Six eventful decades
The history of Endress+Hauser
Growing from a small business to one of the largest instrumentation suppliers worldwide, Endress+Hauser has experienced both turbulent times and rampant growth. However, sustainable success has been at its core throughout.
In 1953, two seemingly different men came together to set up a new company in a private apartment in Lörrach, Germany: One was the Swiss engineer Georg H Endress, just 29 years old, tall and strong; the other was 58-year-old German bank manager Ludwig Hauser, clearly older and slim in stature.
A strong team
However, these unlikely business partners proved to be a perfect match. Endress’ vision and Hauser’s caution proved to be the cornerstones of success. The young engineer clearly saw the opportunities that the new electronic level measurement technology had to offer. Until then, measured values had to be read and gauged by hand. The experienced banker took a careful approach to business and steered the company safely through the turbulent early years.
The early days
The starting capital of L Hauser KG was 2,000 Deutschemarks. The first ‘operating facility’ was in a room in Hauser’s apartment in Lörrach. Incidentally, the firm’s name came from Ludwig Hauser’s wife Luise: the entry in the commercial register of 10 February 1953 lists her as shareholder. The company first traded under the name Endress+Hauser in 1957.
Generation change
Georg H Endress led the company for four decades. He opened up new markets and fields of application, developing the company - specializing in level measurement and growing into a supplier of complete solutions for the processing industry. By 1995, when he handed the management of the company over to his second eldest son, Klaus, the backroom business had grown into a global company with 4,300 employees.
Enhancing product basket and company culture
Klaus Endress (born 1948) purposefully continued his father’s work and developed it, over time leaving his own managerial mark. He successfully met the challenges of a globalized world, recognizing the significance of services and solutions. Klaus Endress continued his commitment to a strong company culture and followed the strategy of sustainable growth.
Change at the top
On 1 January 2014, Matthias Altendorf (born 1967) took over as CEO of the Endress+Hauser Group from Klaus Endress, who continues to work for Endress+Hauser as President of the Supervisory Board.
Endress+Hauser owns subsidiaries on all six continents. Today the Group employs a workforce of more than 12,000 employees in production, sales and services worldwide.
