Herbert Hänchen GmbH
Hänchen. A family business in its third generation.
- established in 1925
- 100 % made in Germany
- more than 200 employees
- sales EUR 20 million
- 80 % vertical integration
- 10 % of staff are trainees
- ISO 9001:2015 certified
- direct export ratio 40 %
- 14 % in construction and R&D
History of the company Hänchen
From hydraulic cylinder manufacturer to system supplier
Our passion for robust and reliable products is the reason why we have been concentrating on hydraulic cylinders as our core competence since 1952.
With more than 200 highly motivated employees, we have been developing, testing and manufacturing innovative solutions for our customers – in our own research and production departments in Germany. We are at home wherever service life, reliability and availability matters – the best proof of this are our cylinders that have been running without failure for up to 40 years.
Hänchen's success story is still running smoothly. Hänchen's complete service ranges from personal consulting to the interactive product configurator HäKo. From the planning phase to the start-up. From individual cylinders and clamping units to entire drive systems. From standard to special applications.
The original Hänchen headquarters in Ruit near Stuttgart. In our certified company we create sustainable and future-oriented drive solutions.
Concept
As an independent family business enjoying a healthy and continuous growth, we provide our customers on the global market with high-quality custom-made products and services. We understand our customers and are, through our reliable and flexible solutions, a responsible competent partner. Values such as honesty, trust, and loyalty are the basis for our relationship with employees, customers, and suppliers. We have deep roots in our region and are committed to our social and ecological responsibility.
Timeline
Hydraulic cylinder supplier and more
- 1925: Founded in Penzig/Silesia
1925-07-01: Herbert Hänchen founds a specialized company for modern motor repair. By the end of the war, he has about 100 employees working on vehicle engines. From the very beginning, honing and fine machining of metal surfaces were crucial parts of the process.
- 1945: Moving to Naumburg/Saale
As a result of the war, the company moves to Naumburg/Saale, where Hänchen starts anew. 40 employees repair motors and build missing parts such as cylinders and crankshafts.
- 1950: Moving to Ostfildern Ruit
The company is relocated to Ruit near Stuttgart to escape nationalization by the GDR. Hänchen starts anew, this time in a barn. Soon, the first orders come in – repairing cylinders and crankshafts, producing high-precision parts for cars, and contract work such as cylinder honing.
- 1952: Start of the production of hydraulic cylinders
The "hydraulics" sector gains more and more importance, and thus a future-orientated decision to build hydraulic cylinders is made. This product is characterized by its particularly high quality standard.
- 1957: Joining the VDMA & Hannover Industriemesse
Hänchen joins the Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbauer (German Engineering Association).
Rationalizing efforts lead to the development of new fields of application, the hydraulics market is expanding, and Hänchen is growing along with it. The production program "Hydraulic Cylinders" is presented for the first time at the Hannover Industriemesse (Hanover Industrial Fair), where it is met with great interest.
- 1960: A new administrative building
The existing office space is no longer sufficient. A new administrative building is built.
- 1964: The Servocop® cylinder is created
The sealing system Servocop® is added to the palette of hydraulic cylinders. Servocop® is a special sealing system consisting of a lip seal and a teflon-based compact seal.
- 1968: A new production hall
The existing production facilities are no longer sufficient. A new production hall is built.
- 1969: Generation change
Herbert Hänchen, the founder of the company, passes away at the age of 69. His son Siegfried Hänchen becomes the new managing director, with his sister Ingrid and his brothers Wolfgang and Hartmut as limited partners.
- 1972: The branch plant in Oettingen/Bavaria is opened
Production in Oettingen starts with about 30 employees on 1,000 m².
- 1975: 50 years of Hänchen
Hänchen celebrates its 50-year company anniversary.
- 1981: A subsidiary in Austria is founded
Foundation of Hänchen Hydraulik AG in Austria.
- 1985: A subsidiary in Switzerland is founded
Foundation of Hänchen Hydraulik AG in Frauenfeld/Switzerland.
- 1985: Change of company name
- Herbert Hänchen KG is now Hänchen Hydraulik GmbH.
- 1986: Start of the engineering drawings via CAD
Hänchen starts to use CAD to create engineering drawings.
- 1987: A subsidiary in France is founded
Foundation of Hänchen Hydraulik S.A.R.L. in France.
- 1988: Dual studies system is introduced
Start of the "dualer Studiengang" (dual studies system) for MBA/BBA in collaboration with the Berufsakademie (BA) Stuttgart. Since 2009 Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (DHBW).
The study courses Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen (Industrial Engineering and Management) and Maschinenbau (Mechanical Engineering) are added over time.
- 1990: Sales office
Shortly after the German reunification, a sales office in Taura/eastern Germany is opened.
- 1996: Certification
First ISO 9001 certification.
- 1996: Introduction of the electronic catalogue
Introduction of the electronic catalogue (E-Kat) on CD-ROM.
- 1998: Website and e-mail
Hänchen establishes its web presence at www.haenchen.de and introduces the e-mail address info@haenchen.de.
- 2000: Hartmut Hänchen becomes managing director
Hartmut Hänchen is appointed the second managing director of Hänchen Hydraulik GmbH.
- 2001: Business segment Ratio-Drive®
Drive systems Ratio-Drive® are added to the production range.
- 2004: A new name
Hänchen Hydraulik GmbH becomes Herbert Hänchen GmbH & Co. KG.
- 2007: New test cylinder series 320
Introduction of the new test cylinder series 320, with variably selectable pistons and modular system.
- 2013: New configurator - HäKo replaces E-Kat
The electronic catalogue (E-Kat) is replaced by HäKo, the Hänchen configurator.
- 2013: A subsidiary in China is founded
Foundation of the subsidiary Hänchen (Shanghai) Hydraulic equipment Co. Ltd.
- 2014: The third generation
The company is given over to its third generation. Tanja, Stefan and Matthias Hänchen continue their family's lifetime achievement with the same pioneering spirits and the same passion for first-class quality.
- 2015: Business segment Machine Elements
Expansion of the production range by adding machine elements with the 3 categories:
- rods, shafts, axles
- guiding elements and sealing systems
- mounting elements
- 2015: Market launch & Innovation award of H-CFRP®
At the Hannover Messe 2015, Hänchen introduces the new construction material H-CFRP® for the first time. It is a high load capacity composite of CFRP (carbon fiber-reinforced plastic) and other components, refined to form the construction material H-CFRP®.
Hänchen is awarded the first place of the Innovationspreis 2015 of the Esslingen district.
The major part of this innovational solution is the development of the new construction material H-CFRP®:
+ round components, high load capacity in three dimensions
+ high-tensile CFRP/metal bond
+ hard, leak-tight and wear-resistant surface
- 2017: Custom test machines
Expansion of the product range with customised hydraulic test stands, made to customer specifications: from engineering to the final product.
- 2017: Production expansion in Oettingen
Expansion of the existing production hall in Oettingen, Bavaria by a sawing centre and a storage tower that can store up to 200 tons of material.
- 2018: Servoseal® sealing element
Introduction of the Servoseal® sealing system for cover and piston where our H-CFRP® competence comes into play.
- 2021: A new name
Herbert Hänchen GmbH & Co. KG becomes Herbert Hänchen GmbH.
- 2023: Change in the management
Matthias Hänchen retires from the management for private reasons. Tanja and Stefan Hänchen continue to lead the company as a twosome.
Data & Facts
- industrial branch: machine tools, special machine tools, Hydraulics
- established in: 1925
- turnover: 20 million EUR
- number of staff: more than 200
- training: 10 % of staff are trainees
- R&D: 14 % of staff are in construction and R&D
- vertical range of manufacturing: 80 % and 100 % manufacturing in Germany
- export ratio: Direct export ratio 40 %
- subsidiary plant: Herbert Hänchen GmbH, Oettingen/Bavaria
- sales force: 4 sales representatives in Germany
- branch offices: Authorised branch offices in another 24 countries
Sectors
- general machine tools, special machine tools
- plastic injection-moulding machines, plastic blow-moulding machines
- transfer lines, welding machines, banknote printing machines
- drilling rigs, shipbuilding, steel construction for hydraulic engineering, sluice gates
- test plants for car and aircraft manufacturers
- simulators, special vehicles, robots
- presses, high-voltage circuit breakers
Companies
3 subsidiaries:
- Hänchen Hydraulik AG, Frauenfeld, Switzerland
- Haenchen Hydraulique S.A.R.L., Wingersheim les quatre Bans, France
- Haenchen (Shanghai) Hydraulic equipment Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China