Our history

Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.

1940 – 1950

Watchmaker Hans Schmidbauer, born on 09 March 1908 in Switzerland (Weinfelden), founds the precision machine factory Elma – short for “Electric Machines”. In collaboration with two technicians, he invents and produces the first patented and later world-famous Elma product.

1947
Until 1947 Uhren-Bijouterie-Optik H. Schmidbauer Präzisionsatielier: Badenerstrasse 661, Zurich
1950
Hans Schmidbauer presents an “Elite” watch cleaning machine to the Sonnenuhrgasse vocational school.

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1950 – 1960

Elma becomes internationally known. An expansion of the company’s own factory premises becomes necessary. From the very beginning, Hans Schmidbauer has seen direct contact with customers and users as an important pillar of sales.

1951
Manfred H. Schmidbauer at a very young age – always committed.
1953
Production at Elma is designed from the outset for efficient working paths. Thus, the company quickly becomes the global market leader.
1960
Elma is there when the industry presents itself on a large scale at international trade fairs.

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1960 – 1970

Elma uses its capacities, expands its product portfolio and continues to grow. The entry into ultrasonic cleaning opens up a new cleaning method and leaves no doubt about the success of the Elma.

1960
Elma watch winder.
The model has 12 movable arms with attachments for 13 wristwatches. It becomes an integral part of the watchmaking craft.
1963
Entry into cleaning with ultrasonic technology and thus introduction of new cleaning methods.
1963
Elma at the Hanover Fair 1963. The central message: precision machine factory from West Germany.
1968
Elma celebrates its 20th anniversary, its unique company history and innovative strength that is far ahead of its time.
Elma Junior WE: compact yet fully automatic model that cleans movements in four steps.

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1970 – 1980

The company founder Hans Schmidbauer hands over to the second generation – his son Manfred H. Schmidbauer.

1971
Expansion of the production site.
Aerial view of the Elma site
1973
Hans Schmidbauer – esteemed Singen entrepreneur and sports promoter – celebrates 65th birthday.
1974
Hans Schmidbauer disembarks and hands over the business to his son. Mr. Goldberg (lathe operator) and Mr. Reck (foreman production) are honoured.
1977
Lothar Späth, Chairman of the CDU parliamentary group in the state parliament, about the company Elma:
“A typical example of where to look for the jobs of the future. Only through such companies can the export capacity of the German economy exist”.

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1980 – 1990

Innovation is the focus and so Elma secures its technical lead with the development of new ultrasonic cleaning devices. This lays the foundation for entry into the field of large ultrasonic industrial cleaning systems.

With the construction of a new production hall in Mühlhausen, cleaning chemicals can now also be produced in-house.

1982
Cycling for the common cause. Elma lives up to its reputation as a family-run company.
1985
In the new process laboratory in Mühlhausen, cleaning trials are carried out and the company’s own chemical products are tested.
1989
Elma at the Productronica ’89

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1990 – 2000

Thanks to the innovative products, the Elma company continues to grow and a new production building is built in Gottlieb-Daimler-Straße.

1991
A new manufacturing building
with a production area of 4,000 sqm
is being built in Gottlieb-Daimler-Straße
for the further production
of series devices and systems.
1992
In January, the company’s founder Hans Schmidbauer passes away at the age of 83 on Epiphany.
1994
Plant construction is booming, and Elma
is expanding and restructuring vigorously.
1994
We made it! In 1994 Elma receives the important certification according to DIN EN ISO 9001.

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2000 – 2010

Elma does not rest on its product portfolio in this decade either, but expands the portfolio to include steam cleaning.

2001
Elma researches in the field of “cavitation fields” – New way in ultrasonic cleaning
2003
Elmasteam.
Extension of the product lines with steam cleaning units of the new Elmasteam series.
2009
Elma is included in Germany’s TOP100 Innovator and receives the valuable TOP Innovation Project award from the BMWi as “Best Practice for Effective, Highly Flexible Production Systems”.

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2010 – 2020

Year of upheaval – due to the death of Manfred H. Schmidbauer, a new leadership is formed.

2013
Elmasolvex.
Product novelty: innovative watch cleaning machine with vacuum technology and explosion protection.
2014
Suddenly and completely unexpectedly, Manfred H. Schmidbauer dies in an accident in April 2014.
2014
Mirja Schmidbauer founds Elma Schmidbauer Suisse AG to increase customer proximity in the traditionally strong Swiss market.
2015
Move into the new administration building and the production hall with adjoining transverse building.
2018
The year of major investment in space and machinery: major expansion of sheet metal production with an increase in vertical range of manufacture on a new area of 1,400 sqm.
2019
With Mirja Schmidbauer, the 3rd generation joins the management team at Elma Schmidbauer.

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2020 – today

With the 3rd generation, Elma looks to the future, brings further new innovations to the market and celebrates its 75th anniversary.

2020
Elmasonic Med.
Start of series production of the new MDR-compliant product line Elmasonic Med.
2021
Elmasonic Select.
With the start of series production of Elmasonic Select, Elmasonic S will be replaced.
2022
Cornelia and Mirja Schmidbauer
2023
Elma celebrates a unique event: 75 years of great company history.

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Our history

Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.

1940 – 1950

1947

1950

1950 – 1960

1951

1953

1960

1960 – 1970

1960

1963

1963

1968

1970 – 1980

1971

1973

1974

1977

1980 – 1990

1982

1985

1989

1990 – 2000

1991

1992

1994

1994

2000 – 2010

2001

2003

2009

2010 – 2020

2013

2014

2014

2015

2018

2019

2020 – today

2020

2021

2022

2023