History

Siedle has been producing in Furtwangen, in the middle of the Black Forest and 900 metres above sea level, since 1750. Such a tradition shapes the company, its people and the products they manufacture.

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

Milestones: The right product at the right time

Siedle Access Projekt mit mehreren Gebäuden

2012

The dawn of the digital world: the Siedle Access IP system

Siedle Portavox

1935

Portavox, the first door loudspeaker

Siedle Video-Portavox

1972

Video Portavox, the first video door surveillance device on the German market

Siedle System-Haustelefon HT 311

1975

HT 311, the first system telephone with various call button modules

Siedle Vario 511 Türlautsprechersystem

1981

Siedle Vario 511, the first modular door loudspeaker system

Siedle Multi, Hochleistungssystem für komplexe Anwendungen

1986

Siedle Multi, high-performance system for complex applications

Siedle Vario 611

1998

Siedle Vario 611, the extremely differentiated modular system

Siedle Steel, High-End-Systeme in Individualanfertigung

2000

Siedle Steel, high-end systems with customised production

Siedle Access Projekt mit mehreren Gebäuden

2012

The dawn of the digital world: the Siedle Access IP system

Siedle Portavox

1935

Portavox, the first door loudspeaker

Stations: Where we come from

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.

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: Das Logistikzentrum und Hochregallager nimmt seinen Betrieb auf.

Commitment: On-site logistics

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

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.

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.