Herbert Hänchen GmbH
A third-generation family business
- Founded in 1925
- 100% Production in Germany
- Over 200 employees
- 20 million EURO turnover
- 80% Vertical integration
- 10% Trainees
- ISO 9001:2015 certified
- 40% Export share
- 14% in design and R&D
History of Hänchen
From hydraulic cylinder manufacturer to system supplier
The passion for functionally reliable, robust products is also the reason why we have been concentrating on hydraulic cylinders as our core competence since 1952.
The Hänchen success story continues smoothly. Hänchen's all-round support ranges from personal advice to the interactive HÄKo product configurator. From planning to start-up. From individual cylinders to clamping units and complete drive systems. From standard to special applications.
Where does Hänchen come from, what does Hänchen produce and what distinguishes Hänchen? The drone show on the occasion of the company's 100th anniversary summarises this in brief.
Mission Statement
We are an independent family company with steady and healthy growth, high-quality and custom-made products and services for our customers in the global market. We understand our customers and are a competent and responsible partner with reliable, flexible solutions. Values such as honesty, trust and loyalty are the basis for our relationships with employees, customers and suppliers. We are rooted in our region and feel committed to our social and ecological responsibility.
Chronicle
Hydraulic cylinder supplier and more
- 1925: Company founded in Penzig/Schlesien
01.07.1925: Herbert Hänchen founds a special plant for the modern engine repair. By the end of the war, approx. 100 employees are busy processing vehicle engines. From the very beginning, honing and fine machining of metal surfaces is a crucial work process.
- 1945: Relocation to Naumburg/Saale
- As a result of the war, the company was relocated to Naumburg/Saale and Hänchen faced a new beginning. 40 employees were involved in the repair of engines and the manufacture of missing individual parts such as cylinders and crankshafts.
- 1950: Relocation to Ostfildern Ruit
The company headquarters were relocated to Ostfildern Ruit near Stuttgart due to nationalisation by the GDR. There, the repeated new beginning in a field barn. The first orders such as cylinder and crankshaft repair, manufacture of high-precision parts for automobile construction and corresponding contract work such as cylinder hone are carried out.
- 1952: Start of hydraulic cylinder production
The "Hydraulics" sector is becoming increasingly important, making it a forward-looking decision to turn to the construction of hydraulic cylinders. This product is characterised by a particularly high quality standard.
- 1957: Entry into the VDMA & Hanover Industry Trade Fair
Hänchen becomes a member of the German Engineering Federation (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbauer).
With the expanding market of hydraulics and the areas of application opened up by rationalisation efforts, Hänchen also grows. The "Hydraulic cylinder" production program is presented for the first time at the Hanover Industrial Trade Fair, where it meets with broad customer interest.
- 1960: Construction of another administration building
- The existing premises are too small, leading to the construction of a new administration building.
- 1964: The Servocop® cylinder is created
- Inclusion of the Servocop® sealing system in the hydraulic cylinder range. Servocop® is a special sealing system consisting of a lip seal and a compact seal made of Teflon-based material.
- 1968: Construction of the production hall
- The existing production capacities are too small, leading to the construction of a new production hall.
- 1969: Change of generation
- The company founder, Herbert Hänchen, dies at the age of 69. His son, Siegfried Hänchen, takes over the business as managing director, with his siblings (Wolfgang, Ingrid, Hartmut) as limited partners.
- 1972: Opening of the branch plant in Oettingen, Bavaria
Production begins in Oettingen on 1,000 m² of space with approx. 30 employees.
- 1975: 50 years of Hänchen
Hänchen celebrates its 50th anniversary.
- 1981: Founding of a subsidiary in Austria
- Foundation of Hänchen Hydraulik AG in Austria.
- 1985: Founding of a subsidiary in Switzerland
- Foundation of Hänchen Hydraulik AG in Frauenfeld/Switzerland.
- 1985: Change of company name
Herbert Hänchen KG becomes Hänchen Hydraulik GmbH.
- 1986: Start of drawing creation via CAD
First creation of an engineering drawing using the CAD program at Hänchen.
- 1987: Founding of a subsidiary in France
Foundation of Hänchen Hydraulik S.A.R.L. France.
- 1988: Introduction of cooperative education
Start of the cooperative study program for business economists in cooperation with the Berufsakademie (BA) Stuttgart. Since 2009, Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW).
The industrial engineering and mechanical engineering courses are gradually added.
- 1990: Sales office opened in Taura
- Shortly after the reunification, our commitment in the new federal states begins with the opening of a sales office in Taura.
- 1996: Certification
First certification according to ISO 9001.
- 1996: Introduction of the electronic catalogue
Introduction of the electronic catalogue, E-Kat for short, on CD-ROM.
- 1998: Homepage and Email
- Hänchen presents itself on the internet at www.haenchen.de and introduces the email address info@haenchen.de.
- 2000: Hartmut Hänchen becomes Managing Director
Hartmut Hänchen is appointed as the second Managing Director of Hänchen Hydraulik GmbH and manages the business together with his brother Siegfried Hänchen.
- 2001: Ratio-Drive® business segment
- Expansion of the production range to include Ratio-Drive® drive systems.
- 2004: Change of company 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 the Hänchen Konfigurator HäKo.
- 2013: Foundation of a subsidiary in China
- Foundation of the subsidiary Hänchen (Shanghai) Hydraulic equipment Co. Ltd.
- 2014: The third generation
The company passes into the hands of the third generation. Tanja, Stefan and Matthias Hänchen continue the life's work with the same pioneering spirit and passion for first-class quality.
Hartmut Hänchen moves to the newly founded advisory board.
- 2015: Machine elements business unit
Expansion of the production program to include machine elements with the 3 categories:
- Rods, shafts, axles
- Sealing systems, guiding elements
- Mounting elements
- 2015: Market launch & Innovation Award for H-CFRP®
At the Hannover trade fair in 2015, Hänchen will present the new material H-CFRP® for the first time. This is a high load capacity composite of CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced synthetic) and other components, which are refined to create the material H-CFRP®.
Hänchen wins 1st place in the 2015 Innovation Award of the Esslingen district.
The innovative achievement lies in particular in the development of the new material H-CFRP:
+ Round components, with high load capacity in three dimensions
+ High-strength connection between CFRP and metal
+ Hard, dense and wear-resistant surface
- 2017: Individual test machines
Expansion of the product range to include customised, hydraulic test stands according to customer requirements: from engineering to complete realisation.
- 2017: Expansion of production in Oettingen
Expansion of the existing production hall in Oettingen, Bavaria, with a sawing center including a storage tower that can store 200 tons of material.
- 2018: Servoseal® seal
Introduction of the Servoseal® sealing system for cover and piston, showcasing our H-CFRP® expertise.
- 2020: Discontinuation of the H-CFRP® business unit
We have discontinued the production of H-CFRP® products.
H-CFRP® is a high load capacity composite developed by Hänchen, made of carbon fiber-reinforced synthetic and other components, refined into a hybrid material.
Our range of H-CFRP® components included
- high load capacity round components
- pressure-resistant and oil-tight carbon tubes
- rods with high-strength connection between CFRP and metal
- H-CFRP® hydraulic cylinder
.
- 2021: Change of company name
Herbert Hänchen GmbH & Co.KG. becomes Herbert Hänchen GmbH.
- 2023: Change in management
Matthias Hänchen is stepping down from the management for private reasons. Tanja and Stefan Hänchen continue to run the company together.
Data & Facts
- Industry sector: Mechanical engineering, special machine construction, hydraulics
- Year of foundation: 1925
- Turnover: 20 million EURO
- Number of employees: over 200 employees
- Training: 10% of the workforce are trainees
- R&D share: 14% of employees in design and R&D
- Vertical integration: 80% vertical integration
- Production location: 100% production in Germany
- Export share: 40% direct export share
- Branch plant: Herbert Hänchen GmbH, Oettingen/Bayern
- Field service: 4 field service employees within Germany
- Representations: Authorised representations in a further 24 countries
Sectors
- General mechanical engineering, special machine construction
- Synthetic injection moulding machines, synthetic blow moulding machines
- Transfer lines, welding machines, security printing presses
- Drilling rigs, shipbuilding, steel hydraulic engineering, barrages
- Test plants for automobile and aircraft manufacturers
- Simulators, special vehicles, robots
- Presses, high-voltage disconnectors
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