Schwebebahn

 

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In Wuppertal, we have also demonstrated a special closeness to Bauhaus and its world famous approach to design. The unusual commitment of the Wuppertal paint manufacturer Herberts, which already brought famous Bauhaus followers, such as Oskar Schlemmer, to Wuppertal is reflected in that both industry and schools of applied arts promised a lot from modern design.

And finally, the Cleff company also stands for the tradition of good design in Wuppertal: we already sponsored a design competition in collaboration with the Bergisch University and Polytechnic in Wuppertal in the 1980’s. Good design is an important component of numerous developments at Cleff today, e.g. the aesthetics of a window or a door have to comply with the overall design requirements of the complete vehicle. Similarly, there is a lot to consider at the human/functional interface: for example, windows and door handles are subject to the high requirements of user-friendly ergonomics and the lay understanding of function – which may even be of life-saving significance.

However, product design can provide even more than this: through creative ideas, it could allow material savings and simplified production processes – which means a reduction in costs.

For this reason, we integrate from the outset experienced designers with many of these developments. They provide „fresh wind", query the basic processes and help to counteract operational blindness under certain circumstances.

100 years of Bauhaus is therefore an anniversary to remember - because even today we are still able to take advantage of the fundamental principles of Bauhaus.

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We thank you very much for the numerous visits at our booth on the InnoTrans 2018 in Berlin and the many inspiring discussions with our customers and suppliers.
We look forward to the next time in 2020.

The Team of Carl Wilhelm Cleff GmbH & Co KG

 

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We have been analysing, designing and programming for a long time and now, it is done: Our new web presence is going online! The new version features many alterations and advantages. So, it eases the precise dsicovery of projects for example and it brings our team to the fore. Furthermore, we are now able to picture many references easily. The design studio „Design Scholemann“, located in Gevelsberg, supported us for this project. They will also attend us in all further matters concerning the public image.

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At the end of 2017, we introduced an environmental management according to DIN EN 14001. To date, we have been certified within the program of Öko-Profit which is now being replaced by DIN EN 14001. We at Carl Wilhelm Cleff are comitted to improving the standards for the environment protection as well as for our employees by introducing the DIN EN 14001. Please find the corresponding certificate under the category „Download“.

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It has been a long time since Tuffi & co – and the characteristical orange waggons oft he Schwebebahn (an overhead railway) were as old as they were. Therefore, the municpal utilities of Wuppertal urgently needed some replacement. The sky blue waggons are in fact produced in Valencia, Spain but important components of the elegant design are produced in the hometown of the Schwebebahn: The frameless windows are produced at Carl Wilhelm Cleff. The local journals have reported about this – read more: link