Immediately after the Second World War, the brothers Kurt Andreas and Ernst Schmersal founded a company which initially built components used in the production of lifts. In 1947 they began the production of mechanically-operated electrical control devices.
1950's
The product portfolio was continually widened. Many of the control devices were used in safety-relevant applications, e.g. in zones subject to explosion hazards.
1960's
The trend to internationalisation was recognised early. Schmersal founded subsidiary companies in important markets abroad.
1970's
As one of the first companies in this field, Schmersal began the development and manufacture of electronic proximity switches.
1974
The ACE Schmersal Ltda. was founded in Sao Paulo/ Brazil as a sales and manufacturing unit. ACE Schmersal today has about 200 employees producing safety control devices for the South American market.
1982
Generation change: The cousins Stefan and Heinz Schmersal took over responsibility for the management of the enterprise. Safety in System: Protection for Man and Machine determined the thoughts and actions of the company - with success.
1994
Schmersal took over steute Schaltgeräte GmbH in Löhne.
1997
Schmersal took over the Elan Schaltelemente GmbH & Co. KG in Wettenberg from the Schunk Group.
1999
A manufacturing location in Shanghai/ China went into production, primarily supplying electrical control devices for lifts to East Asian markets.
2004
In 2004, Heinz Schmersal became the sole shareholder of K.A. Schmersal GmbH; steute was taken out of the Schmersal Group and continued within the company family. The new orientation of the Schmersal Group: focus on three lines of business:
Lift technology
Automation technology
Safety technology
2007
Inauguration of the tec.nicum training centre. Expansion of the production plant in China, where already more than 100 staff members are employed.
Today
As a partner of the machine and plant manufacturers, the Schmersal Group is present worldwide and offers a complete range of safety control devices, which are developed and manufactured in the various competence centres of the group. The innovations of the Schmersal designers improve not only the safety level of machines and plant but also the productivity of the equipment.
