Innovation is Our History

On today’s start-up scene, we’d say that Marquardt began as a living room business. In 1925, the businessman Johannes Marquardt (1885 – 1963) and a distantly related technician with the same name (1889 – 1942) lay the foundations for a “special plant for electrical needs and fine mechanics” in their homes in Rietheim. They have developed built-in switches for electrical appliances and power tools, soon becoming pioneers of a new segment in the electronics industry.

Marquardt products are sold in the household appliance industry. The first switches with rolling contacts are used in hand-held vacuum cleaners and radio sets.

The Great Depression starting in 1929 and its consequences cause considerable losses for the young company at the start of the Thirties. Only through extreme sacrifices, even made by the entrepreneurial families, the 60-person workforce is kept on. While order numbers certainly drop and staff work reduced hours, yet there were no dismissals.

The middle of the Thirties saw the company return to growth, and with that the expansion of its workforce. Marquardt now has 160 employees. But the Second World War brings with it new problems, as almost all of the company’s male employees working in construction and production are drafted into the German Army. Many of them don’t make it home. Which is why, Marquardt’s production operations are mainly maintained by women in the last years.

The end of the war sees all Marquardt offices occupied by the French commander’s staff. They are released again after half a year. Almost all of the fixtures, machines and tools are dismantled and taken to France. Marquardt lacks the technical foundations for production, the market has collapsed, and it looks like the end of the company. But damage caused during the war to electrical installations results in supply bottlenecks for surface-mounted light switches in French-occupied Germany and in France itself. Marquardt takes advantage of this need. Using the few machines saved from dismantling, Marquardt is the only company to produce toggle switches. This forms the basis for rebuilding the company.

Marquardt is the first German company to produce snap-action switches – one of many innovations that take the inner workings of electrical appliances to a whole new level.

Marquardt is expanding. A new branch plant is built in Böttingen, and the existing plant at the Rietheim headquarters is expanded too (1959).

The economic miracle also creates a booming market for electrical household appliances: Germans are keen to buy washing machines, refrigerators and televisions. Marquardt develops complete switching keyboards for washing machines for the first time.

A new generation takes control of the company: after Heinz Marquardt in 1949, his brother Erich Marquardt joins the management in 1965. Jakob Marquardt became managing partner in 1955 and was responsible for production and human resources. 1965 Ewald Marquardt follows as the last representative of the second generation.

An electronics pioneer: by setting up an “electronics laboratory”, Marquardt is laying the foundations for future product developments that complement conventional electro mechanics. The first electronic switches and assemblies roll off the line in Rietheim that very same year.

Marquardt invests in a modern training workshop in Rietheim.

The spirit of the Seventies doesn’t stop at switches: design is becoming more important, and smaller, more streamlined and illuminated components are in demand. With its new 1800 series of toggle switches, Marquardt is launching well-designed switches that will be produced in vast quantities in the decades to come. Furthermore, Marquardt breaks new ground with new technical solutions, including the launch of power tool switches.

The company is also a pioneer in social policy and occupational medicine, as sitting / standing workstations in the Assembly department, flextime, job sharing and a “housewife shift” are all set up. At 7%, the proportion of people with disabilities in the total workforce is well above the legally prescribed quota of 5%.

The entry into the automotive industry marks a milestone in the company’s history. Offering standard switches and customized snap-action and control switches, Marquardt is tapping into a brand-new market – and reaping the benefits of this strategy, which is fundamentally changing the company’s course. Now employing over 1,000 staff members, Marquardt generates an annual turnover of around 50 million D-mark.

The first foreign subsidiary, Marquardt Switches, Inc., headquartered in Cazenovia, New York, USA, is established. In a first step, the switches manufactured in Germany are sold directly on the market. In 1985, the first factory building was put into operation on site.

The takeover of the tool switch manufacturer, Russenberger, adds subsidiaries in France, Spain and Tunisia.

Manual functions in our vehicles, such as central locking systems, seat adjustment mechanisms and window regulators, are becoming increasingly electronic. This also increases the need for switches. The dust and water-protected snap-action switch series 1055 becomes the industry star of the nineties as the smallest switch Marquardt has ever developed.

New battery switches from Marquardt pave the way for battery-operated power tools.

By establishing the subsidiary Marquardt Switches Shanghai in China and a joint venture with an Indian switch manufacturer, RG Keswani, the Group is positioning itself as a producer and employer in the markets of the Far East.

Marquardt attracts attention in the automotive industry with a groundbreaking innovation. The company, which now employs 2,500 staff members, develops the first drive authorization system with an electronic key and ignition start switch; setting the new standard for theft protection.

The first Marquardt keyless system for cars is launched on the market. But at Marquardt, innovative strength isn’t just incorporated into product development; it flows into the production facilities too. At the company’s headquarters in Rietheim-Weilheim, a new plant for automotive systems goes into operation and serves as a model for further expansion with just-in-time production and optimized processes.

It is carving out a position for itself in a new market with various sensors for household appliances and high-gloss control panels in what is known as the “Black Panel” technology.

Meanwhile, in the automotive industry, the company is setting standards with the small 3006 switching module and the 1065 micro-switch. Marquardt is also entering a new field with “Shift by Wire”, the electronic pulse switch control.

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of energy efficiency in the home. Marquardt is helping to save electricity. The company brings complex electronics and motor controls for small household appliances and cleaning machines into series production.

Marquardt’s electronic steering column lock, which makes parking keyless vehicles safer, is launched on the market.

The first Marquardt touchpad, which for example can be used in vehicles’ center console, is produced.

Marquardt continues to invest in research and development. The new subsidiary, E&C Testlab GmbH, is established in Trossingen. The company focuses on measuring electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).

Marquardt’s new liquid-detergent dispensing system revolutionizes the inner workings of washing machines and dishwashers, as the dispensing pump precisely and fully automatically determines just how much liquid detergent is needed for each wash cycle, right down to the exact milliliter. 

A new series of ECO switches helps to save money. The energy-saving switch completely switches off devices in stand-by mode after a defined period of time (between 4 seconds and 71 hours). The 2720 series of switches is more compact than ever before, measuring a mere 20 mm in size, the switch is no taller than a 10 cent piece.

Marquardt is also leading the way with regard to the topic of the future: electro-mobility. Electric vehicles are benefiting from Marquardt’s new battery management systems.

Marquardt is making vehicle interiors more convenient. And more colorful to boot. Whether they prefer red, green or blue – multi-color lighting technology allows users to customize their cockpit.

Global competition and ever shorter innovation cycles are presenting companies with new challenges. Mechatronics, electro-mobility and digital networking are the future. At Marquardt, more than 10,200 employees at 21 plants worldwide are working on solutions that make all the difference. For industry and the end customer alike.