User:Chjomewa/E.G.O. Blanc und Fischer & Co Gmbh

E.G.O. Blanc und Fischer & Co .GmbH  The “E.G.O. Group”, with its headquarters in Oberderdingen, is a supplier for manufacturers of household appliances. The company supplies heating and control elements needed for cooking and baking, washing, drying, and for dishwashers. In addition to the products for household appliances, E.G.O. also supplies components, systems and complete appliances for the restaurant industry and professional laundries, and components for medical technology, building services and the automotive industry. E.G.O. now has 19 companies and a presence in 16 countries. With over 5,600 employees around the world, the company generated a turnover of EUR 526 million in 2012.

History
In 1925, the “Schwarzwälder Zangenkontakt Werkstätte Oberweiler” was founded by Karl Fischer. The company initially designed and produced electric plugs, power sockets and cables with 7 staff. In 1927, the company was renamed Elektro-Gerätebau GmbH Oberweiler. The product range now comprised single and double hotplates, electric stoves, electric ovens and hot water boilers. After a brief exchange of correspondence and a subsequent meeting with the founder of the company BLANCO, Heinrich Blanc, he became an equal shareholder. In September 1931, production was relocated from Oberweiler to Oberderdingen. From this point on, E.G.O. concentrated on the manufacture of components for electric stoves, such as hotplates and switches. In 1938, E.G.O. already employed 250 staff. Through continuous expansion of its business activities at home and abroad, the number of employees grew to today’s figure of approximately 5,600: In 1960, the first location was founded abroad, in Novara in Italy, and it still exists today, although not as a production company but as a sales company. France followed in 1962, then Austria in 1968 and Switzerland in 1969. Cooperation agreements were concluded with companies in what are now Slovenia and Croatia in 1968 and 1971 respectively; those companies were integrated into the corporation a long time ago. The first overseas locations followed in 1979 in the USA and South Africa. In 1989, the site in Turkey was established; China and Spain followed in 1998. The newest locations in the E.G.O.-Group are in Poland (2004) and Mexico (2008). The Chairman of the Management Board is Dr. Johannes Haupt. The other managing directors are Dr. Karlheinz Hörsting and Benno Rudolf. Since 2010, the company has been entirely in family ownership once again. In 2009, the family shareholders bought back the shares previously sold to a holding company.

Strategic business areas
E.G.O. has been developing, producing and supplying products for technological components, stoves, tumble driers and many other appliances for the home and for professional applications since 1927. The company also works in other sectors, such as the medical and automotive industries. The four strategic business areas are currently:

Appliance Heating
This division comprises all products for heating household appliances and has been a core activity of the E.G.O.-Group since 1927. Its traditional areas include hotplates, radiant heating elements und tubular heating elements. Future areas are induction hotplates and thick film heating elements.

Appliance Control
This division comprises all products relating to control systems and regulation of heat. It includes traditional electro-mechanical controls, such as switches, energy regulators and thermostats. Electronic controls and systems, i.e. Touch Controls, gas applications, system products for washing, drying and washing dishes are among areas for the future.

Building Technology
This covers control and network solutions for buildings and technically innovative solutions for heat pumps and heat exchangers. The latest smart home applications for energy-efficient networking of household appliances are offered in this business area. Electrical installation materials are also produced.

Industrial
In the field of industrial applications and in other sectors, the E.G.O.-Group meets special requirements and offers solutions in the fields of material processing (e.g. vermiculite applications), automotive (e.g. wheel cores, brake lines), medical and advanced process technology.

Product history
In addition to the market launch of the electric hotplate with a regulator switch in 1931, the company has developed and produced other important products. Well-known products include
 * 1938 The “single-plate cooker”: A cost-effective starting point for cooking with electricity in the home.
 * 1957 Tubular heating elements fitted mainly in ovens and washing machines to heat food or water.
 * 1958 Hotplates with built-in temperature protection to prevent overheating.
 * 1972 Contact heating elements for ceramic glass stove tops.
 * 1978 Radiant heating elements for ceramic glass stove tops.
 * 1985 Thick film heating systems.
 * 1992 Induction heating systems.
 * 1994 Touch control user interface.
 * 2004 Electric motor control for washing machines, dish washers and driers.