The history of Hager Group
From then until today
Get to know all about the beginnings of the Hager Group and join us on a journey through time with the most important events of our company history!
A happy union
1926
Turbulent times
1926 - 1928
To be continued
1945
In the company, work picks up again. Luise and Peter Hager’s sons begin their studies. Oswald studies business management, while Hermann studies electrical engineering. To be continued ...
First location in Ensheim
1954
To house their new company, the Hager family purchase the premises of another business that has closed down. The site covers an area of 12,000 m² and is located in Ensheim, in Saarland. They pay off the property in instalments, and Peter Hager and his sons restore the buildings with the help of a small team. Years later, Hermann Hager will say, “I still remember crouching on the roof, laying asbestos cement panels!” Soon afterwards, the small company begins to manufacture its products.
1955
The foundation stone is laid
By 1954, Hermann and Dr Oswald Hager have completed their studies and want to get a foot on the career ladder. Since the Schmitt brothers’ company is too small to allow them to do so, the two families divide it up. Ludwig Schmitt founds the company Sarel (waterproof enclosures). Peter Hager takes over the production of meter panels and distribution boxes, and, in January 1955, founds the company Hager oHG Elektrotechnische Fabrik in Ensheim with his sons. This lays the foundation stone for today’s Hager Group.
Remington
The Hagers’ most important customer at this time is Remington, an electric shaver manufacturer based in Saarbrücken. At first, Hager only supplies single precision-turned components, but later it supplies almost the whole shaver from a single source. The company then expands its manufacturing portfolio by adding a new technology, producing parts made of injected plastic.1957
Jump to France
After Saarland becomes part of Germany and the border with France is closed, the company’s founders have a choice: let the French market go, or start up again from scratch on the other side of the border. They decide to start again in Obernai, a small town in Alsace where Hermann Hager sets up Hager’s second foothold from 1959 onwards. Dr Oswald Hager, meanwhile, looks after the main plant in Ensheim, as well as sales. The Hagers now feel at home on both sides of the border.
The first logo
The Hagers make a bold statement: in 1957, they introduce the first logo for their young company.Hanover fair
1959
Inauguration in Obernai
1962
Hager’s new French factory is inaugurated in the Rue du Général Leclerc in Obernai. The premises cover an area of 1,500 m². At the same time, the product portfolio is gradually extended. In order to better understand their customers’ needs, the Hager brothers travel around France with members of their team – just as they had done previously in Germany. In this way, Hager Group’s famous customer-oriented approach slowly becomes popular in France as well.
Customer centricity
1966
Hager grows again
1970
On y va !
1971
In France in the early 1970s, the construction market is in full swing. To keep up with the demand, the Hager brothers purchase some land in the new industrial park in Obernai to build a 2,700 m² factory. In 1972, a further 2,700 m² is added in a second phase.
Customer proximity
1972
Marketing in the 70s
Baroque house
1973
In 1973, 720,000 new buildings are constructed in Germany – an unprecedented number. The Hagers are also busy building: they extend their Ensheim factory by 2,000 m². The administration department moves into the restored “Barockhaus” (baroque-style building) in Ensheim, which used to be a monastery and belonged to the order of the White Canons. When the market for new homes collapses a year later, the young company is forced to switch to short-time working and lay off 70 employees.
In-house sales team
1980
In order to better serve its customers – electrical installers – Hager puts together a team of specialist advisers. The company’s external representatives are gradually replaced by an in-house sales team.
Hager grows again
1982
The Blieskastel production site is built close to Ensheim and includes a state-of-the-art high-bay warehouse. The following year, a similar warehouse is built in Obernai. The first RCCB is also produced.
Crossing borders
1990
As the Berlin Wall falls, Hager also crosses borders. In 1990, distribution centres are already being set up in the former East Germany. At the same time, Hager enters the UK, Swedish and Austrian markets, as well as other European markets. Which markets will Hager conquer next?
Within five years, Hager Group replaces 80 per cent of its products with new ones. The investments exceed 10 per cent of turnover. The company now has 4,500 employees and an annual turnover of 910 million DM. Every year over 8,000 installers from around Europe visit the factories in Obernai and Blieskastel.
The whole world in focus
1994
Hager exhibits at a fair in Shanghai in 1994, as it is already planning to enter the Chinese market. The newly founded Anglo World & Overseas, headquartered in Obernai, oversees business in Africa. The Franco-German family business has become a company that has the whole world in its sights.
Hager Tehalit Systems
1996
Hager Group is still growing – not only as a result of its own efforts, but also by taking over suitable companies and brands. One of them is Tehalit, which invented cable trunking and is a European market leader in this area. This allows Hager to strengthen its position in the area of commercial installations considerably.
Hager goes east!
2003
The family-run company opens a subsidiary in Huizhou in southern China. Hager Group creates jobs for 350 employees in production and 150 in sales.
Who would have thought it?
2005
Second Generation
2006
At a time when many companies are moving their plants abroad, we are investing in our home region: a new plant is opened in Blieskastel. In the same year, we acquire the German company EFEN GmbH, which specialises in industrial switchgear construction, and the French firm C.E.S., which produces metal cable trunking.
We’ve reached the 10,000 mark!
2007
We’ve reached the 10,000 mark! Not long after the 50th anniversary, the number of employees at Hager Group reaches 10,000. Some of them work in Pune, India, where we opened a new plant this year. Our company starts to operate as a Societas Europaea (European company) – a clear commitment to our home continent.
Daniel Hager
2007
Daniel Hager takes over, and the history of Hager Group’s second generation begins. The son of Dr Oswald Hager takes over the chairmanship of Hager Group in 2008, ensuring that the company is run in a way that takes the interests of the family and the employees into account.
Welcome to Hager Group!
Hermann Hager
2014
2015
Hager Forum
In July 2015, the Hager Forum in Obernai opened its doors. The 7,140 m² building, designed and built by Sauerbruch Hutton Architects on behalf of Hager Group, serves as a training centre, a visitor centre, an events space, a café and a modern workplace all rolled into one. But, above all, this open company forum is a place where employees, customers and partners meet to exchange new ideas.
Research and Application Centre
What will our homes and workplaces look like in the future? And how can buildings provide their own electricity in an intelligent way? Hager Group’s new research and application centre in Blieskastel (pictured) provides forward-looking answers to questions like these. Designed to function as a sort of green power plant, the smart office building constantly analyses and optimises its energy consumption in an intelligent way.Congratulations!
2016
2017
Energy storage specialists E3/DC
With E3/DC, Hager Group takes over one of the outstanding specialists for energy storage technologies on the German market. With its energy storage devices, it is an ideal complement to energy management systems, charging stations for electric vehicles and corresponding software from Hager Group.
2018
Hager Group and AUDI AG team up
The development of intelligent energy management systems is one of Hager Group’s research focuses. An essential part of such systems in the future will be electric vehicles. Hager Group together with AUDI AG are therefore working on an automobile-home network that will connect electric vehicles, charging technology and home energy management.
2020
A new company strategy
We publish our new company strategy. Our objective: shaping tomorrow’s electrical world and growing in times of rapid technological innovation and intensifying competition. It is geared to keep us customer centric, independent, strong, and sustainable.
2020
Start of the new Business Unit Hager Energy
On track with our new strategy, we start a brand-new business unit: Hager Energy. It is designed to combine our wide product range of charging stations as well as energy storage and energy management systems. The new unit will help us claim a leading role in the supply and management of renewables.
Majority stake in Elektrofabriken
2022
Hager Group has signed a majority stake agreement in Elektrofabriken, a leading panel builder based in Malmö, Sweden. Elektrofabriken is one of the fastest-growing companies in its segment in Sweden. It markets and manufactures low and medium voltage products tailored for commercial and industrial applications. The family owned business was founded in 2007 by Marthin and Mathias Karlsson.
We are a company built on lasting values
Hager Group tops 3bn annual turnover
2023
For the first time ever, Hager Group’s annual turnover has exceeded the €3 billion mark, reinforcing the Franco-German Blieskastel-based company’s position as the leading provider of solutions and services for electrical installations.
Sabine Busse
2023
Hager Group introduces Sabine Busse as new CEO. Daniel Hager hands over operational leadership after 15 successful years and takes over Chairmanship of Supervisory Board. Sabine Busse is a highly experienced international executive in the energy, electrical and automation sector.
Welcome!
Welcome to Hager Group!
Outstanding Cutting-Edge Technology!
2024
E3/DC has been awarded the prestigious PLUS X AWARD for the highest customer satisfaction in solar technology. This recognition reflects the outstanding quality of our energy storage solutions and the trust our customers place in our service and certified partners.
“Without our courage we would not have achieved anything like the results we have today.”
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