Consistently developing new ways forward
“At every stage, the history of our family-owned company has been shaped by people who have taken a close look at things, rolled up their sleeves, and worked together to develop new ways forward,” says Reinhard Hübner, owner of the HÜBNER Group and son of the company’s founder, Kurt Hübner.“This is how we have ensured continuity and dependability for both our customers and our employees even in economically challenging times.” With Nora Oberländer, great-niece of Reinhard Hübner, joining the General Management in March 2025, the third generation of the family is now represented in the company’s leadership.
Through its business divisions Mobility Rail, Mobility Road, Material Solutions, and Photonics, the HÜBNER Group develops innovative systems and components for buses, rail vehicles, and commercial vehicles, as well as for airport technology, industrial applications, and high-performance lasers used in research, science, and medicine. The Group’s products include articulation and gangway systems, bogie and chassis technology, door safety and sealing systems, elastomer components, coated textiles, insulation and composite materials as well as laser technologies for holography, quantum physics, and cancer diagnostics.
Customers benefit from a broad portfolio
“Our diverse portfolio ranges from proven series products to highly sophisticated custom solutions – and is designed to reliably meet the needs of our customers today and in the future. This breadth, combined with our international presence, is one of our key strengths. It has enabled us to think beyond the silos of particular specialist fields time and again,” explains Reinhard Hübner. “This is particularly beneficial to our customers, many of whom we have partnered with to develop solutions and products over the decades. This spirit of collaboration and innovation will continue to drive us forward in the future – in line with our anniversary motto, ‘Partnering for Progress’.”
From Kassel to the world at large
HÜBNER opened up to international markets at an early stage. Following the establishment of its first production site outside Germany in Brazil in 1979, the company went on to found locations in the United States, China, India, and several European countries.
This close proximity to customers has been a defining feature of the company’s 80-year history – establishing HÜBNER early on as a reliable global partner to the mobility industry with Germany as its home base. Today the company’s site in Nyíregyháza, Hungary – with approximately 900 employees – forms the second-largest pillar of the Group’s global production and service network alongside the company’s headquarters in Kassel with around 1,100 employees.
Core values: Openness, respect, humility, fairness
For Reinhard Hübner, the company’s development is closely tied to his own personal journey: “The years spent building up our business in Brazil were among the most rewarding of my life. They showed me how important cultural openness, respect, humility, and fairness truly are. These values continue to shape our company to the present time.”
A strong corporate culture and a shared sense of connection
A partnership among equals – this principle also defines how HÜBNER operates internally, even in times of transformation and increasing competitive pressure, explains Managing Director Claus Schäfer. “At our headquarters in Kassel, employees stay with the company for an average of nearly 15 years – a clear reflection of a values-driven corporate culture and the strong sense of connection throughout the workforce.”
Continuity and innovation with new technologies
Having joined the General Management in 2025, Nora Oberländer is committed to building on this tradition: “We actively promote modern, digitalized work processes, which is also the case for our product solutions. We are continually aiming to find new ways to bring tradition and innovation together. This also applies for transformation processes, which can only succeed when people are actively involved – which is exactly what we try to do.”
“In practical terms, we combine decades of experience in our established business areas – such as public transport – with the technologies of our newest division, Photonics, for example in holographic applications,” says the great-granddaughter of company founder Kurt Hübner.
Solutions for mobility on rail and road
In the development of future-ready solutions for rail vehicles, customer needs stand firmly at the center of activities. “We are continuously enhancing our portfolio – from high-speed gangway systems with outstanding pressure-tight performance to innovative front-end components and bogie systems,” says Managing Director Kai Mentel about the Mobility Rail division. “With our wide range of solutions, we play an important role in shaping the future of rail mobility by bringing efficiency, safety, and reliability to the entire product life cycle.”
The same is true for the Mobility Road division, explains Managing Director Uwe Bittroff, where the HÜBNER Group is also driving key trends in electromobility for buses and commercial vehicles through innovative solutions and systems: “Energy efficiency, safety, and flexibility are the benchmarks for our product and service solutions. Through continuous improvements in sustainability and ride comfort, we help ensure that electric buses and commercial vehicles can be operated economically and reliably. This is one of the central commitments we make to our customers.”
Identifying future fields – Promoting innovation
Identifying future fields, developing them collaboratively through innovation, and driving them forward – this will continue to form the basis for the company’s economic success in the decades ahead, supported by a strong foundation of 80 years of technological expertise. With this focus, the HÜBNER Group is setting the course across its divisions Mobility Rail, Mobility Road, and Material Solutions. Alongside this, the Group is also developing solutions in laser technology. This is the business of HÜBNER Photonics, which was established as a separate division just over ten years ago. With a clear focus on future markets, it is growing steadily and playing an increasingly important role within the Group as a whole.
More information and impressions from HÜBNER’s company history can be found on the 80-year anniversary landing page: www.hubner-group.com/en/80-years
