From
1820
Leonhard Ullrich founded a trading company operating internationally
in Maikammer / Palatinate. Thirty years later, his sons Anton and
Franz were faced with an economic crisis. When Anton saw how a carpenter
made his cubit rule (a measuring stick, the length of the forearm),
he got his business idea. He connected several rules together to
form a handy new tool: the birth of the folding rule. |
From
1886
The Ullrich brothers connected the parts of the rule together with
a patented spring joint. In 1889, Gustav Ullrich, one of Franz’s
sons, founded the “Meter Factory” in Annweiler / Palatinate.
Rules, spirit levels, pipe levels and plumb bobs were exported as
far as the depths of Russia. |
From
1925
Patents secure a good position for the company. A complete range
of measuring instruments is produced under the motto “Small
But Fine”. Gustav’s widow Marie and son-in-law Eugen
Berthold lead the company through the turmoil of the World War. In
October 1945, the first tape measures and rules were produced again.
The company becomes the West German market leader and finds customers
overseas. |
1948
The founder’s grandson Günther Leipold takes over the
direction of the company as the personally responsible partner /
Managing Director. The "Meter Factory“ now becomes STABILA.
Pioneering developments subsequently follow in the field of measuring
instruments for craftsmen. |
1950
Numerous product innovations and the consistently high quality increase
demand both at home and abroad. The production technology is
continuously modernized. |
1954
STABILA invents the glass fibre measuring tape. |
1979
A patent still unsurpassed today provides spirit levels with life-long
accuracy: STABILA casts the vials firmly into the main profile. |
1980
STABILA is the European market leader in the spirit level sector
combining rules, spirit levels and measuring tapes. |
1988
Peter von Wedemeyer takes over as the company’s President and
CEO. Laser measuring instruments mark the start of the electronic
age at STABILA. The company establishes its own sales organization
in the USA. |
2000
Dr. Wolfgang Schäfer takes over as the company’s President and CEO.
Together with the management committee and a dedicated team of employees, he
leads STABILA to meet the new challenges. The development of new products and
production techniques and the sales and marketing activities are strengthened. |
The
Future?
STABILA is growing continuously and now supplies
customers in over 50 countries throughout the world. "We want to be the industry’s standard." This
ambition runs like a red marking thread through almost 200 years of company
history. |
