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STUV HISTORY

A future built on tradition.

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MILESTONES

STUV – Roots and growth.

Take a look at our exciting journey through more than 140 years of Steinbach & Vollmann at our traditional production site in Heiligenhaus. Since our foundation in 1883, we at STUV have been working hand in hand with our customers. Our flexibility and responsiveness have always been the recipe for success for our customers' satisfaction – and they will continue to shape our thinking and actions in the future. Immerse yourself in our eventful history and discover the milestones that have made STUV what it is today!

1883

Establishment.

in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge opened in New York and the first Orient Express departed from Paris. It was also an exciting time for Steinbach & Vollmann, as the company was founded by two merchants, Rudolf Steinbach and Eduard Vollmann, in Sprockhövel, Westphalia. The commission business focused on trading locks, fittings and machines.

1890

Relocation to Heiligenhaus.

Otto von Bismarck resigns as Chancellor after 19 years. And STUV enters the production sector with the takeover of the Heiligenhaus-based company August ten Eicken. The move to the company's current headquarters is completed with a number of structural changes and the transfer of all 20 employees. The production of safe and mortise locks continues without interruption.

1894

98 employees.

Pierre de Coubertin founds the International Olympic Committee in Paris. The economy in Germany picks up strongly, and the number of employees at STUV rises to 98, with annual sales reaching 300,000 marks. Following precisely worked out plans, the two owners travel alternately throughout Germany, sometimes for months at a time, thus maintaining direct contact with customers.

1907

New products.

US President Theodore Roosevelt sets a record by shaking 8,513 hands in one day. At STUV, new parts are designed and produced in-house and launched on the market with names that were appealing at the time. These include safe locks, door handle connections and main locks.

1911

More than 200,000 locks.

The RMS Titanic is launched in Belfast. In Heiligenhaus, sales increase again despite the economic downturn in 1908. The ongoing expansion of the business and production premises continues uninterrupted. The number of locks produced exceeds 200,000 for the first time.

1914

The First World War.

The First World War brings production to a standstill in many areas. STUV is also forced to switch to manufacturing carabiner hooks for the war effort. Only the Scandinavian business with safety locks continues.

1918

High-security locks.

The Twin Peaks Tunnel in San Francisco, one of the longest tram tunnels in the world, goes into operation – STUV enters the niche segment for high-security locks. Prison locks are developed and manufactured for a large number of correctional facilities and police stations in Germany and other European countries.

1920

260 employees.

Walt Disney takes his first job – for 40 dollars a week. STUV is also hiring heavily, as four years of pent-up demand means that the order books are full. The workforce grows rapidly to 260 employees.

1925

Opening new markets.

The film "The Gold Rush" by and starring Charlie Chaplin is released. There is almost a gold rush atmosphere at STUV. Innovative products adapted to general progress open up new markets. These include special locks for vending machines, steel furniture and petrol pumps, and cold room door locks. The transition from long-established craftsmanship to industrial production is initiated after responsibility is handed over to Erich Vollmann. The establishment of systematic work preparation and methodical cost accounting runs parallel to this development.

1933

Economic downturn.

The "gold rush" atmosphere in Germany has come to an end. Due to the economic downturn in previous years, business comes to a virtual standstill, causing Heiligenhaus's trade tax revenue to fall from 256,000 to 61,000 marks. From 1934 until the Second World War, STUV's wide range of products repeatedly proved to be a guarantee for orders.

1939

Roller in World War II.

During the Second World War, Steinbach & Vollmann, like many German companies at that time, was involved in war production and manufactured armaments, among other things. Production conditions were characterised by the use of forced labourers due to the shortage of manpower. After the end of the war, Steinbach & Vollmann had to reorient itself and face the challenges of reconstruction and denazification. Returning to civilian production goods and restoring international trade relations were central tasks in the post-war years in order to secure the future of the company.

1950

Electroplating.

Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal become the first people to climb Annapurna I, marking the first successful ascent of an eight-thousander. At STUV, the extremely high demand of the post-war years and the desire for independence make it necessary to install the company's own electroplating facility.

1958

Sales representative network.

The dog Laika is launched into space aboard the Soviet satellite Sputnik 2, becoming the first animal in Earth orbit. At this time, STUV has an extensive network of sales representatives. Market economy, commercial acumen and a targeted and refined market orientation pay off for STUV. New products are developed and previous parts, which had been sales drivers in previous decades, are phased out.

1983

Over 5,000 customers.

"The A-Team" is on TV for the first time. STUV also has a top-notch team. The production programme now comprises several thousand parts, which are divided into five different product groups and purchased by over 5,000 customers in Germany and abroad. Customers include small craft businesses as well as large global corporations. The products are designed, manufactured and distributed by 350 employees.

2003

Double bit locking technology.

Germany wins the Women's World Cup for the first time. Meanwhile, STUV scores another goal – a new lock system for prisons and forensic clinics is introduced in the high-security market segment. The series includes a wide range of mechanical and motorised locks based exclusively on robust double bit locking technology, which can be quickly and easily reset without tools in the event of key loss. The HSL line includes transponder solutions for connection to GM systems or PLC controls.

2008

Solar thermal energy system.

Barack Obama becomes the first black US president. Steinbach & Vollmann celebrates its anniversary. At this time, 165 people are employed at the Heiligenhaus site. The company provides training and also invests in infrastructure for the future. A solar thermal system for generating process heat for electroplating is installed. With 400 m² of collector area and 210 kW of output, it is one of the largest systems in Germany.

2012

Fully automated small parts warehouse.

The US rover Curiosity lands on Mars – the start of an extraordinarily successful mission. STUV is also investing in state-of-the-art technology: new machining centres, computer-controlled robots for key production and a new automatic small parts warehouse (AKL) are just some of the major innovations. The fully automatic 3-aisle warehouse has a capacity of 26,500 containers and is designed to be future-proof in view of the economic growth that is expected to continue.

2019

Investments.

In Finland, Sanna Marin becomes the world's youngest head of government at the age of 34. At Steinbach & Vollmann, production capacities are being geared towards the future with investment in a new hall for pressing and stamping. A modern replacement building is being constructed on the site of the previous shed roof halls. In addition to the centralised and space-efficient storage of tools in modular high-bay warehouses, the machinery in the hall will be rearranged and adapted to today's operating procedures.

2020

Transformation.

The coronavirus pandemic is changing the world. STUV is also undergoing a transformation. Andreas Kupka, together with the SME holding company Endurance Capital and the Sayn-Wittgenstein family, is taking over Steinbach & Vollmann GmbH & CO. KG (STUV). The company is being realigned for a changing world, new products are being developed and companies are being acquired. STUV is repositioning itself and laying the foundation for a successful future.

2024

Development of digital markets.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen wins the German football championship for the first time. STUV enters a new market with the acquisition of Lock Your World GmbH, an innovative provider of electronic locking systems. With PYLOCX®, STUV adds the world's most secure locking system to its portfolio. STUV is also setting an important milestone for sustainability and resource conservation with its new charging park for electric and hybrid vehicles. STUV continues to develop in the area of sustainability as well. With the help of a 2,000 m² photovoltaic system on the roof and the construction of a modern combined heat and power plant, STUV will achieve a nearly self-sufficient power supply in the summer.

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1883

Establishment.

LEARN MORE

More nicer STUV.

Establishment.

Relocation to Heiligenhaus.

98 employees.

New products.

More than 200,000 locks.

The First World War.

High-security locks.

260 employees.

Opening new markets.

Economic downturn.

Roller in World War II.

Electroplating.

Sales representative network.

Over 5,000 customers.

Double bit locking technology.

Solar thermal energy system.

Fully automated small parts warehouse.

Investments.

Transformation.

Development of digital markets.

This is STUV.

Sustainability.

STUV Academy.