Once upon a time there was a waffle iron…

The Founders
 

The foundation stone for the Schmersal Group was laid in August 1945 by the brothers Kurt Andreas Schmersal, a textile merchant, and Ernst Schmersal, a master mechanic. 

The company was to be called K.A. Schmersal after Kurt Andreas' initials.
 

The first product

The first products manufactured by Schmersal shortly after the company was founded were waffle irons. After the war, there was a great demand for household appliances. In addition, the waffle irons, hotplates and similar appliances could be exchanged for food, heating fuel and later also for machines.

First innovation

The first mechanical control system developed by Schmersal was a mat switching mechanism. In the 2020s, a pensioner discovered a well-preserved example in his cellar - and it was still working!

Motorisation

In March 1950, the management bought the first company cars. A second-hand DKW for DM 1,200 and a second-hand Ford Eifel for DM 1,900. Until then, the company's employees had only travelled by bicycle!

Early key account

In 1954, Schmersal won the construction crane manufacturer Liebherr as a customer. To this day - more than 70 years later! - the excellent customer relationship continues.

The boom years of the ‘economic miracle’

Things soon improved: in the early 1950s, at the beginning of the ‘economic miracle’, Schmersal mainly produced switchgear for the flourishing construction industry.

Lift technology

At the beginning of the 1960s, Schmersal began to develop a special range of switches for lift technology. One of the first devices was the AZ 01 door contact.

Team events

To improve internal communication, monthly foreman meetings were introduced in the early 1960s - over cheese sandwiches and beer.

Internationalisation 

An early look across the pond: As early as 1974, Schmersal founded the sales and production company ACE Schmersal Ltda. in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Bestseller

A patent application is filed for the AZ15 and AZ16 switches - today they are the best-selling switch types in the world. They are regarded as milestones in safety technology.

New building 

1983 went down in company history as the year the new headquarters got built - with record-breaking construction time.  

Relocation

Already at the beginning of 1984, Schmersal was able to move from the Lenneper Straße to the new head office in the Möddinghofe in Nächstebreck. 

Major Anniversary I

Schmersal celebrates its 50th anniversary: the then Minister President of North-Rhine Westphalia, Johannes Rau, congratulates Stefan and Heinz Schmersal.

Move to the Middle Kingdom

Schmersal establishes its first sales office in Shanghai (pictured left, next to the Shanghai Opera House). Just two years later, the subsidiary Schmersal Industrial Switchgear was founded as a production site in Quingpu, China.   

Fair innovations

Schmersal presents numerous innovations such as the safety switches AZ335 and AZ355 and the safety monitor for AS-i Safety at Work at the Hanover Fair 2001.

Change of management

Heinz Schmersal takes over responsibility for the Schmersal Group as sole owner and managing director.

Award

The BNS-B20 door handle switch with integrated safety sensor wins the IF Award 2005 - one of many awards Schmersal has received for its innovative products. 

Third generation

With Dipl. Wirt.-Ing. Philip Schmersal, the third generation of owners joins the management of the Schmersal Group in the 65th year since the company was founded.

Make in India

Schmersal opens its new production facility in Ranjangaon near Pune in India. To date, Schmersal is the only manufacturer of safety switches on the subcontinent.

America

Schmersal opens its eighth production plant in Indianapolis, USA. The focus is on the logistics centre for the US market as well as the development and production of customer-specific assemblies for safety technology, automation and lift technology.

Safety Services

Schmersal reorganises its global service business and establishes the subsidiary tec.nicum - Solutions & Services GmbH.