PTO – Materials with Substance
Ortrand, Brandenburg, Germany. If you look for this place on the map, you’ll need a keen eye. But if you ride a tram through Berlin or follow satellites in space, you’ll encounter what has been created here for almost 100 years: high-performance products made from silicone and elastomers, used in vehicles, industrial plants, and cutting-edge technologies around the globe. Thirty years ago, PolymerTechnik Ortrand (PTO) emerged from the Ortrand rubber factory, and for 20 years now, the company has been part of the HÜBNER Group – and is now much more than just a supplier.
Small, but on the Big Stage
Re-established at the beginning of 1996, PTO has developed from a small specialist for technical textiles and elastomer products into an indispensable part of the HÜBNER Group. Alexander Bergk, who once started as an intern at PTO and is now Managing Director, describes the company’s self-image as follows: “We may be small and a bit hidden behind the railway embankment in Ortrand, but we play on the big stage.”
PTO supplies the entire HÜBNER Group with a diverse portfolio of bellows fabrics. In addition, the company manufactures coated fabrics for seals, flat membranes, hoses, and profiles for a wide range of applications – from industrial and plant engineering and disaster control to aerospace. “There is hardly an industry or sector in which we are not involved in some way,” says Katja Kleinichen, who has been with the company for 25 years and now works in sales. “That’s what makes our work so exciting.”
Bold Decisions with Great Returns
What makes PTO strong today began with a decision about 15 years ago: to consistently focus on silicone manufacturing. Christian Rothe, who has been working in development for almost as long, recalls: “PTO has always dared to work with silicone. That’s technically demanding. We have our own hall for silicone production, and that was an important prerequisite for us to develop into the silicone competence center within the HÜBNER Group.”
While competitors mostly rely on classic elastomers like CSM, silicone enables PTO to supply bellows fabrics that meet the highest fire protection requirements of the rail industry. Added to this are halogen-free properties, exceptional resistance to cold down to minus 40 degrees, and high dynamic load capacity. And because the formulations are developed and produced entirely in-house, PTO is independent – fast in development and flexible in production.
From the Rails to Outer Space
What is created in Ortrand goes far beyond bellows fabric: lifting cushions for fire and disaster control, seals and membranes for the industry as well as for mechanical and plant engineering. Silicone-coated glass textiles that, among other things, serve in satellites.
And: a contribution to one of the world’s most ambitious science projects. The Giant Magellan Telescope, currently being built in the Atacama Desert in Chile, will be equipped with seven of the world’s largest mirrors. For their cleaning, an inflatable silicone profile seal from Ortrand will be used – protecting the sensitive technology beneath the mirror surfaces. For Christian Rothe and Katja Duwe from the quality department, this is one of the personal highlights: “The fact that our silicone seal as a silicone profile will be used there is something special and makes us proud.”
PTO also attracted attention at the Agritechnica 2025 trade fair: together with a customer, a hybrid product was developed that was awarded the Innovation Award Silver – further proof of the site’s innovative strength far beyond the classic fields of application.
Growth You Can See
The company’s development is visible on the Ortrand site: Production Hall 3 – once a meadow – is now a modern production center, fully equipped with photovoltaics on the roof. Former areas of the historic rubber factory from 1927 were integrated into production. In recent years, the HÜBNER Group has invested more than 20 million euros in the site.
Katja Kleinichen remembers the early days: “When I joined PTO in 2002, there were Halls 1 and 2. All around were many buildings, some empty or used differently.” Today, modern machines stand there – complemented by proven equipment from the 1970s, which has been refurbished and still delivers excellent quality. The latest example: a calender, which is currently being completely overhauled with a focus on automation. This ensures greater process reliability, relieves employees, and makes working at the site more attractive. “We are much more than just a classic rubber company – we are PolymerTechnik with cutting-edge technology made from polymers– and we are proud of that,” says Managing Director Alexander Bergk.
Cohesion as a Strength
What holds PTO together internally is summed up by Katja Duwe, who started in production, then worked in quality, and now is in the order center: “PTO is an employer at eye level and enables employees to develop further. The company challenges and supports its employees and recognizes their potential.”
This cooperation is evident in everyday life, as Katja Kleinichen describes: “All interfaces and areas have to work together here. Without this interaction, we wouldn’t be able to meet our customers’ individual requirements.” Alexander Bergk adds: “Sometimes you hear loud laughter, cheering, or even groaning. Without this shared commitment and the passion of our employees, we wouldn’t be where we are today!”
Being part of the HÜBNER Group is also clearly seen as a strength: “We feel like part of the HÜBNER family. When we meet colleagues from China, India, Hungary, or the USA, it feels like a reunion among friends,” explains Alexander Bergk.
Looking Ahead
The course for the future is set: solvent-free manufacturing methods, further automation, even closer networking. The foundation is solid: a unique product portfolio, a well-coordinated team, and the backing of a strong group of companies. Alexander Bergk sums it up: “As PTO alone, we wouldn’t have nearly as good a chance. As part of the HÜBNER Group, we have been able to build something great here and continue to develop courageously. This trust gives us tailwind and makes us strong in a very special group.”
Products from Ortrand are everywhere, even where you wouldn’t expect them – whether in a Berlin tram or in the Chilean Atacama Desert, where soon a piece of Ortrand will help us look far into outer space.
