275 years of Siedle history

Since 1750, Siedle has been manufacturing products in Furtwangen, in the middle of the Black Forest and 900 meters above sea level. A tradition like this leaves its mark: on the company, the people and the products they make.

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We are celebrating our anniversary…

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...with well-known faces from near and far

For 275 years, Siedle has been synonymous with pioneering building communication made in Baden-Württemberg – with deep roots in the Black Forest town of Furtwangen and a clear vision for the future. This is an impressive anniversary for one of Germany's longest-standing family businesses! My warmest congratulations on this milestone, and I wish you continued success, innovation and sustainable growth. Here's to the next 275 years!

 

Yours sincerely, Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut

Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism for the State of Baden-Württemberg

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...with outstanding design

Siedle is a successful design brand with exceptionally designed products. We are also celebrating our anniversary with good, creative design – with the focus, of course, on the anniversary number.

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…on our social media channels

We not only look back at our interesting history here, but we also show the development of the company and our products in comparison with the generations that preceded them. And we publish exciting content about 275 years of Siedle throughout the year.

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…with our employees

Every month, an organising committee surprises our staff with special anniversary celebrations. In February, for example, delicious doughnuts were served to mark Shrove Tuesday.

wirtschaftsministerin_bawü_nicole_hoffmeister_kraut.jpg

...with well-known faces from near and far

For 275 years, Siedle has been synonymous with pioneering building communication made in Baden-Württemberg – with deep roots in the Black Forest town of Furtwangen and a clear vision for the future. This is an impressive anniversary for one of Germany's longest-standing family businesses! My warmest congratulations on this milestone, and I wish you continued success, innovation and sustainable growth. Here's to the next 275 years!

 

Yours sincerely, Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut

Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism for the State of Baden-Württemberg

illustration_275_Jahre_Siedle.jpg

...with outstanding design

Siedle is a successful design brand with exceptionally designed products. We are also celebrating our anniversary with good, creative design – with the focus, of course, on the anniversary number.

Milestones: the right thing at the right time

Siedle Access project with multiple buildings

2012

Entry into the digital world: the IP system Siedle Access and the Siedle app

Siedle Portavox

1935

Portavox, the first door loudspeaker

Siedle Video-Portavox

1972

Video-Portavox, the first video door-monitoring system on the German market

Siedle System in-house telephone HT 311

1975

HT 311, the first system telephone with different button modules

Siedle Vario 511 door loudspeaker system

1981

Siedle Vario 511, the first modular door loudspeaker system

Siedle Multi, a high-performance system for complex applications

1986

Siedle Multi, a high-performance system for complex applications

Siedle Vario 611

1998

Siedle Vario 611, the extremely versatile modular system

Siedle Steel, bespoke high-end systems

2000

Siedle Steel, bespoke high-end systems

Siedle Access project with multiple buildings

2012

Entry into the digital world: the IP system Siedle Access and the Siedle app

Siedle Portavox

1935

Portavox, the first door loudspeaker

Stations: Where we come from

Visualisation of Siedle Testlab

EMC: expansion to create Siedle Testlab

2024: Siedle tests the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of its devices in accordance with industry standards in the company's own laboratory at its headquarters in Furtwangen. This is expanded to include radio frequency testing and officially opens under the new name Siedle Testlab.

1805: Auf dem Oberbregenbachhof bei Furtwangen betreiben drei Siedle-Generationen die Gießerei von Glocken und Uhrenteilen.

Origin: The foundry

From 1750: Three generations of Siedle cast bells and clock parts at the Oberbregenbachhof near Furtwangen. The foundry has remained an important part of production for more than two centuries.

1870: Salomon Siedle II. macht aus dem Hausgewerbe eine industrielle Fertigung und gründet in Furtwangen eine Fabrik.

Foundation of the factory

1870: Salomon Siedle II turns the home workshop into industrial production and opens a factory in Furtwangen.

1900: Die Fabrik wächst und erhält eine Dampfmaschine. Links im Vordergrund: das einzige heute noch erhaltene Gebäude.

Industrialisation

1900: The factory grows and receives its first steam engine. Left foreground: the only building that survives today.

1953: Neubau nach einem verheerenden Brand, dem fast alle Fabrikgebäude zum Opfer fielen.

The great fire

1953: Reconstruction following a devastating fire that destroyed almost all factory buildings.

1965: Auf dem ursprünglichen Areal entsteht ein neues Verwaltungsgebäude.

New beginnings

1965: A new office building is built on the original site.

1995: The logistics centre and high-bay warehouse begin operations.

Philosophy: on-site logistics

1995: The logistics centre and high-bay warehouse begin operations. In 2021, Siedle invests in a new, automated small parts store.

2000: Das letzte erhaltene Gebäude der ursprünglichen Fabrik wird restauriert.

A new purpose for the old villa

2000: The last remaining building of the original factory is restored. Today, it is home to company management, as well as the corporate communications and design departments.

Visualisation of Siedle Testlab

EMC: expansion to create Siedle Testlab

2024: Siedle tests the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of its devices in accordance with industry standards in the company's own laboratory at its headquarters in Furtwangen. This is expanded to include radio frequency testing and officially opens under the new name Siedle Testlab.

1805: Auf dem Oberbregenbachhof bei Furtwangen betreiben drei Siedle-Generationen die Gießerei von Glocken und Uhrenteilen.

Origin: The foundry

From 1750: Three generations of Siedle cast bells and clock parts at the Oberbregenbachhof near Furtwangen. The foundry has remained an important part of production for more than two centuries.

New management

2023: A team of three managing directors takes over responsibility for the business at Siedle.

Jochen Cura has been a member of the company's management team for many years in his role as Chief Commercial Officer. As of January 2023, Peter Strobel has been the new CEO for Market and Innovation. Before that, Strobel was Head of Corporate Communications for nine years. Christoph Weber has been working for Siedle for many years in various positions, most recently as Managing Director, and became the new Director of Technology in January 2023. Gabriele Siedle, formerly Chair of the Management Board, is stepping down from operational management of the company. She remains CEO of the holding company, which owns all the companies in the Siedle Group.

Christoph Weber, Jochen Cura and Peter Strobel make up the new Management Board

Casters, founders, producers: The owner

Andreas Siedle I

Andreas Siedle I.

1757–1814

Son of the founder, watchmaker and bell founder. The yard built by him in 1805 with its foundry (“Bregeme”) housed three generations of the Siedle founders.

Gabriele Siedle

Gabriele Siedle

1951

CEO and entrepreneur from 2000 to 2023 and since then the CEO of the holding and chair of the board of the family foundation. In a dynamic environment, shaped by globalisation, digitalisation and increased competition, Siedle is breaking new ground following the turn of the millennium. The businesses of tomorrow are all about networking, collaborations, software and service. Like the generations that came before her, Gabriele Siedle had to make the right changes at the right time to ensure the survival of this long-standing company.

Horst Siedle

Horst Siedle

1938-2019

Horst Siedle has been shaping the company for three decades, since 1970. Under his leadership, Siedle turned into a rapidly growing company with a global reputation. He promoted exports, justified the distinctive design orientation and initiated crucial innovations.

Portrait of a great businessman

Max Helmut Siedle

Max Helmut Siedle

1894-1976

The fifth son of Hektor Siedle lived and worked in New York, in Columbia, Switzerland, Holland and England before returning to Furtwangen and becoming CEO of S. Siedle & Söhne in 1951. The global citizen and pacifist was banned from working in 1944 because he was the only member of the Union of Electrical Wholesalers not to join the NSDAP Party. Like many Siedles, he had a strong artistic streak and devoted himself to painting in his free time.

Robert Siedle

Robert Siedle

1858–1926

Historian and innovator: Robert Siedle encouraged telephone and telegraph production, an innovation that was to ensure the company’s survival. He made a name for himself as a chronicler of his home country, his company and his family.

Siedle Unternehmerfamilie um 1900

Karolina, widow of Salomon Siedle II.

approx. 1900

with eight of her 16 children and their spouses. Her daughter, Karoline (6th from the left) was one of the first women in the company. Without any formal training, which was reserved for men, she managed to become a clerk and head of coil winding. But the company's shareholders were Salomon Siedle and sons - her father and brothers, who she also ran the household.

Salomon Siedle II

Salomon Siedle II.

1830–1890

Founder, manufacturer, revolutionary: the son of Salomon I. joined the Baden Revolutionary Army in the fight against the Prussian troops. He introduced the transition to electrical engineering, founded the factory at its current location in 1870, and set up S. Siedle & Söhne in 1884.

Salomon Siedle I

Salomon Siedle I.

1787–1857

The “Bregeme-Salomon” achieved great fame as a bell founder. Demand for his products even reached the United States of America.

Andreas Siedle I

Andreas Siedle I.

1757–1814

Son of the founder, watchmaker and bell founder. The yard built by him in 1805 with its foundry (“Bregeme”) housed three generations of the Siedle founders.

Gabriele Siedle

Gabriele Siedle

1951

CEO and entrepreneur from 2000 to 2023 and since then the CEO of the holding and chair of the board of the family foundation. In a dynamic environment, shaped by globalisation, digitalisation and increased competition, Siedle is breaking new ground following the turn of the millennium. The businesses of tomorrow are all about networking, collaborations, software and service. Like the generations that came before her, Gabriele Siedle had to make the right changes at the right time to ensure the survival of this long-standing company.

Horst Siedle (1938-2019)

Horst Siedle

A duty to accept responsibility

Baden-Württemberg’s Economics Minister Ernst Pfister referred to Horst Siedle as a “shining example of civil society.” He was describing the committed local politician, patron, sponsor and the great art enthusiast.

For his company, Horst Siedle was above all the head, heart and driving force behind many pioneering developments. Economic success was important to him, but it was never an end in itself. He always put emphasis on and lived the responsibility that a company bears: to its location, people and the world in which they live.

Horst Siedle: Portrait of a great businessman