News
RUF successfully certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001
Great Importance of Quality and Environmental Protection
RUF Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG of Zaisertshofen, Germany, successfully passed two important audits at the end of 2024. The ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications reflect the company’s ongoing commitment to quality and environmental management. Managing Director Roland Ruf says, “We are pleased that the certification body TÜV Saarland has certified our sustainable and efficient processes in these areas.”
RUF Maschinenbau has always attached great importance to ensuring the best possible quality and maximum sustainability. This is in the company’s DNA and is lived by management and employees alike. On December 13, 2024, the auditors from TÜV Saarland Certification GmbH made it official.
“Certification to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 was ultimately a logical step for us. In mid-2023, we decided in an internal committee of managers and employees to actively tackle this and prepare for the audits,” explains Roland Ruf. In the end, it was possible to analyze the internal structures, adapt processes as needed, and carry out all the necessary employee training within 14 months.
One of the major challenges here was to document the processes in such a way that the requirements of the standard were met. However, in December 2024, everything was ready. The auditors carried out both audits within four days and were very satisfied at the end.
The certification is now valid for three years, but it requires that annual surveillance audits be carried out to ensure that the requirements are continuously met. For RUF, that’s not a problem, as the Managing Director makes clear: “We did not decide to become certified so we could hang up nice certificates on the wall, but because we wanted to ensure transparent processes for us and our customers.”
This is why the Zaisertshofen-based company additionally established an internal monitoring system comprising regular internal audits, training, and analysis of KPIs – all in the spirit of continuous improvement.
What do the certificates show in detail?
The two certificates document compliance with international standards – in the areas of quality management systems (ISO 9001) and environmental management systems (ISO 14001). The requirements are equally demanding, but completely different in terms of what they focus on.
For example, for ISO 9001, constant orientation toward customer needs and an excellent management culture, combined with the involvement and support of employees at all levels, are very important. Equally important is maintaining good relationships with suppliers. A continuous improvement process based on data and analysis is another key aspect for the quality management certificate.
The ISO 14001 environmental audit, as the name suggests, focuses firmly on protection of the environment. This means, for example, that the environmental goals and strategies must be thoroughly consistent with corporate policy and reviewed and adapted on an ongoing basis. At the same time, goals for improving the company’s environmental performance must be set and their implementation, for example, through training of employees and introduction of monitoring mechanisms, must be ensured.


