Under the motto of "From tradition into the future", the tool manufacturer GEDORE of Remscheid in Germany is celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year, and looking back on the company's eventful and successful history. The family company has been producing high-quality tools, special tools and tailor-made solutions for versatile, safe and professional use by industry and trade since it was founded in 1919. With over 16,000 products, GEDORE today has one of the most comprehensive offers of any European tool manufacturer, and is one of the world's leading providers in the premium range.

The story of this international group's history began in the German tool-making city of Remscheid, when the three brothers Otto, Karl and Willi Dowidat laid the foundation stone on 15.12.1919. They decided to call their company GEDORE, an acronym based on the name GEbrüder (brothers) DOwidat REmscheid. With almost no capital at all, they built up a small tool factory and started making adjustable spanners, arc punches and other high-quality tools.

The tools quickly found favour amongst rapidly-growing trade and industrial companies and the early automotive industry. After only a short time the original smithy had become too small, and in 1926 the company relocated to Stursberger Höhe in Remscheid-Lüttringhausen – which remains its base to this day.

GEDORE grew dynamically throughout the 1960s. In order to keep up with the increasing demand, Otto Dowidat opted for a strategy that was almost revolutionary for the time and the industry and decided to expand abroad. New production sites were opened in Brazil, England, Austria and South Africa. During this time, GEDORE also promoted the development of innovations such as the DREMOMETER aluminium torque wrench. This competence continued in 1980 with the introduction of the first electronic torque wrenches.

Today the company is a global group with more than 2,300 employees in over 70 countries. Despite this tremendous growth, the company is still owned by the family: Karen Dowidat, granddaughter of the company founder Dowidat, has been the CEO since 2000. Together with her son Christian Dowidat, who was appointed member of the management board of GEDORE Holding GmbH by shareholder resolution with effect from 12.02.2019, the Dowidat family continues steadfastly along the path of earlier generations. Dr. Christian Dowidat has been with the company for five years now, and is preparing to take on the overall responsibility for it. He is in charge of the division "(B)usiness (I)nnovation (G)EDORE – BIG", and is continuing the company's long tradition.

With regard to an international brand strategy, managing director Chris Metzler has one clear aim: "We think globally, we act locally. All our global plans are shaped by a respect for regional differences and by a sensitivity for people's states of mind and expectations in different countries and cultural circles. We always base what we do on the requirements of our customers and the applications, and tailor the development – in many cases quite specifically – to them.

“GEDORE bundles the competencies of the entire group in order to provide all its customers with suitable, individual solutions for their problems. Since April 2017, GEDORE has had two brands on the market: GEDORE and OCHSENKOPF. The brand Gedore is divided into three lines: GEDORE, GEDORE red and GEDORE solid.

GEDORE stands for a universal, comprehensive offer of high-end tools, special tools and – by customer request – tailor-made solutions for the diverse, safe and professional uses required by industry and trade. GEDORE red stands for reliable professional tools at the upper end of the middle price segment, and combines the GEDORE quality claim and German quality standards (DIN) with the advantages of global manufacturing options. GEDORE solid, which is available on selected markets, stands for rock solid products at the upper end of the lower price segment, and combines German quality standards (DIN) with the advantages of global manufacturing options. The offer is aimed at price-sensitive tradesmen who require safe tools by a reliable brand.

As a successfully operating, future-orientated company, brand and customer proximity along with social responsibility are key features of the family company's culture and values system. “We firmly believe that every person in every part of the world who needs tools deserves to have access to quality tools. We want to feel responsible for this, and exactly this is what is facilitated by the new line under the GEDORE brand on every market ," explains Chris Metzler.

All over the world, "Made by GEDORE" stands for customer proximity, innovation, performance and reliability. Qualified staff, intelligent constructions, first-class materials and modern manufacturing methods will continue to be the foundations of GEDORE's quality promise in order to develop tools for life.

With regard to the digitalisation of the industry, the company puts its faith in workflow-optimised production processes and intelligently networked tools – such as the GEDORE E-torc Q/QR. The electronic torque wrench makes it easy to obtain and store measured data and to transfer this data by Wi-Fi and USB mini port. It sets standards in the fields of quality assurance and process optimisation.

"In order not only to keep pace with development it future, but in the best case to remain ahead of it, it is important to think from the customer's point of view and to offer them every solution from a single source," says Chris Metzler, with an optimistic eye to the future. “Our vision is that every person who has a requirement for high-quality, intelligently made tool-based solutions tools that support their safety will instantly think of GEDORE.“

Based on 100 years of experience and in line with its motto of "From tradition into the future," GEDORE will continue to follow the aim of providing people with high-quality products, excellent service, innovative solutions, commitment and passion.