Sustainability – The knife for life

Not only in our knife factory Felix, but also with our suppliers we pay attention to the compliance of sustainable work processes. For example, our suppliers are located in the Solingen area or in the Bergisches Land. In this way we keep transport routes short and thus make a further contribution to CO2 savings.

Among other things, we have been able to reduce a considerable part of our energy consumption by converting all lighting to LED - in production and in the offices.

Handmade production

Of course, it is easy on your wallet at first to buy a reasonably priced knife. But if you throw it away after a short time because it is no longer sharp, it no longer cuts? Is this sustainable? Absolutely not!

But if you decide instead to buy a good Felix knife, made of high-quality materials, you can regrind it "for life" or have it re-sharpened. Now, that’s sustainable!

Here at Felix, we have been producing knives by hand since 1790. We do not produce mass goods by means of production robots. People still work here. We manufacture value-oriented knives in small batches - no overproduction with the need of an expensive disposal. We work less and less with plastics. Our customers prefer natural materials. The innovative new series are mainly made with wooden handles. These are absolutely convincing with their natural feel.

Handle assembly and repair service

However, if your favorite knife has been claimed beyond the normal traces of use: "The other day Dad tried to open a beer bottle with it" or "Junior put the knives with the wooden handles in the dishwasher", we can help here too. We even repair knives. Should the blade be bent over or the rivets on the handles come loose, we know how to help. Either new handles are mounted or the blade is retracted. Well, maybe the blade will be a little shorter, but: The knife survives. However, if a knife cannot be saved at all, we collect the defective blades and steel shavings and let them melt again.

The next generation

How are the Felix knives made and who works on your favourite knife? Our production staff are excellent craftsmen. Thanks to an extremely low staff turnover rate, we have kept the know-how ("How are good knives made?") in our company for many generations. Long-term employee loyalty also means that we can continue to focus on training young people in our company. In this way, we create new jobs, strengthen the local craft industry and invest in training. As a result, we will preserve the Solingen craftsmanship - hopefully for centuries to come.

Here the raw blades are processed

In the grinding-department the raw blades are sharpened to our highest standards and are blue-polished (finest grinding). Specially manufactured fleece discs and the fleece grease ensure a perfect surface. The surface of the steel is sealed, making it more rust-resistant, and the finely polished surface glides and cuts through any cut material more easily.

Of course, it is important that the shape of the blade does not change. We have our own specifications for each knife series to ensure that we achieve the desired results. During the grinding process the grinding dust is filtered and separated.

We then pass it on to the raw material recycler and from there the particles go to the renewed steel processing. By reusing the grinding water in a closed system we have an extremely low water consumption.

Here the knives are brought into shape

What is the make-up? This is where the "Solingen freehand artists" work to give the knife and especially the handle theirs final character.

Here the handles are worked on in such a way that the knife later fits perfectly in the hand.

We have the worn panes re-covered, depending on their use, either with leather, cloth, soft rubber or plastic.

Here too we pay attention to sustainability.