Transrotor (Räke Hifi Vertrieb GmbH) is Germany's oldest and most established turntable manufacturer, founded in 1971 by mechanical engineer Jochen Räke and operating as a dedicated family business for over 50 years from Irlenfelder Weg 43, D-51467 Bergisch Gladbach, near Cologne. Now led by second-generation CEO Dirk Räke alongside founder Jochen, the company has concentrated solely on manufacturing the finest precision turntables for four decades, producing approximately 1,000 hand-made, hand-polished turntables annually. Transrotor pioneered revolutionary technologies including the first magnetic drive (TMD) using magnetic clutch torque transfer and the sophisticated Free Magnetic Drive (FMD) that completely mechanically separates the drive section from the platter. Their product range spans from accessible classics like Fat Bob S and ZET 1-3 variants to the ultimate luxury Metropolis turntable weighing 300kg in gold or silver-plated brass costing €185,000. Each Transrotor turntable represents pure audio art combining highest German engineering precision with aesthetic sophistication, earning acclaim such as 125 reference points from German magazines for their $5,500 Dark Star model (typically reserved for $20,000+ turntables). The company maintains 'Made in Germany' authenticity with complete in-house production at their Bergisch Gladbach facility, offering exceptional value with handmade precision sometimes at 1/4 the price of comparable brands while providing maximum customer service and long-term spare parts availability.