Discover 130 years of history

Stäubli Horgen

Only four years after Rudolph Schelling and Hermann Stäubli founded the company, they move to a new production facility in Horgen.

Today, the Group is still represented at the founding location by Stäubli AG, the Swiss location for Fluid Connectors and Robotics.

Mechanical engineering innovations

After the invention of the first weft-logic dobby by Stäubli, the first paper-card dobby is developed. This sets the starting point for many more forward-thinking solutions for the textile industry. 

Expansion to France

The Stäubli Group begins to expand and builds its first production site abroad in Faverges, France. This will only mark the beginning of Stäubli’s global expansion.

After the death of co-founder Rudolph Schelling, Hermann Stäubli's brother Robert becomes a partner of the company, which is then renamed Stäubli Brothers & Co. In the same year, the Group develops its first dobby with interlocking drive for card cylinder.

30 years of experience

Stäubli builds the first dobby with an eccentric drive rather than a crank. At the same time, the first cam motion mechanisms with lifting blades driven by cam discs are developed. These innovations give the weaving mills incomparably greater flexibility and facilitate the production of more items without special machines.

Ahead of competition

In order to produce bordered fabric, Stäubli develops the first two-cylinder paper card dobby. Furthermore, the first mini-Jacquard machine for name and label weaving is made.

Weaving innovation

The Stäubli Group invents the first synchronized negative dobby operating in the correct sequence of picks from any machine position.

First positive dobby

Stäubli presents its first dobby with positive movement without any backlash. This is a further step for the Group to become today's leading supplier of technologically advanced machinery and equipment for the textile industry.

Start of the Connector activity

With the Stäubli Group's irrepressible will to continuously improve technology, the diversification into hydraulics and pneumatics starts. This marks the beginning of the production of quick couplings.

Safety push button

Thanks to the Stäubli founders’ strong drive for innovation and continuous research to provide top-quality services with high safety measures, the Group introduces the first quick-release couplings with a safety push button worldwide.

New location in Bayreuth

The Group acquires the dobby factory Erich Trumpelt, which was founded in 1954 in Bayreuth, Germany, and renames it Stäubli & Trumpelt. This marks the official start of Stäubli in Germany. Combining the Group's long-standing experience with the location of the production site results in great success within the textile industry.

Multi-connection

By inventing the first multi-coupling systems, Stäubli offers an all-in-one solution. With this invention, more and more media can be coupled in rapid sequence. Additionally, Stäubli engineers develop a safeguard against the recoil effect when disengaging couplings providing greater safety. 

Establishment of Stäubli Corporation USA

After being represented in the USA since 1954 by the HJ Theiler Corporation, Spartanburg, South Carolina, the Group decided to open its own sales and services office, Stäubli Corporation, in Duncan, South Carolina.

First non-spill couplings and start of Robotics collaboration

Stäubli introduces non-spill couplings for hydraulic circuits.

To further diversify the Group’s portfolio in the domain of industrial automation, a collaboration with Unimation Inc., a renowned American manufacturer of articulated robot arms, naturally follows. In the same year, the SCARA robots, which Stäubli develops and produces itself, also enters the market.

Jacquard weaving

With the aim of growing further, Stäubli prepares the acquisition of the traditional Jacquard machine companies Verdol SA in Lyon, France, and Tagliabue Bros. In the same year, the Group develops the first electronically controlled rotary dobby including a programming system.

Electronic Jacquard controller

The Stäubli Group continues to grow in the textile industry and launches its first electronically controlled Jacquard machine named CX 860.

Start of Robotics activity

Recognizing the promising opportunity, Stäubli acquires the American company Unimation Inc. from the Westinghouse Corporation. After the purchase, the Group starts to produce its PUMA articulated robot arm in Telford, UK.

Weaving preparation

The acquisition of Zellweger Weaving Systems follows. At the same time, the development and production site in Sargans is purchased. Due to these two acquisitions, Stäubli is able to provide increased flexibility and productivity in weaving.

China

Southeast Asia becomes an important sales market. Stäubli establishes an assembly plant in Hangzhou, China. It is the first production site of the Group outside of Europe. 

Carpet weaving

The acquisition of German carpet weaving machinery manufacturer Schönherr, founded in 1852, follows. This purchase allows Stäubli to guarantee sales of cam motions, dobbies and Jacquard machines in a special division.

Electrical connectors

The Stäubli Group accomplishes its next promising acquisition: The purchase of Multi-Contact, a manufacturer of electrical connection systems, founded in 1962 in Basel, Switzerland.

The Multi-Contact Group specializes in high-quality electrical connectors (with louver technology) of all kinds. It is an excellent addition to Stäubli’s already existing Fluid Connectors business.

Technical fabrics

Shortly after, Stäubli launches its UNIVAL technology, offering customers virtually unlimited flexibility to weave the most sophisticated technical fabrics.

SCARA 4-axis robots

With the purchase of the robotics activities of Bosch-Rexroth, Stäubli accelerates its development. By expanding the Stäubli range with SCARA robots from Bosch-Rexroth, the Group aims to become a global supplier capable of providing a complete line of products including 4- to 6-axis robots, which are known for their precision, quality and performance.

Electronic controllers and drives

Stäubli acquires the Italian engineering company Deimo S.p.a, specializing in electronic drive and control systems. The Group starts developing automation solutions under the Deimo brand for all types of drive systems and specialized knitting applications.

Deimo electronic drive and control systems offer high performance as well as flexibility and enable automation of the increasingly complex production processes of modern circular knitting machines.

Photovoltaics

The inauguration of the new Research & Development (R&D) and production facilities for Photovoltaics in Essen, Germany, follow shortly after. Stäubli has continuously been developing automation solutions for these forward-looking industries in order to allow its customers easier and safer work.

Furthermore, Stäubli establishes its Connectors Division Business Unit in Russia.

Growth in the USA

30 years after the founding of the initial plant in Duncan, South Carolina, a major extension of the existing facilities was inaugurated. Today, the Stäubli Duncan location manufactures products from all four Divisions of the Group.

Electrical Connectors USA

Stäubli Electrical Connectors (formerly Multi-Contact USA) moves to Windsor, California. With over 50 years of engineering and design experience, Stäubli Electrical Connectors has established itself globally as an innovative industrial and mechatronic solution provider for high productivity and safety.

New offices in India

To further strengthen Stäubli's market presence in India, a new building is inaugurated in Mumbai. The Group continuously drives its geographical expansion.

China

Stäubli's production site in Hangzhou, China, has grown with increasing success over the years. Consequently, Stäubli establishes a new extended site in Hangzhou in 2013.

Today, all four Divisions of the Group are represented in China providing Stäubli products, technologies and services to the Chinese and Asian markets.

Sock knitting

The Stäubli Group acquires the patent D4S for fully automated sock manufacturing driven by Deimo controllers.

The D4S technology is based on a revolutionary idea for automatically linking socks directly on the knitting machine. Once the D4S is installed on a knitting machine, adjusting to different gauge ranges is fast and easy.

Electrical Connectors, further expansion and rebranding

Stäubli's new Electrical Connectors Division is founded.

In the same year, the Group also further expands in Asia by opening a sales office for Connectors and Robotics in Bangalore, India.

Lastly, the two corporate brands Schönherr, manufacturer of carpet looms, and Deimo, automation solutions provider for drive systems and specialized knitting applications, rebrand as Stäubli.

Turkey and Thailand 

After 20 years, Stäubli Istanbul moves to a new building. The Unit in Istanbul provides support in all four Divisions of the Group.

In the same year, Stäubli opens a branch office in Thailand. There, full sales and support for Electrical Connectors as well as Fluid Connectors are offered. 

125 years of Stäubli

The Stäubli Group is proud to celebrate its anniversary. Over the course of 125 years, a workshop in Horgen, Switzerland, has grown into a leading global industrial and mechatronic solution provider. 

Rebranding

In the same year, Stäubli rebrands and its Multi-Contact subsidiary becomes Stäubli Electrical Connectors. Since then, the specialists in electrical connector systems have been officially operating under the name Stäubli Electrical Connectors.

Expansion in Vietnam

In order to optimize customer proximity and strengthen Stäubli's marketing activities, the representative office at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is established. Accordingly, the Group is able to provide close support to the Vietnamese customers of the Stäubli Textile Division.

20th anniversary of Stäubli Hangzhou Ltd.

Stäubli Hangzhou, China, celebrates both its 20th anniversary and the 125th anniversary of the Group. At the same time, Stäubli Hangzhou inaugurates a new building.

Acquisition

The Stäubli Group acquires RS Roman Seliger Armaturenfabrik GmbH, based in Norderstedt, Germany. RS Roman Seliger provides over 100 years of experience in fluid connectors for various industries. With the RS Roman Seliger high-diameter couplings, the Stäubli connector portfolio is perfectly complemented.

Expansion in Germany

By acquiring a 70% stake in the WFT GmbH & Co. KG, based in Sulzbach-Rosenberg, Germany, Stäubli is able to further strengthen its Robotics portfolio.

WFT is a specialist in mobile platforms. With a patented drive for omnidirectional maneuverability, intelligent software, premium quality and robustness, WFT's automated guided vehicles increase productivity and improve safety.

Fourth site in North America

Stäubli opens a training facility and service center in Novi, Michigan, USA. The facility provides support for the Group’s customers in all industrial sectors with a special focus on the automotive industry.

New location in Spain

Shortly after, Stäubli Española moves into a bigger office in Sabadell that features extended training facilities.

Today, the team of Stäubli Spain represents all four Divisions of the Group.

New office in India

Stäubli Tec Systems India opens an additional office outside of New Delhi. The Stäubli team supports the customers of its Fluid Connectors Division as well as the Renewable Energy business of its Electrical Connectors Division.

Stäubli Hamburg GmbH

One year after the acquisition of Roman Seliger Armaturenfabrik GmbH, the company is now officially registered as Stäubli Hamburg GmbH.

The RS-product range provided by Stäubli Hamburg GmbH is an excellent addition to the Group’s Fluid Connectors product portfolio.

New location in Slovakia

The Stäubli Systems office in Komárno, located on the Slovakian-Hungarian border and serving both countries, moves to a new location. Now, the location features a new Robotics training facility, extended offices and a meeting space as well as a local warehouse and workshop.

Enlarged office in Bucharest

In Romania, the Stäubli Systems office in Bucharest supporting both Romania and Bulgaria is expanded. In the new office, a dedicated training area as well as a meeting space are now available. 

Stäubli Romania relocates to Sibiu

As the Group’s activities in Romania in the Electrical Connectors, Fluid Connectors and Robotics Divisions are growing and in order to facilitate further development, Stäubli relocates its Romanian office from Bucharest to Sibiu.

Stäubli Benelux is growing fast

The Benelux team moves to a new office building, which accommodates a showroom, office spaces and meeting rooms, as well as a warehouse, training facilities and a repair shop.

New building in Pardubice

Due to the Group’s continuous growth, Stäubli Pardubice constructs a new office building featuring extended facilities including training and application rooms, as well as a showroom to demonstrate its proud history.

Stäubli Pardubice has been responsible for managing the company’s regional Electrical Connectors, Fluid Connectors and Robotics Divisions for Central and Southeast Europe since 2005.

Expansion in North America

Stäubli opens a new office in Cypress, California, to accelerate growth in North America and provide local presence to customers. The new facility is part of the Stäubli Corporation in Duncan, South Carolina, and represents the Electrical Connectors, Fluid Connectors and Robotics Division.

Further growth in China with Yinhai Campus

The Stäubli Group inaugurates the Yinhai R&D and Intelligent Manufacturing Base next to its production site in Hangzhou, China. The new buildings, covering an area of 25,000 square meters, allows Stäubli to better serve its Chinese customers by localizing the assembly of its product lines. This includes scaling up the production of the MC4-Evo 2 PV connector as well as TS2-60 SCARA industrial robots, among other products.