Terry DavidGerman companies are often among the world’s technology leaders in the field of machine and device construction. This also applies to Thermik Gerätebau. Thermik is a leader in the field of thermal protectors and serves customers all over the world. The company’s path to this position is closely linked to the history of its founders.
The beginnings of Thermik Gerätebau
The history of the company begins at the end of the 1960s in Pforzheim. Peter Hofsaess and Udo Wittek founded the company in 1968. They start manufacturing fuses for the electrical industry.
The company was given its name back then: Thermik. The logo, which is still used today, was also created during the founding phase. The two letters “H” and “T” were not chosen at random. They stand for the terms “Thermik”, “Temperatur” and the founder Hofsaess.
The business field is thus clearly defined from the outset and the company continues to follow this direction to this day. In the 1970s, Thermik then began manufacturing thermal protectors. These are still the company’s main business today.
Thermal protectors – small but important components
Thermal protectors are small and inconspicuous components. At the same time, they fulfil important tasks in a range of electrical appliances. For example, thermal protectors from Thermik can be found in electric motors, heaters and transformers. They ensure that appliances switch off automatically as soon as a certain internal temperature is exceeded. Numerous electrical appliances, from blenders to hoovers, have such components. They not only protect the appliance from permanent damage, but also minimize the risk of fire and thus increase safety.
Thermik Gerätebau specializes in particularly precise bimetal thermal protectors. Peter Hofsaess invented such an innovative limiter with a new design back in the 1970s. The two-disc design was an innovation in this segment of technology. The round and flat shape, which was previously unknown for thermal protectors, was also new. This enabled easier installation in electrical windings.
Thermik secured a patent for these bimetallic thermal protectors, laying the foundation for future success. In the 1970s, the company established its first connections with well-known electrical companies that purchased thermal protectors for their own products from Thermik.
Thermik works on its sales network and becomes an international group
While Thermik worked without its own sales network in the early years, a new era began in 1978 when Dipl.-Ing. Franz Meier joined the company. Thermik increasingly focussed on building up its own sales network. As a result, the company can be found more and more frequently at trade fairs and industry exhibitions. Thermik makes a name for itself there with its advanced technology.
At the same time, Thermik works on expanding its business field during the 1980s. For the first time, products are exported beyond the borders of Germany. During this time, the company’s own sales network was established, which after just a few years covered the whole of Europe. These efforts lead to a significant increase in Thermik’s brand awareness and turnover.
New production sites and the North American market
As business activities expand, so do the demands on production and sales. To enable shorter supply chains and get closer to customers, Thermik decides to set up a production facility in North America. The subsidiary in New Bern in the US state of North Carolina was established in 1984. Since then, the company has been producing solutions specially designed for the North American market at this location. This is particularly unusual because no other European manufacturer in this sector has dared to enter the North American production market to date.
However, the international development of new business areas was not yet complete. In 1993, Thermik Gerätebau expanded into the Asian market. With the founding of Thermik Technologies in Malaysia, the company gained a foothold in the important Asian market. Since then, the company has also been producing technology in Kuala Lumpur that is developed in Germany. Another Thermik plant was established in Romania, in Sibiu.
Expansion and restructuring in Germany
The expansion of the company also had an impact on operations in Germany. The original production areas had already become too small in the 1980s. To mark its 20th anniversary, Thermik moved into the new, larger and more modern production halls in Pforzheim in 1988, the first time that Thermik had planned and owned the building itself. The company thus laid the foundation for its future orientation, which focused more on the production of individual, customized solutions.
Reunification then further influenced the direction of the company. The subsidiary Thermik Thüringen GmbH was founded as early as 1990. The company chose Sondershausen as its location. Production began there a short time later in a converted former school building. A few years later, a modern production hall was built in Sondershausen and production was expanded.
New company management and the step into the 21st century
In 1992, company founder Peter Hofsaess dies unexpectedly at an early age. He is succeeded by his son, Marcel P. Hofsaess. This period is characterized by the need to restructure in order to position the company for the future. In this situation, Marcel P. Hofsaess demonstrates entrepreneurial foresight and manages, among other things, to successfully reorganize the subsidiary in the USA through changes in management. Marcel P. Hofsaess also followed in his father’s footsteps as an inventor. In 1993, he registered the first patent for one of his inventions.
In the technical field, Thermik continued to work on extending its technological lead. The high number of patents, which now exceeds 1,000, is just one proof of this. For example, the world’s first closed hybrid switch for in-winding applications was developed by Thermik.
Thermik is also expanding the area of customized developments. Here, development now takes place in close cooperation with customers. This leads to more efficient processes. In the 21st century, the energy transition plays a central role and influences companies such as Thermik. Sensitive electrical engineering is used in charging stations or wind turbines, for example. Precise thermal protectors are particularly important here to protect the sensitive and expensive technology.
In addition to innovation, high production standards ensure that Thermik also provides the right technological solutions for Green Tec and the future. Independent tests by the Fraunhofer Institute and other organisations confirm the quality of the manufacturer’s products. The numerous awards that Thermik has received, including German Standards and the CrefoZert award, are also a sign of this.
