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1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N IMPRINT WEIDMÜLLER INTERFACE GMBH & CO. KG Klingenbergstraße 26 32758 Detmold +49 5231 1428-0 weidmueller@weidmueller.de www.weidmueller.de GLOBAL MARKETING & CORPORATE COMMUNICATION Responsible for this publication: Marc Landermann Editor: Dr. Christopher Berndt Contact: presse@weidmueller.com LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (KG) Registered office: Detmold Registration Court of Lemgo HRA 2790 DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION Mint.T® Studio www.mint-t.de ISSUE NO 01 / 2025 P 2
E Dear readers, C A F E R P DR. SEBASTIAN DURST CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER DR. CHRISTIAN VON TOLL CHIEF SALES OFFICER Dear Team Weidmüller, P ioneering since day one – this is the motto under which we are celebrating the 175th anniversary of the Weidmüller Group this year. What connects a snap fas- tener with a terminal block? How did an East Westphalian company become a global player? Who are the people behind Weidmüller and what connects them? And who or what is this pioneering spirit? With this magazine, we would like to inspire you to explore the history of Weidmüller. And exactly as we have become through it: dynamic, diverse and with a passion for innovation. We shed light on our beginnings as a textile company and snap fastener innovator and outline our path to becoming today’s co-creator of electrification, di- gitalisation and automation. We show formative innovations in their respective con- texts and special locations where Weidmüller projects have been implemented. We provide information about our favourite projects as well as personal memories and anecdotes. And we invite you to discover it for yourself: The Weidmüller pioneering spirit. Because there is no future without a past. We wish you an inspiring and entertaining read. DR. TIMO BERGER CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER ANDRÉ SOMBECKI CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 3
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N S T N 6PAGE E T N O 30PAGEC BACK TO THE FUTURE THE HISTORY OF WEIDMÜLLER 08 The beginning 10 A new start 12 A fork in the road 14 Lifelong learning for generations 16 Weidmüller international 20 Holistically sustainable 22 Strong locations 26 Innovations and pioneering performance OUR BRAND IMAGE THE WEIDMÜLLER LOGO OVER THE YEARS WEIDMÜLLER INSIDE PROJECTS OVER THE YEARS 34 1973: The stage is set 34 1976: Flying high 35 1982: Hitting the right notes 36 1982: Hitting the slopes 36 1982: Like a fish to water 37 1986: 1 mouse, 7 dwarves and SAK 4 38 1986: City of love 38 1987: Relays and terminals ahoy 39 1989: Reach for the stars 40 1994: Olympic connectivity 41 1996: ZDU in the ICE 41 1997: Good technology for the government 42 1999: Ready for take-off 42 2012: The peak of energy efficiency 43 2023: Automation meets science 32PAGE 4
44PAGE WHERE OUR CUSTOMERS ARE TRADE FAIRS OVER THE YEARS STORIES FROM THE WORLD OF WEIDMÜLLER ANECDOTES, MEMORIES, AND RETROSPECTIVES 48 Baltics: A summit on the Rysy 48 Portugal: True rock stars 49 Switzerland: Of chocolate, cheese and innovation 50 Korea: The company where my dad works 51 Austria: Bärig on the road 52 Brazil: Graffiti, sign language and historic milestones 53 South East Asia: Growing with Weidmüller 54 Turkey: Family spirit and a great memory 55 China: A pot-pourri of memories 56 Canada: Moving across the street 56 Romania: First birthday party 57 USA: A misunderstanding about terminations 58 Benelux: Driving to Detmold on the party bus 59 Poland: Noble knights and automation 62PAGE WHEREVER WE ARE NEEDED LOCATIONS WORLDWIDE 1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N 46PAGE 60PAGE INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTIAN GLÄSEL 5
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N 1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N 175 years of Weidmüller: it's enough to make you feel nostalgic! Normally, we tend to focus on the future, specifically how we aim to shape it with new technologies. But sometimes, it’s worth looking back – to better understand the present, today and tomorrow alike, and of course, to celebrate our company’s big anniver- sary. A retrospective with future prospects. BACK TO THE FUTURE THE HISTORY OF WEIDMÜLLER W here did it all begin? What happened when? And how did Weidmüller develop from a pioneer in snap fasten- ers to a global provider of electrification, digitalisation and automation solutions? Through brief dives into the past, we will illustrate the history of Weidmüller on the following pages. Although this retrospective will be chronological to start, as the company develops it will branch off and focus on several topics near and dear to our hearts. Through this free-ranging yet compact format, we hope to show you how Weidmüller became the company it is today. A company that is always thinking about the tomorrow. So, let’s go back to the future – Pioneering since day one. 6 6 C H A P T E R N A M E T O B E E N T E R E D H E R E
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N 1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N D I S C O , B O W I E , C O N N E C T I V I T Y : Y O U N G W E I D M Ü L L E R A P P R E N T I C E S I N T H E 1 9 7 0 S . L E A R N M O R E A B O U T T H E H I S T O R Y O F T R A I N I N G A T W E I D M Ü L L E R O N P A G E 1 4 . C H A P T E R N A M E T O B E E N T E R E D H E R E 7 7
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N C O M P A N Y F O U N D E R : C A R L A U G U S T W E I D M Ü L L E R . G N I N N I E H T G E B PRESSING ALL THE RIGHT BUTTONS T H E W E I D M Ü L L E R B U T T O N F A C T O R Y L O C A T E D I N T H E C Z E C H T O W N O F T Y S S A . 8 B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E
When Carl August Weidmüller founded a textile company in Reichenbrand near Chemnitz in 1850, control cabinets as we know them today were still many decades away. However, connectivity was already an important topic at Weidmüller. Not in the electrical sense, of course, but rather in terms of fashion – analogue methods for connecting textiles. 1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N A N E A R L Y W E I D M Ü L L E R I N N O V A T I O N : T H I S I L L U S T R A T I O N C O M E S F R O M A P A T E N T F O R A S N A P F A S T E N E R R E G I S T E R E D B Y W E I D M Ü L L E R I N 1 9 0 0 . the company leading N ear the end of the 19th century – when Carl August's sons were already – Weidmüller revolutionised the world of buttons with a system of snap fasteners developed in-house. The system was ultimately even patented in the USA. It was a completely new understanding of connections in this field. Looking at it this way, the parallels between textile manufacturer and solution provider for electrical connectivity are easy to see – at least from a metaphorical standpoint. Already, the company was pressing all the right buttons. Not to trivialize the story: over the course of 175 years, many things have changed for Weidmüller and for the world as a whole. New markets have opened up, and technical achievements have become well-established. A N A L O G U E C O N N E C T I V I T Y : W E I D M Ü L L E R S N A P F A S T E N E R P R O T O T Y P E . B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E 9
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N 1 9 5 1 : O N E O F W E I D M Ü L L E R ’ S F I R S T P R O D U C T I O N W A R E H O U S E S A F T E R I T S R E L A U N C H I N D E T M O L D . T R A T S W E N A FROM BUTTONS TO TERMINALS 10 B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N In the second half of the 19th century, the Weidmüller textile company found even more room to innovate in the field of snap fasteners. H owever, it wasn’t until after two catastrophic World Wars had ended that Weidmüller once again found fertile ground for groundbreaking innovations. Gottfried Gläsel, sole owner of the company since 1937, and development engineer Wilhelm Staffel met one another – and launched a whole new chapter in Weidmüller's history with a pioneering idea: from textile company to developer of electrical connectivity. INNOVATIVE NEW ROBUST With the first plastic-insulated series terminal, the company – now headquartered in Detmold – intro- duced an all-new product to the market in 1948, designed to make control cabinets significantly more robust. At the time, terminal blocks were typically still made of highly breakable porcelain. With this technical revolution as its starting point, Weidmüller's electrical connectivity portfolio grew quickly. Good timing: Germany's major economic recovery went hand in hand with the demand for Weidmüller's novel products. The market was open to innovation – and the company took great strides to tap into all of its possibilities. E N G I N E E R W I L H E L M S T A F F E L D E V E L O P E D I N N O V A T I V E T E R M I N A L S . H I S E X P E R T I S E W A S E S S E N T I A L T O W E I D M Ü L L E R ' S S U C C E S S A F T E R I T S R E L A U N C H . B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E 11
1 9 5 5 : O L D L O C K S M I T H ' S S H O P I N P L A N T I . N E W W E I D M Ü L L E R I N N O V A T I O N S W E R E C R E A T E D H E R E D U R I N G T H E 1 9 5 0 S . A FORK IN THE ROAD THE RIGHT DECISIONS In the 1950s, Weidmüller realized it had definitely hit the right note on the market with its new products. This realisation was confirmed by strong interest from customers the very first time Weidmüller took part in the Hannover Messe in 1952. It was time to develop a product strategy focused on the long-term. 12 B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N 1 9 5 2 : W E I D M Ü L L E R P U B L I S H E S I T S F I R S T P R O D U C T C A T A - L O G U E . P A C K E D W I T H N E W P R O D U C T S A N D S O L U T I O N S . T his is where the company hit a fork in the road – or maybe more like a two-lane rounda- bout, when you consider all the potential decisions available to them. Which fastening profile would be the best long-term choice? Should they stick with standardised terminals, or pursue changing and novel ideas? And how could Weidmüller, still a very small company, influence the market in this area? 1 9 5 6 : O L D W E I D M Ü L L E R W O R K S H O P . R U S T I C , B U T W I T H L O T S O F P O T E N T I A L . THE ANSWER: SAK Ultimately, Weidmüller made the right decisions at this important milestone. With a new portfolio of terminal blocks, the company focused on three key innovations: first: using duroplastics as insulating material, second: the launch of a patented clamping yoke as a terminal system. In addition, the company included the TS 32 rail, which had become the market standard. The new SAK product series (“Schaltanlagen- Anreih-Klemmen” or switchgear series terminals) was born from this strategy. This Weidmüller series was to continue successfully for many years – then be its 25-year proprietary protection expired. the world after imitated throughout B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E 13
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N LIFELONG LEARNING FOR GENERATIONS TRAINING AT WEIDMÜLLER There is no doubt about it: people are the founda- tion of sustainable corporate success. For this reason, training technicians in-house has been a key part of Weidmüller’s identity as a company for many years. T R A I N I N G O U R O W N T E C H N I C I A N S H A S A L W A Y S B E E N A N I M P O R T A N T P A R T O F ‘ T H E W E I D M Ü L L E R H I S T O R Y . T O D A Y , E D U C A T I O N A L A N D T R A I N I N G A C T I V I T I E S A R E H O U S E D I N T H E A C A D E M Y B U I L D I N G I N D E T M O L D . B ack in 1952, during Weidmüller’s corporate realignment as an electrical connectivity company, the first apprentice started at Weidmüller. From then on, the tool manufacturer would welcome an increasing number of new trainees to the family-owned company. 14 B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N PEOPLE FOR THE FUTURE Over the years, more and more apprentices joined the company as the training infrastructure devel- oped. The Pavilion, for example, was opened in Detmold in 1987 as a new information and train- ing centre. The Weidmüller Academy was officially founded in 2003 to provide structured training and education. In 2011, the Weidmüller Academy Asia in Shanghai was created as a hub for knowledge and networking in Asia. The Academy moved to a new home in 2022: the Academy building at the Detmold headquarters opened its doors for the first time. With around 2,000 square metres of space, it offers plenty of space for learning and creativity. In 2025, our anniversary year, Weidmüller has a total of more than 200 apprentices and dual study students at its German locations alone – all of them working to shape the future of the company. B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E 15 T H E W E I D M Ü L L E R A C A D E M Y I S P A R T O F T H E “ B I L D U N G S D O R F ” ( E D U C A T I O N A L V I L L A G E ) I N D E T M O L D . I N A D D I T I O N T O T H E W E I D M Ü L L E R A C A D E M Y , T H E A R E A A L S O H O U S E S A N U R S E R Y S C H O O L , P Ö P P E N T E I C H , F U N D E D B Y T H E P E T E R G L Ä S E L F O U N D A T I O N , A N D T H E P E T E R G L Ä S E L S C H O O L . I N T H I S W A Y , T H E B I L D U N G S D O R F I S A U N I Q U E P L A C E F O R C R O S S - G E N E R A T I O N A L L E A R N I N G .
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N Weidmüller was ultimately headquar- tered in Detmold. Over time, the company opened and moved into additional production facilities and buildings there. However, as its success grew, the family-owned company began to look outwards to the world. OUT INTO THE WORLD W E I D M Ü L L E R I S E X P A N D I N G G L O B A L L Y , J U S T A S I T D I D W I T H I T S E X P A N S I O N I N T O E N G L A N D I N 1 9 5 9 . R E L L Ü M D I E W L A N O I T A N R E T N 16 B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E I
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N P E T E R G L Ä S E L W A S T H E O W N E R A N D A S S U M E D L E A D E R S H I P O F W E I D M Ü L L E R I N 1 9 7 1 . D U R I N G H I S M O R E T H A N 3 0 Y E A R S I N L E A D E R S H I P , H E E S T A B L I S - H E D K E Y P R I O R I T I E S T H A T C O N T I N U E T O I N F L U E N C E T H E C O M P A N Y T O D A Y . T H E S E I N C L U D E D D R I V I N G I N T E R N A T I O N A L E X P A N S I O N , F O S T E R I N G A S T R O N G S E N S E O F S O C I A L R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y , A N D C H A M - P I O N I N G E D U C A T I O N A N D T H E D E V E L O P M E N T O F Y O U N G T A L E N T . H I S F O U N D I N G O F T H E W E I D M Ü L L E R F O U N D A T I O N L A I D T H E C O R N E R S T O N E F O R W H A T I S N O W K N O W N A S T H E “ B I L D U N G S D O R F ” ( E D U C A T I O N VILLA GE) – A LASTING REFLECTION OF HIS SUSTAI - N A B L E V I S I O N F O R E N T R E P R E N E U R I A L A N D S O C I A L R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y W I T H I N A F A M I L Y - R U N B U S I N E S S . 1 1 9 7 2 : W E I D M Ü L L E R A U S T R A L I A F O U N D E D . 2 1 9 6 7 : W E I D M Ü L L E R I T A L Y F O U N D E D . 1 2 T he 1960s, 1970s and 1980s were shaped by global expansion. It all started in 1959 with a new distribution company in England. Several years later, branch offices were opened in Austria, France and Italy. This consistent interna- tionalisation of the company continued under its new Managing Director Peter Gläsel, who took over the position in 1971. Just one year later, Weidmüller launched its group company in Australia. B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E 17
the Western hemisphere F rom down under, the company journeyed into in 1975, as Weidmüller expanded its presence in the USA, Canada and Brazil. Weidmüller also continued to tap into Asian markets, as the British branch opened subsidiaries in Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong four years later. That same year, Weidmüller Spain was founded in Barcelona – followed by the Netherlands in 1984. A production site for PCB plug-in connectors and terminals was also founded in Germany in 1990, Thüringischen Weidmüller GmbH near Eisenach. In the years that followed, the company continued to expand internationally at a steady pace: new branches were founded in countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Portugal, Belgium and Switzerland. Today, Weidmüller is represented by its production sites and distribution companies in over 80 countries – a true global player in its industry. 1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N FROM OST- WESTFALEN- LIPPE TO A GLOBAL PLAYER O U R G R O U P C O M P A N Y I N T H E U S A W A S F O U N D E D 5 0 Y E A R S A G O . 18 B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N 1 1 9 8 0 : C O L L E A G U E S F R O M W E I D - M Ü L L E R J A P A N . 2 W E I D M Ü L L E R C H I N A W A S F O U N D E D I N 1 9 9 4 . 3 2 0 0 1 : F O U N D I N G O F W E I D M Ü L L E R S W I T Z E R L A N D . 4 W E I D M Ü L L E R C A N A - D A W A S F O U N D E D I N 1 9 7 5 . 5 1 9 9 0 : F O U N D A T I O N O F T H Ü R I N G I S C H E W E I D M Ü L L E R G M B H . 1 2 3 4 5 B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E 19
I E L B A N A T S U S Y L L A C I T S I L O H A N I M P O R T A N T T E S T : D I N I S O 1 4 0 0 1 C E R T I F I C A T I O N A U D I T I N 1 9 9 8 . AN EARLY PASSION Sustainability is always about more than laws and regulations. It even involves more than just flora and fauna. Weidmüller understands sustainability as an ongoing commitment to our direct environment, to people, to our business activities, and to the planet – and we have for many years. 20 B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N S ince the 1980s, Weidmüller has been actively engaged in plastics recycling. Today, for example, we do so by integrating regranulation as part of our understanding of circular value creation – to make our products more sustainable step by step. What goes around, comes around. At our company, each newly developed product is also evaluated in a sustainability workshop. And speaking of products: many Weidmüller products are used to generate renewable energy. They are also shaping electrification, digitalisation and automation – and by doing so helping to boost efficiency and sustainability in industrial environments. A HISTORY OF SUSTAINABILITY D I D Y O U K N O W ? Our digital sustainability brochure provides a compact, clear and interactive overview of Weidmüller’s sustainability commitments. CLICK HERE T O D A Y , W E U S E U P T O 2 0 % R E G R A N U L A T E T O M A N U F A C T U R E O U R P R O D U C T S . For many international Weidmüller has been fully certified under environmental management standard DIN ISO 14001 since 1997. years, Weidmüller has also been ensuring its new buildings are highly energy efficient. One example: a geothermal field at our headquarters in Detmold generates a heat output of 530,000 kWh and cooling output of 280,000 kWh per year. Weidmüller has received many awards for its commitment to sustainability over the years. One example is our recogni- tion as a climate protection company in 2014, and another is the EcoVadis gold rating we received in 2023 and 2024. B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E 21
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N STRONG LOCATIONS E R U T U F S T N E M T S E V N E H T N I I 22 B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E 1970: DOWN TO THE LAST DETAIL – P L A N S F O R A N E W P L A N T I N D E T M O L D . With creative people, a deeply rooted awareness of sustainability, and the right products, we only need one thing for long-term success: strong locations worldwide.
A nd that is why Weidmüller always works to stay close to its customers. Thanks to shorter delivery routes, this local-for-local approach not only helps us reach our sustaina- bility goals, but also lets us keep in close proximity with target focus markets. Through this strategy, we have built and moved into new buildings, opened offices, ramped up production warehouses, and started logistics sites all over the world throughout our history. Here are a few examples. 1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N H I G H - V O L T A G E T E S T I N G A N D T E C H N I C A L D O C U M E N T A T I O N : T H E F I R S T L A B O R A T O R Y I N D E T M O L D . A S S O O N A S T H E C O M P A N Y W A S R E - L A U N C H E D , B U I L D I N G A C T I V I T I E S B E G A N I N E A R N E S T I N D E T M O L D . A N E W O F F I C E B U I L D I N G I S S E E N H E R E U N D E R C O N S T R U C T I O N I N 1 9 5 4 . B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E 23
T H E C U S T O M E R A N D T E C H N O L O G Y C E N T R E ( C T C ) I N D E T M O L D . IN DETMOLD, AND ALL AROUND THE WORLD From textile and button factories to modern production and manufacturing facilities. From analogue and mechani- cal to fully-automated and highly effi- cient. The technologies, design and ap- pearance of our global plants and buildings have changed quite a bit over the last 175 years. What has never changed is our pioneering spirit. 1 2 1 T H E S I T E O F T H Ü R I N G I S C H E W E I D M Ü L L E R G M B H I N W U T H A - F A R N R O D A S T A N D S O U T F O R I T S F U L L Y A U T O M A - T E D P R O D U C T I O N O F C O N N E C T O R S A N D P C B T E R M I N A L S . 2 O U R L O C A L T R A N S - S H I P M E N T C E N T R E F O R C E N T R A L E U R O P E I N T H U R I N G I A : W E O P E N E D T H E W E I D M Ü L L E R D I S T R I B U T I O N C E N T E R I N 2 0 2 3 . 24 B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N W I T H O U R N E W E L E C T R O N I C S P L A N T I N D E T M O L D , W E A R E I M P R O V I N G O U R E L E C T R O N I C S C O M P E T E N C E F O R T H E L O N G - T E R M : T H E P L A N T I S S E T T O O P E N D U R I N G O U R 1 7 5 T H A N N I V E R S A R Y Y E A R I N 2 0 2 5 . 3 W E E X P A N D E D O U R S A L E S , D E V E L O P M E N T A N D P R O D U C T I O N C E N T R E A T T H E R I C H M O N D S I T E I N T H E U S A , : C O N S T R U C T I O N W O R K W A S C O M P L E T E D I N 2 0 2 4 . 4 T W O N E W P R O D U C T I O N W A R E H O U S E S I N TĂ UȚII-MĂ GHERĂ UŞ: THE EXPANSION IN ROMANIA W R A P P E D U P I N 2 0 2 3 . 5 I N 2 0 1 9 , A N E W P R O D U C T I O N F A C I L I T Y W A S L A U N C H E D I N C H I N A . 5 3 4 B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E 25
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N E C N A M R O F R E P G N R E E N O P I I D N A S N O I T A V O N N I 26 B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E C H E C K I N G O U T T H E L A T E S T I N N O V A T I O N S . G O T T F R I E D G L Ä S E L A N D W I L H E L M S T A F F E L . A PRODUCT JOURNEY What better way to wrap up a Weidmüller history lesson than with a look back – and look forward – at some of our truly innovative products? A new snap fastener system in the late 19th century, and the first plastic-based terminal block in the 1950s were only the begin- ning of Weidmüller’s history of pioneering performance.
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N Eight years after launching the SAK series, Weidmüller registered a terminal block with single-wire screw connection to a PCB in 1960 – tapping into all new target markets. In 1976, the stripax® was introduced to the control cabinet sector. This stripping tool greatly simplified wiring processes – and is still considered a popular classic in Weidmüller's product portfolio today. Just two years later, Weidmüller installed the first electronic elements in terminal blocks – and a whole new generation of electrical connec- tivity was born. FROM SNAP FASTENERS TO ELECTRICAL CONNECTIVITY A T R U E W E I D M Ü L L E R C L A S S I C : O U R S T R I P A X ® S T R I P P I N G T O O L . B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E 27
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N In 1992, Weidmüller launched the first sensor-actuator interface on the market. The SAI made it possible for decentral- ised signals to be grouped together in a smart way – a factor in the success of modern production facilities. In 2000, we then presented the first I/O plug-in connectors with LED displays, which saved space and offered new design-in possibilities. By launching technological develop- ments for wind energy in 1998 and photovoltaics in 2005, Weidmüller also set forward-thinking electrification solutions in the renewa- ble energy field. the stage for FAST FORWARD TO AUTOMATION, DIGITALISATION AND ELECTRIFICATION U N I Q U E L Y C O M P A C T : O U R U - R E M O T E I / O S Y S T E M C A M E O U T I N 2 0 1 3 . 28 B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E
TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS OF THE FUTURE – YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOR TOMORROW 2 0 2 1 : W E I N V E N T E D S N A P I N A S A N A L L - N E W K I N D O F C O N N E C T I O N T E C H N O L O G Y . And speaking of automation: 2013 marked the market launch of our u-remote I/O system, a true milestone in the sector. We then presented u-OS in 2022 – our edge operating system that allows in- dustrial digitalisation and automation to effectively move from theory to practice in the world of IIoT. In 2005, we created a revolutionary connection technology, as P-terminal blocks with PUSH IN technology made panel building even faster. We then outdid ourselves once again in 2021 with a new innovation: through SNAP IN connection technology, we are making automated, robot-sup- ported wiring processes a reality. B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E 29
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N 1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N THE WEIDMÜLLER LOGO OVER THE YEARS 1937 1948 D N A R B R U O E G A M I 1955 1959 30 30 B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N 1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N 1972 1981 CONSTANTLY REINVENTING OURSELVES Sometimes, you have to make a change! That’s why we have changed the typeface of our logo multiple times over the years. These changes have helped us reinvent ourselves and keep up with the times. Here’s how our brand image has changed. 1986 SINCE 1993 B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E 31 31
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N WEIDMÜLLER INSIDE PROJECTS OVER THE YEARS We looked, but were unable to find any examples, or even images of high-fashion clothes which used patented Weidmüller snap fasteners during the 19th century. We did, however find plenty of documentation for projects and success stories after the company's realignment to focus on electrical connectivity. There is plenty to show – and even more to tell. W e are passionate about every project we take on, and about all of our solutions. The following applications, however, stand out in Weidmüller's long history. Global examples of our pioneering spirit. 32 32 C H A P T E R N A M E T O B E E N T E R E D H E R E
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N A S U N N Y O U T L O O K A T A N E L E V A T I O N O F 2 , 8 8 3 M E T R E S : O U R P R O D U C T S I N T H E P V S Y S T E M A T T H E M O N T A - R O S A H U T . L E A R N M O R E A B O U T T H I S S W I S S P R O J E C T O N P A G E 4 2 . C H A P T E R N A M E T O B E E N T E R E D H E R E 33 33
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N SETTING THE STAGE T he sail or seashell like design of the Sydney Op- era House makes it one of the world’s most iconic buildings – part of the reason it has been listed as a UNESCO world heritage site since 2007. Before The Magic Flute or Othello could grace the stage, however, Weidmüller had its own part to play. When it was time to complete electrical installa- tions during the – believe it or not – 14-year construction of the building, we delivered termi- nals for this monumental icon on the harbour. The building as a whole was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II. Electrical connectivity from Weidmüller – a royal affair! FLYING HIGH T he CN Tower in Toronto, Canada, held the title of the world’s tallest free-standing tower from its completion in 1996 until 2009. At 553 metres, today it is still one of Canada’s highest towers and a true emblem of this North American city. Weidmüller's products are inside: our terminals were installed in the TV tower, which also houses a rotating restaurant and viewing platform. High above the clouds in Canada – with connections made by Weidmüller. 34 W E I D M Ü L L E R I N S I D E
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N HITTING THE RIGHT NOTES W hen presenter Dieter Thomas Heck announced the next hit or read out the credits on his ZDF Hit Parade music broadcast in record time, he often did it standing in front of a truly unique display board. The controller of this board, at UFA Studio 1 in Berlin, contained around 2,000 of our Moduflex blocks. This plug-in connector enclosure was essential to the show; a total of 9,000 individual bulbs, 4 watts each, were perfectly arranged on the 2.5 m x 3.5 m board to avoid glare. All of the bulbs could be individually controlled. This resulted in an impressive tangle of cables, but Moduflex was able to tame the technology. Truly a shining moment in connectivity! GOOD TECHNOLOGY, SAFE CONNECTIONS, ALL AROUND THE WORLD A HISTORY OF ADDED VALUE W E I D M Ü L L E R I N S I D E 35
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N HITTING THE SLOPES A nyone who loves to ski will feel right at home in Austria. And anyone who wanted to hit the slopes quickly and easily in the 1980s trusted in technology from Weidmüller. Apart from only a few exceptions, control cabinets at ski lifts and ski resorts throughout Austria used Weidmüller terminals. The image shows our K7 aluminium enclosure, for intermediate connection of the Setra cable. 1982 LIKE A FISH TO WATER T he Itaipú water treatment plant is a unique example of modern engineering prowess. Up until 2016, it was the largest of its kind in terms of energy generated. With an installed power of 14,000 megawatts, it served around 10 percent of Brazil’s power needs, and around 30 percent of Paraguay's. The two countries jointly planned and carried out construction of the power plant. Of course, building such a massive complex required products from Weidmüller: over 400,000 termi- nals including 150,000 SAKT 2 type disconnect terminals were delivered to Itaipú. Good electrical connectivity is water for the mill of ingenuity. 36 W E I D M Ü L L E R I N S I D E
1986 1 MOUSE, 7 DWARVES AND SAK 4 F or decades, monorails have connected different sections of the park at the Disneyland Resort in California. Weidmüller parts ensured good connections in some of these single-track elevated trains, known as Mark V trains. Originally, the vehicle cells were delivered to Walt Disney Inc. by Munich aerospace group Messerschmidt-Bölkow-Blohm (today Airbus). The connection technology inside came from us: SAK 4 series duroplastic terminals from Weidmüller, among other components, were used in their construction. Secure connections: it's like a fairy-tale. W E I D M Ü L L E R I N S I D E 37
THE CITY OF LOVE – TECHNOLOGY YOU CAN FALL IN LOVE WITH 6 8 9 1 W hen the Eiffel Tower got a brand new lighting system in the mid-1980s, there were around 300 spotlights that needed to be monitored. We had the right solution for the job, custom-tailored to the monument’s specific needs. One of our ammeters was connected in series in each of the spotlights to deliver a signal to the com- puter whenever a bulb went out. Since the wiring was designed to allow monitoring of 13 spotlights at a time, we specifically adapted our ammeters for the application. A lovingly wrapped package of electrical connectivity for the shining city of love – from Detmold with love. RELAYS AND TERMINALS AHOY 1987 W ith an over 175-meter-long deck, the MICOPERI 7000 was the world’s largest crane and assembly ship in the late 1980s. Its overall surface area is larger than four football fields! In a ship of this size, equipped with two giant cranes and expected to withstand huge loads on a single side, a sophisticated automation system was essential. 54 water tanks, four ballast pumps, and over 230 valves needed to be reliably controlled during heavy-cargo operations to help the giant ship keep its balance. Terminal blocks and relay technology from Weidmüller formed the heart of the system. Ships ahoy! 38 W E I D M Ü L L E R I N S I D E
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N A round 600 kilometers north of Santiago de Chile, at an elevation of 2,400 metres high in the Andes, sits the La-Silla Observatory of the Euro- pean Southern Observatory. Terminals and other products from Weidmüller were installed in almost all of the electrical cabinets there. They were responsible, among other jobs, for facil- itating computer-supported deflection of the thin, lightweight mirror in the active optics of the obser- vatory’s modern telescopes. With the help of our products, the observatory was able to achieve an optimal focal point with minimal imaging defects. A match made in heaven – with Weidmüller. REACH FOR THE STARS W E I D M Ü L L E R I N S I D E 39
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N OLYMPIC CONNECTIVITY T he Olympic Winter Games were held in the picturesque city of Lillehammer for the first time in 1994. The event was a true success for this small Norwegian city, with an exciting programme and great organisation – and Weidmüller had a part to play in the Olympics here as well. Products from our WDU series were used in many of the newly constructed sporting facilities. The bobsleigh and luge track, for instance, was newly constructed at a length of 1,710 metres, with 16 curves and a height difference of 114 metres. Racers on the track reached top speeds of 130 km/h. Six programmable logic controllers monitored the system, as well as Lillehammer’s entire fresh water and waste water systems, with the help of miniplex modules. A gold medal performance. 40 W E I D M Ü L L E R I N S I D E
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N ZDU IN THE ICE W hen the second generation of the Deutsche Bahn's Intercity-Express (ICE) trains took to the tracks for the first time at the start of the 1996/97 winter schedule, they had Weidmüller technology on board. There were, however, several challenges to manage along the way. In order to install the door controllers, the terminal blocks needed to be pluggable with tension clamp technology. To answer this need, we created a true innovation: a plug-in connector with adaptor for ZDU 2.5. Weidmüller products are still used in ICE trains today, including in the latest generation. In the ICE 4, heavy-duty RockStar® series connectors provide a reliable flow of power and help quickly extend and shorten trains. Pioneering work at high speeds – and if the train still arrives late, well, it's definitely not a connectivity problem. Weidmüller technology is also used in trains outside of Germany. instance, Weidmüller China delivered the solutions needed for the Fuxing Hao high-speed train. In 2018, for 1996 GOOD TECHNOLOGY FOR THE GOVERNMENT T he Reichstag Building in Berlin is the world’s most visited parliament building, with almost three million visitors a year. From 1995 to 1999, it was fully renovated according to plans from British architect Norman Foster. The control panels used to equip 18 rooms there came from Weidmüller. A project team created the Room Control Panel concept starting in 1997. With the RCPs, politicians were able to turn lights on and off in the building, adjust the room temperature, use sun shades, and open or close the windows. The perfect building management system the German Bundestag in Berlin. to govern 1997 W E I D M Ü L L E R I N S I D E 41
READY FOR TAKE-OFF H ong Kong International Airport, which opened in 1999, is located on the island of Chek Lap Kok. It is the largest cargo airport in the world, with one of the highest numbers of travellers anywhere. Weidmüller products were used to help build this new, gigantic project. For instance, WDU 2.5 terminals were used for the tank system, a variety of plug-in connectors the signal systems and main building, and addi- tionally, ZDR, ZDU, and ZSI series terminals were delivered the high-speed train connection to the airport. Weidmüller came through with flying colors. for for 1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N 1999 THE PEAK OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY T he Monte-Rosa hut is on top of the world at 2,883 metres in the Valais Alps in Switzerland. The hut was originally opened in 1856; however, this meeting point for hikers and skiers was rebuilt starting in 2009 with an eye to sustainability principles. 42 W E I D M Ü L L E R I N S I D E
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N Today, it stands as a model of efficiency: a giant solar system, for instance, provides the hut with complete energy autonomy. Weidmüller tech- nology plays a key role in making it all work: from combiner boxes and surge protection to PV plugs and a string monitoring system. A magical, energy- efficient hut experience, brought to life by Weidmüller. 2023 W E I D M Ü L L E R I N S I D E 43 43 AUTOMATION MEETS SCIENCE T he Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) conducts research to save one of the world’s most important maritime habitats: the cor- al reefs off the Australian coast. In a laboratory filled with giant tubs of salt water, the scientists research the impacts of climate change on sensitive corals. Parameters like temper- ature must be precisely controlled. Our u-remote I/O system is one of the tools they use to do so, along with our managed switches and switched- mode power supplies. This is a truly unique project for the future of our planet.
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N 1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N 1952 E R A S R E M O T S U C 1977 1979 1982 R U O E R E H W 44
TRADE FAIRS OVER THE YEARS After our first Hannover Messe in 1952 and the introduction of our SAK series, we got trade fair fever. Today, we are happiest when we are where our customers are. From small, specialist exhibitions and events to huge leading trade fairs: our love for getting out and meeting our customers has never changed. What has changed, however, is our exhibition stand. From sleek and streamlined to Make the World More Orange – a short retrospective in pictures. 1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N 1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N 2000 2012 2024 C H A P T E R N A M E T O B E E N T E R E D H E R E 45
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N STORIES FROM THE WORLD OF WEIDMÜLLER ANECDOTES, MEMORIES AND RETROSPECTIVES The Weidmüller group companies and international loca- tions are spread throughout the world. Many of them already have their own long histories – and have made major contributions to Weidmüller's history as a whole. A s part of our big 175-year celebration at Weidmüller, we asked our group companies to take a look back – they told us about some great, interesting, and pioneering milestones and some particularly funny and even personal moments from the past. 46 46 C H A P T E R N A M E T O B E E N T E R E D H E R E
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N A B I Z A R R E M O V E : O U R C A N A D I A N G R O U P C O M P A N Y D I D N ’ T H A V E F A R T O G O W H E N T H E Y B U I L T A N D M O V E D I N T O A N E W B U I L D I N G I N T H E 1 9 8 0 S . R E A D T H E W H O L E A N E C D O T E O N P A G E 5 6 . C H A P T E R N A M E T O B E E N T E R E D H E R E 47 47
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N W e i d m ü l l e r B a l t i c s REAL ROCKSTARS G ood technology is like music to our ears: heavy-duty connectors from the RockStar® series guarantee outstanding performance no matter the environment – and, thanks to their name, plenty of ideas for puns and events focused on our HDCs. They took the concept literally at Weidmüller Portugal during the 2006 product launch. Alongside customers from northern and southern Portugal, the company celebrated its presentation of the new Weidmüller industrial plugs in style at the “Rock in Rio” music festival in Lisbon. Attendees enjoyed performances by greats like guitar virtuoso Carlos Santana – real rock stars to début our RockStar® product family. 48 S T O R I E S F R O M T H E W O R L D O F W E I D M Ü L L E R A SUMMIT ON THE RYSY T o celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Weidmüller Baltics, participants met for a team event in Slovakia in 2022. High up in the Tatra mountains, the team took on a major challenge together as they scaled one summit of Rysy mountain. There were a few blisters along the way – along with plenty of sweat – but at the end of the day the colleagues did conquer the peak. Altogether, they spent four days hiking in the mountains. Even today, everyone still remembers the great atmos- phere and their journey to the top together. l a g u t r o P r e l l ü m d i e W
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N OF CHOCOLATE, CHEESE AND INNOVATION A t Weidmüller Switzerland, col- leagues remember a Swiss-themed party put on during a meeting of Aus- trian, German and Swiss executives. The event focused on the nation's values and traditions. There was an introduction Swiss wrestling (Schwingen), a performance of Heidi, cheese fondue, and of course a choco- late tasting. to And speaking of cheese and choco- late: according to our Swiss colleagues, these two typical Swiss delicacies could be the secret of their success. In any case, the kitchen at the Swiss office is always filled with locally produced treats. Is it the great food, the unbridled spirit of innovation, or the beautiful location at the Rhine Falls? Whatever the reason, the team spirit and atmosphere at Weidmüller Switzerland have always been excellent. W e i d m ü l l e r S w i t z e r l a n d Maybe this culinary knack was even what helped develop the idea for one of Weidmüller’s major innovations. During a lively discussion among a project team in Switzerland, a resource- ful product manager was inspired to scribble down a draft for our PV Next combiner box (launched in 2020) on a napkin. S T O R I E S F R O M T H E W O R L D O F W E I D M Ü L L E R 49
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N THE COMPANY WHERE MY DAD WORKS CONGRATULATIONS! 30 YEARS ANNIVERSARY W e have a sweet and touching anecdote to relate from South Korea: our Weidmüller colleague Hyoung inspired his daughter’s art with his work clothes. The girl crafted a paper doll version of her father – including tie, shirt, and black and orange Weidmüller signet. The artwork still hangs at his desk today – just one example of f amily values around the world at Weidmüller, a family-owned company. Weidmüller Korea A TRUE ARTWORK: “아빠” MEANS “FATHER”; “우리아빠회사” MEANS “THE COMPANY WHERE MY DAD WORKS”. 50 S T O R I E S F R O M T H E W O R L D O F W E I D M Ü L L E R
BÄRIG ON THE ROAD 1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N T ranslated literally, the word “bärig” (bear-y) is used to describe the characteristics of a bear in relation to a person or thing. In Austria it has another layer of meaning, standing for excite- ment, enthusiasm, and positivity. There is no doubt, then, about what the mood was like during the launch of the “Bärig on the Road” road show seven years ago in Austria. Travelling throughout the alpine republic, the team demon- strated Weidmüller technologies with a comedy-filled campaign. Austria certainly understands how to put on a great event: in 2018, Connec- tivity Day was held at the rollercoaster restaurant in Vienna. The event served as the kickoff for the focus on automa- tion technology – the food was served automatically by robots and rollercoast- ers. Connectivity Day won the EVA award for this great concept in the “Best location” category – definitely bärig! W e i d m ü l l e r A u s t r i a “Connectivity Day” in Vienna – an outstanding event! S T O R I E S F R O M T H E W O R L D O F W E I D M Ü L L E R 51
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N W e i d m ü l l e r B r a z i l GRAFFITI, SIGN LANGUAGE AND HISTORIC MILESTONES CONGRATULATIONS! 50 YEARS ANNIVERSARY began in 1975, when T he history of Weidmüller Brazil it was launched as a 50-percent joint venture under the name Conexel Conexoes Elétricas. Because of this, one memora- ble and major milestone at our Brazilian group company was when they were taken over 100 percent by the Weidmüller Group in 2011. A new loca- tion was also opened in the meantime – in 1986 – with 12,000 square meters of space. In addition to these major historical milestones, Weidmüller Brazil also has great memories from 2023 and 2024: colleagues enjoyed time together at a sign language class for employees (2024) and a graffiti workshop (2023) alongside kids and teens from surround- ing communities. On top of all this, they received the Siemens Greenlight Track Award for performance in the areas of sustainability, technology and innova- tion in 2024. 52 S T O R I E S F R O M T H E W O R L D O F W E I D M Ü L L E R
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N GROWING WITH WEIDMÜLLER O ur colleagues at Weidmüller South East Asia in Singapore see their professional development and personal memories as closely connected. For Automation Solutions Manager John, for example, his own professional career has been closely tied to his the years. His daycare facility, namely, was located in the same building as Weidmüller's executive offices: son’s milestones over 2017 2024 Weidmüller South East Asia perfect for father-son snack breaks in the office kitchen. For the first 12 years of his life, the little guy was an ever-present part of the Weidmüller world. Sales Manager Jerry also connects his professional and personal developments: at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Jerry lost a total of 40 kilograms over the course of two years. This is a success that Jerry today sees as a metaphor for his career: with passion and hard work, you can achieve results and make positive changes over time. Hardware Engineer Swee Meng also had an anec- dote about cohesion: when our compact u-remote I/O system was launched in 2013, he travelled with his team to Detmold for a training. They got close during the evening event, literally! Squeezed onto one colleague's couch, the group met for pizza, snacks, and cold drinks. It was the perfect transition between the personal and professional, and a great way for cultures to come together. S T O R I E S F R O M T H E W O R L D O F W E I D M Ü L L E R 53
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N FAMILY SPIRIT AND A GREAT MEMORY F eelings of excitement and delight – that’s what Birol remembers when he thinks about how he got his start at Weidmüller 25 years ago in Turkey as a Sales Engineer. Even today, Birol – who is now Manag- ing Director of the group company – keeps a very special memento from his early days at the company: a pocket catalogue created to provide an over- view of key Weidmüller products and initial technical information. Today, for Birol the catalogue symbolises the many friendships he has made and challenges he has overcome in the past, as well as possibilities for future innova- tion. In general, group cohesion seems to be an important part of the memories our Turkey team shared with us. Gürkan gave us one example: in contrast to his previous jobs, he was excited from the start by the team spirit he saw at Weidmüller – a family spirit to spur pioneering performance by the whole team. 54 S T O R I E S F R O M T H E W O R L D O F W E I D M Ü L L E R W e i d m ü l l e r T u r k e y
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N A POT-POURRI OF MEMORIES W hen we asked the team at Weidmüller China to relate some anecdotes from the past, the memories just came spilling out. One example was their visit to the Jiqian Tangzhen Center – a public social institution in Shanghai – in 2018. Projects had been created for employees’ children to work on, designed to get them interested in science and involved in the team spirit. Our colleagues also remembered a fund-raising campaign for the Zhengou Subway: after heavy rains in 2021, the subway suffered heavy damage. To restart local public transit, Weidmüller China delivered terminals, relays and power supplies on short notice – products valued at around 40,000 euros were donated for this important infrastructure project. In addition, the Weidmüller China team also remembered the opening celebration for the new plant in 2019, which coincided with a huge 25-year anniversary celebration. They also told us about a very special team event in the summer of 2017. Colleagues from different departments met on the beach at Nantong to build boats in small groups. According to Weidmüller colleague Shary, communication among the participants was impressive: they quickly identified each others’ individual strengths, worked together as a team, and bonded with one another. W e i d m ü l l e r C h i n a S T O R I E S F R O M T H E W O R L D O F W E I D M Ü L L E R 55
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N CONGRATULATIONS! 50 YEARS ANNIVERSARY Weidmüller Canada FIRST BIRTH- DAY PARTY 175 years is definitely worth celebrating – however a first birthday deserves a great party too. Our site in the Romanian city of Brașov has officially been part of the group company since 2018. When they reached their first anniversary in 2019, colleagues created a very special event which they still remember fondly today. Around 20 kilometers away from the Weidmüller office, in the beautiful ski area of Poiana Brașov, they celebrated a memorable anniversary along- side customers. In addition to presentations, workshops, and activities, they even let their hair down and danced. It was a truly unique first birthday party. 56 S T O R I E S F R O M T H E W O R L D O F W E I D M Ü L L E R MOVING ACROSS THE STREET J ust a hop, skip and a jump from Ontario, in the city of Markham, our Canadian group company was founded in 1975. In the beginning, the company focused heavily on producing our SAK series. During the 1980s, Weidmüller’s Managing Director Peter Gläsel visited our location in the world’s second-largest country – and had an idea. While he was looking around at the grounds, he happened to notice the property on the other side of the road. It was larger, and much more fitting for Weidmüller's future plans in Canada. They quickly came to an agreement with the neighbour – a worktop manufacturer – who switched locations with them. The other site had space for a new Weidmüller building, where the company moved in 1987. W e i d m ü l l e r R o m a n i a
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N W e i d m ü l l e r U S A CONGRATULATIONS! 50 YEARS ANNIVERSARY A MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT TERMINATIONS W hen we opened our first office in Richmond, in the US state of Virginia, in 1975 we did so under the name Weidmuller Terminations, Inc. The name created a lot of confusion among the local population. After all, without knowing the context of electri- cal connectivity, the word terminations has several different meanings in English. The placid city of Richmond wondered, for instance, whether the new company was a German pest control company, or maybe even a German hitman organisation – perhaps a branch of the German mafia. Today, the company bears the less confusing moniker Weidmüller USA, but everyone enjoys a laugh when they remember the anecdote. S T O R I E S F R O M T H E W O R L D O F W E I D M Ü L L E R 57
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N W e i d m ü l l e r B e n e l u x DRIVING TO DETMOLD ON THE PARTY BUS W hen we asked our group compa- ny responsible for the Benelux nations for an anecdote from the past, we got a very cheerful and light-hearted response. In 2012, our colleagues rented a special party bus to drive customers to the Hannover Messe in Germany. The ride was equipped with screens, comfy seating, and a top-class audio system – everything they needed for an entertain- ing drive to Lower Saxony. The bus even offered a song request function. Of course, the mood among our cus- tomers when they arrived in Hannover was outstanding. After the trade fair, they enjoyed riding on to Detmold, where a tour through the headquarters was planned. Before the bus got rolling, however, there was a little after-fair party on board – including a mobile disco lot. Customer service, made in Benelux. in the parking 58 S T O R I E S F R O M T H E W O R L D O F W E I D M Ü L L E R
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N NOBLE KNIGHTS AND AUTOMATION T he Middle Ages and the age of automation could hardly be more different – and yet, our Polish colleagues have been able to combine the best of both worlds. In 2019, they put on a kingly automation event at Mewe Castle (Zamek w Gniewie) in northern Poland. Designers, engineers and Weidmüller employees focused on our u-mation portfolio, and in particular our control system u-control. The evening then continued with a local knights’ guild, who staged games, song, and sword fighting re-enactments. A knightly day, with forward-think- ing technologies. Weidmüller Poland S T O R I E S F R O M T H E W O R L D O F W E I D M Ü L L E R 59
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N THE NEXT STEP INTO THE FUTURE... ...is built on 175 years of pioneering spirit! In this interview, Christian Gläsel – Chair- man of the Supervisory Board and spokes- person for the owner family – shares how Weidmüller’s history continues to shape its future, and why the pio- neering spirit remains as vital today as ever. Mr Gläsel, Weidmüller is ce- lebrating its 175th anniversary under the motto ‘Pioneering since day one.’ What does this phrase mean to you? The motto captures the essence of what has always defined Weidmüller: the courage to explore new paths and the commitment to actively shape the future. It re- flects our entrepreneurial spirit – identifying customer needs early, driving technological innovation, and help- ing to shape entire markets. On a personal level, this phrase also embodies the mindset of my father, Peter Gläsel, and my great-uncle, Gottfried Gläsel – two true pioneers who played a pivotal role in shaping Weidmül- ler’s legacy. 60 60 C H A P T E R N A M E T O B E E N T E R E D H E R E You speak of a pioneering spirit spanning generations. What role did your great-uncle, Gottfried Gläsel, play in this development? My great-uncle, Gottfried Gläsel, re-founded Weidmül- ler in Detmold in 1948, after the war. With remarkable foresight, he identified electrical connection technolo- gy as a promising field for the future. He set new tech- nological benchmarks with the introduction of the first plastic-insulated modular terminal block – known as the SAK series. Under his leadership, a comprehensive portfolio of connection technology rapidly took shape, thanks to his strategic vision and technical expertise. In 1959, he established our first international subsidiary in the UK – a bold and forward-thinking move for a mid- sized company at the time, and one that laid the foun- dation for the global presence we have today. Gottfried Gläsel 1937 to 1971 What developments did your father, Peter Gläsel, initi- ate to keep Weidmüller on its successful path? My father built upon the foundation laid by his uncle, advancing Weidmüller both economically and cultural- ly. He played a key role in expanding the company’s in- ternational presence, demonstrating strong personal commitment throughout. Equally important to him was fostering a values-driven corporate culture. Employee loyalty, the training of young professionals, and social responsibility were matters especially close to his heart. As a West German entrepreneur, he assumed responsi- bility in a reunified Germany early on – most notably by founding Thüringische Weidmüller GmbH, marking a significant milestone for growth in East Germany. Later, with the establishment of the Weidmüller Foundation, he laid the groundwork for the Bildungsdorf – an edu- cation village that continues to support young people today in line with his enduring vision for education and social contribution. Peter Gläsel 1971 to 2002
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N Let’s take a look into the future: How do you see the future of Weidmüller? Today, Weidmüller is evolving consistently – from a specialist in connection technology to a forward- looking technology company focused on automa- tion, digitalization, and sustainable electrification. Our re-entry into automation with the launch of u- remote in 2013 marked an important milestone. One of our latest pioneering innovations is the SNAP IN connection technology, which exempli- fies how we continually set new standards through innovation. For me, this is at the heart of what mat- ters most: carrying forward Weidmüller’s pionee- ring spirit and actively shaping technological change. What role does the Joachim Herz Foundation play in this? Since last year, the Joachim Herz Foundation has been a strong partner, sharing our long-term vision and offering valuable impetus. This collaboration reinforces our strategic direction and opens up new opportunities to sustainably enhance our in- novative capabilities. The future of Weidmüller has begun – and it will be defined by its people and pioneering achievements. T H E J O A C H I M H E R Z F O U N D A T I O N , F O U N D E D I N H A M B U R G I N 2 0 0 8 , I S O N E O F G E R M A N Y ’ S L A R G E S T F O U N D A T I O N S . I T P R O M O T E S E D U C A T I O N , S C I E N C E , A N D R E S E A R C H , S U P P O R T I N G P R O J E C T S T H A T A I M T O S E C U R E S O C I E T Y ’ S F U T U R E V I A B I L I T Y . T H E F O U N D A - T I O N I S E S P E C I A L L Y A C T I V E I N T H E F I E L D S O F B U S I N E S S , N A T U R A L S C I E N C E S , E N G I N E E R I N G , M E D I C I N E , A N D E D U C A T I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T . C H A P T E R N A M E T O B E E N T E R E D H E R E 61 61
1 7 5 Y E A R A N N I V E R S A R Y E D I T I O N LOCATIONS WORLDWIDE G R O U P C O M P A N I E S D E V E L O P M E N T P R O D U C T I O N 63