Elring / ElringKlinger: German Sealing Technology Since 1879

History

The company's history begins in 1879, when Paul Lechler founded a business in Stuttgart trading in technical products, which later moved into gasket production; Lechler's firm began manufacturing gaskets in 1914. A separate line of the business traces to 1885, when Richard Klinger opened an engineering office in Vienna, and Klinger's operation produced its first cylinder-head gaskets in 1930. The two lineages came together in 1994, when the automotive divisions of Richard Klinger GmbH and Elring GmbH merged to form ElringKlinger GmbH. In 2000, ElringKlinger GmbH merged with its parent holding company to create the current entity, ElringKlinger AG, which is listed on the German stock exchange and was promoted to the MDAX index in 2009. The Elring brand name is the direct continuation of the original Lechler/Elring gasket business, while ElringKlinger is the parent company that also owns the Klinger heritage; the two names are often used somewhat interchangeably in the automotive-parts trade, since Elring-branded parts are produced by ElringKlinger AG. The group's headquarters has been in Dettingen an der Erms, in Baden-Württemberg, since 1964. In 2011, ElringKlinger separately acquired the static flat-gasket business — cylinder-head and exhaust gaskets — from the Freudenberg Group, a distinct German industrial company; this was an acquisition of a competing product line rather than a merger of the two companies.

What they make

ElringKlinger's automotive-aftermarket range under the Elring brand centers on sealing technology: cylinder-head gaskets, exhaust gaskets, oil sumps, valve covers and other engine and drivetrain seals. The wider ElringKlinger group has diversified considerably beyond gaskets, into battery systems and components for electric vehicles, fuel-cell technology (through a joint venture), lightweight plastic and composite parts, and metal-forming and assembly systems for various industries.

Where they fit — OE vs aftermarket

Elring supplies gaskets both as original equipment to engine manufacturers and, under the same brand, into the independent aftermarket, which is a common structure for a legacy German component supplier. Because gasket geometry and material composition must match an engine's exact tolerances and thermal behavior, Elring parts sold in the aftermarket are generally produced to the same specification as those fitted on the assembly line, rather than as a separately engineered budget line.

Buying guidance

Gaskets are one of the parts categories where fitment precision matters most, since even a correctly shaped gasket in the wrong material or thickness can cause a leak or a failed seal soon after installation; always match the part to the exact engine code stamped on the block, not just the model and year. If a full gasket set is being purchased for an engine rebuild, check whether Elring's set matches the specific revision of the engine, since manufacturers sometimes changed gasket specifications mid-production-run.