The history of Hager Group

From then until today

Get to know all about the beginnings of the Hager Group and join us on a journey through time with the most important events of our company history!
Hager Group history_header_intro

A happy union

1926

By tying the knot in 1926, Luise and Peter Hager lay the foundations for what will become Hager oHG, which Peter Hager will later found with his sons, Hermann and Oswald. Today, we remember the two of them via the  Peter and Luise Hager Foundation, which supports charitable projects around the world. 
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Turbulent times

1926 - 1928

For many years, Peter supports the company started by his two brothers-in-law, the Schmitts. By the late 1920s, production conditions are difficult. And it is in these turbulent times that two boys are born: Oswald (1926) and Hermann Hager (1928) – the sons of Luise and Peter Hager.
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To be continued

1945

After the Second World War, economic control of the Saarland region, where the Hagers live, is taken from Germany and given to France (1947).
In the company, work picks up again. Luise and Peter Hager’s sons begin their studies. Oswald studies business management, while Hermann studies electrical engineering. To be continued ...
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First location in Ensheim

1954

To house their new company, the Hager family purchase the premises of another business that has closed down. The site covers an area of 12,000 m² and is located in Ensheim, in Saarland. They pay off the property in instalments, and Peter Hager and his sons restore the buildings with the help of a small team. Years later, Hermann Hager will say, “I still remember crouching on the roof, laying asbestos cement panels!” Soon afterwards, the small company begins to manufacture its products.

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1955

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The foundation stone is laid

By 1954, Hermann and Dr Oswald Hager have completed their studies and want to get a foot on the career ladder. Since the Schmitt brothers’ company is too small to allow them to do so, the two families divide it up. Ludwig Schmitt founds the company Sarel (waterproof enclosures). Peter Hager takes over the production of meter panels and distribution boxes, and, in January 1955, founds the company Hager oHG Elektrotechnische Fabrik in Ensheim with his sons. This lays the foundation stone for today’s Hager Group.
Hager Group Remington

Remington

The Hagers’ most important customer at this time is Remington, an electric shaver manufacturer based in Saarbrücken. At first, Hager only supplies single precision-turned components, but later it supplies almost the whole shaver from a single source. The company then expands its manufacturing portfolio by adding a new technology, producing parts made of injected plastic.

1957

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Jump to France

After Saarland becomes part of Germany and the border with France is closed, the company’s founders have a choice: let the French market go, or start up again from scratch on the other side of the border. They decide to start again in Obernai, a small town in Alsace where Hermann Hager sets up Hager’s second foothold from 1959 onwards. Dr Oswald Hager, meanwhile, looks after the main plant in Ensheim, as well as sales. The Hagers now feel at home on both sides of the border.
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The first logo

The Hagers make a bold statement: in 1957, they introduce the first logo for their young company.


Hanover fair

1959

In May 1959, Hager goes to the Hanover Fair in Germany to present its new development: meter panels with a Bakelite plate system. The start-up makes a good impression at its first public event, thanks to its innovativeness, warmth and hospitality. “At the Hanover Fair we had a stand of just 12 m²,” Dr Oswald Hager remembers. “But we served champagne and cognac to all visitors. A significant point that made us stand out from the competition.”
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Inauguration in Obernai

1962

Hager’s new French factory is inaugurated in the Rue du Général Leclerc in Obernai. The premises cover an area of 1,500 m². At the same time, the product portfolio is gradually extended. In order to better understand their customers’ needs, the Hager brothers travel around France with members of their team – just as they had done previously in Germany. In this way, Hager Group’s famous customer-oriented approach slowly becomes popular in France as well. 

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Customer centricity

1966

One approach is to listen to them very carefully. An even better way is to work closely with them. From 1966 onwards, the Hagers invite electrical installers to attend training sessions. It allows the technicians to become familiar with Hager products and the Hagers to work out how they can improve their products even more. This customer-focused approach becomes one of the main ingredients for Hager Group’s success. 
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Hager grows again

1970

At the beginning of the 1970s, the new Hager logo was used on all the company’s vehicles. Another milestone for Hager Group!
Hager Group history_header_intro

On y va !

1971

In France in the early 1970s, the construction market is in full swing. To keep up with the demand, the Hager brothers purchase some land in the new industrial park in Obernai to build a 2,700 m² factory. In 1972, a further 2,700 m² is added in a second phase.

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Customer proximity

1972

It wasn’t often that these men – and it was just men – gathered around the same table together. That is because the Hager sales representatives were usually travelling around the country, visiting and listening to those that mattered: our customers.
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Marketing in the 70s

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A strong hold keeps everything secure - don’t forget your Hager terminals!

Who says ads for electrical products always have to be deadly serious? Not Hager’s marketing team – they believe a baby baboon is just the thing to illustrate the advantages of a Hager terminal.
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“Who has the choice, has the agony”

You could say Hager’s advertising used to be terminally uninhibited. Could this kind of image (used to advertise terminals) ever work nowadays?
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Annual report

It’s not only Hager’s technology that is pioneering in the 1970s – the young company is also a trendsetter when it comes to its corporate image. In this era, Hager promotes its products by using ads designed by Robert Sessler, which are clear, structured and very eye-catching.  


Baroque house

1973

In 1973, 720,000 new buildings are constructed in Germany – an unprecedented number. The Hagers are also busy building: they extend their Ensheim factory by 2,000 m². The administration department moves into the restored “Barockhaus” (baroque-style building) in Ensheim, which used to be a monastery and belonged to the order of the White Canons. When the market for new homes collapses a year later, the young company is forced to switch to short-time working and lay off 70 employees.  

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In-house sales team

1980

In order to better serve its customers – electrical installers – Hager puts together a team of specialist advisers. The company’s external representatives are gradually replaced by an in-house sales team.

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Hager grows again

1982

The Blieskastel production site is built close to Ensheim and includes a state-of-the-art high-bay warehouse. The following year, a similar warehouse is built in Obernai. The first RCCB is also produced.

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Crossing borders

1990

As the Berlin Wall falls, Hager also crosses borders. In 1990, distribution centres are already being set up in the former East Germany. At the same time, Hager enters the UK, Swedish and Austrian markets, as well as other European markets. Which markets will Hager conquer next?


Within five years, Hager Group replaces 80 per cent of its products with new ones. The investments exceed 10 per cent of turnover. The company now has 4,500 employees and an annual turnover of 910 million DM. Every year over 8,000 installers from around Europe visit the factories in Obernai and Blieskastel.  



The whole world in focus

1994

Hager exhibits at a fair in Shanghai in 1994, as it is already planning to enter the Chinese market. The newly founded Anglo World & Overseas, headquartered in Obernai, oversees business in Africa. The Franco-German family business has become a company that has the whole world in its sights.

Hager Group History

Hager Tehalit Systems

1996

Hager Group is still growing – not only as a result of its own efforts, but also by taking over suitable companies and brands. One of them is Tehalit, which invented cable trunking and is a European market leader in this area. This allows Hager to strengthen its position in the area of commercial installations considerably.

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Hager goes east!

2003

The family-run company opens a subsidiary in Huizhou in southern China. Hager Group creates jobs for 350 employees in production and 150 in sales.

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Daitem

2004

With the acquisition of Atral (France), Hager Group enters the wireless alarm systems market. The Daitem 8000 (pictured) is the first completely wireless alarm able to operate for ten years on its batteries.

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Who would have thought it?

2005

This small family-run company has become a market leader – active worldwide – in the area of electrical installations! At Hager’s 50th anniversary celebrations, co-founder Dr Oswald Hager (pictured) has every reason to be proud. And Hager Group continues to grow during its anniversary year, acquiring brands including Amacher (Switzerland), STS Elettronica S.p.A. (Italy) and Tolmega (France). 
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Second Generation

2006

At a time when many companies are moving their plants abroad, we are investing in our home region: a new plant is opened in Blieskastel. In the same year, we acquire the German company EFEN GmbH, which specialises in industrial switchgear construction, and the French firm C.E.S., which produces metal cable trunking. 



We’ve reached the 10,000 mark!

2007

We’ve reached the 10,000 mark! Not long after the 50th anniversary, the number of employees at Hager Group reaches 10,000. Some of them work in Pune, India, where we opened a new plant this year. Our company starts to operate as a Societas Europaea (European company) – a clear commitment to our home continent.

Hager China

Daniel Hager

2007

Daniel Hager takes over, and the history of Hager Group’s second generation begins. The son of Dr Oswald Hager takes over the chairmanship of Hager Group in 2008, ensuring that the company is run in a way that takes the interests of the family and the employees into account.

Hager Group Daniel Hager History


Welcome to Hager Group!

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Berker

A major brand with a design focus joins Hager Group in 2010.
Since 1919, this family-run company from Schalksmühle has produced stylishly designed switches and plug sockets that were used by the founders of the Bauhaus movement. Berker’s range of award-winning designer switches make it an ideal addition to our product portfolio.

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Elcom

2012 we welcome Elcom, a company that specialises in door intercom systems, to Hager Group.
It means that wherever there’s an Elcom system, people can be sure of receiving a stylish welcome at the front door. A great addition to Hager Group!

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Bocchiotti

Another new acquisition! Bocchiotti, Italy’s market leader in the area of cable management and small distribution boards for domestic and industrial applications, becomes part of Hager Group. 
This enables us to build on our position within this segment in the French and Italian markets. At the same time, the takeover allows Hager Group to access the market in North America, a region in which Bocchiotti is also active.


Locate Solutions

2012

Our society is ageing, and nowadays there are many intelligent electrotechnical solutions that enable the elderly and those who need nursing care to live comfortably. One of the companies that develops and produces these technologies is locate solution GmbH, part of Hager Group since 2012. 

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Hager Services

2013

The acquisition of four specialist companies – Teles SA, Prodis, A.V.I Securité and a business segment of Artys – makes Hager Group one of the largest players in the French video surveillance market. This later becomes part of the portfolio of solutions of the brand Hager Services, which we are constantly expanding. 

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Hermann Hager

2014

Hermann Hager, co-founder of Hager Group, passes away at the age of 85. While his brother, Dr Oswald Hager, concentrated on the business side of things, it was Hermann, a qualified engineer, who was responsible for technological innovation. 
Hermann Hager / Hager Group


2015

hager group forum

Hager Forum

In July 2015, the Hager Forum in Obernai opened its doors. The 7,140 m² building, designed and built by Sauerbruch Hutton Architects on behalf of Hager Group, serves as a training centre, a visitor centre, an events space, a café and a modern workplace all rolled into one. But, above all, this open company forum is a place where employees, customers and partners meet to exchange new ideas.
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Research and Application Centre

What will our homes and workplaces look like in the future? And how can buildings provide their own electricity in an intelligent way? Hager Group’s new research and application centre in Blieskastel (pictured) provides forward-looking answers to questions like these. Designed to function as a sort of green power plant, the smart office building constantly analyses and optimises its energy consumption in an intelligent way. 


Congratulations!

2016

Guests of honour, friends, family members and Hager Group employees come together to celebrate the 90th birthday of Dr Oswald Hager (1926–2017). Together with his father and brother, he played a significant role in shaping the German and French electrical engineering sectors. His recipe for success? “We have always listened to the market and our customers.” Our company co-founder passes away just a few months after his 90th birthday.
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E3/DC product

2017

Energy storage specialists E3/DC

With E3/DC, Hager Group takes over one of the outstanding specialists for energy storage technologies on the German market. With its energy storage devices, it is an ideal complement to energy management systems, charging stations for electric vehicles and corresponding software from Hager Group.
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2018

Hager Group and AUDI AG team up

The development of intelligent energy management systems is one of Hager Group’s research focuses. An essential part of such systems in the future will be electric vehicles. Hager Group together with AUDI AG are therefore working on an automobile-home network that will connect electric vehicles, charging technology and home energy management.


Hager Group tops 2bn annual turnover

2019

For the first time ever, Hager Group’s annual turnover has exceeded the €2 billion mark, reinforcing the Franco-German Blieskastel-based company’s position as the leading provider of solutions and services for electrical installations. It’s a matter of special pride that 4.8% of this growth are achieved organically, mostly from our core business.

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A new company strategy

2020

We publish our new company strategy. Our objective: shaping tomorrow’s electrical world and growing in times of rapid technological innovation and intensifying competition. It is geared to keep us customercentric, independent, strong, and sustainable.
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Start of the new Business Unit Hager Energy

2021

On track with our new strategy, we start a brand-new business unit: Hager Energy. It is designed to combine our wide product range of charging stations as well as energy storage and energy management systems. The new unit will help us claim a leading role in the supply and management of renewables.

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“Without our courage we would not have achieved anything like the results we have today.”

Dr. Oswald Hager



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