1949 – A stitch in time
Walter Wittenstein and Bruno Dähn found DEWITTA in Steinheim near Heidenheim, Germany. The company’s main focus is the production of double-thread chain stitch machines for making gloves.
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The 50s – From Steinheim to Bad Mergentheim
The premises in Steinheim are no longer big enough, and in 1952, DEWITTA moves to Bad Mergentheim. The first production site is an old barracks, which was originally intended only as an interim solution. Production of the glove sewing machines booms – both domestically and, increasingly, for export.
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The 60s – Quality prevails
The DEWITTA glove sewing machines feature many practical innovations and are regarded as extremely precise and reliable. It is therefore of little surprise that DEWITTA massively expands its development and production capacities. In 1963, the company moves to a new location on Herrenwiesenstraße in Igersheim.
The 70s – The company realigns itself
In the 1970s, fewer and fewer women are wearing gloves. The company founders monitor the change and consistently focus on new markets. They utilize the technical expertise of the employees, and the company begins producing explosive-actuated tools for steel nails, machines for filling and sealing tubes and for packaging sliced loaves, among other things.
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The 80s – Sewing machines give way to gearboxes
As early as 1979, Manfred Wittenstein, the son of one of the two original founders, takes over responsibility in the family business and also the management of the company. Soon after, he transforms the production program: low backlash planetary gearboxes become the organization’s unique selling point and celebrate their world premiere at the Hannover Messe in 1983. Manfred Wittenstein relies on experienced employees and the proven production techniques from the sewing machine and special machine construction to produce them. He is so successful that in 1984 – in cooperation with the Fellbach-based company Bastian – an independent company is founded in the form of alpha getriebebau GmbH – now WITTENSTEIN alpha GmbH.
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The 90s – Global provider of servo drive technology
In 1990, assembly is completely relocated to Weikersheim. At the same time, the era of the DEWITTA sewing machines comes to an end. The entire product range is sold with all spare parts, milling machines and fixtures. In the mid-90s, WITTENSTEIN builds its new headquarters on a greenfield site in Igersheim-Harthausen. Administration, production and the logistics center are located here. The Igersheim plant continues to manufacture and process gearbox housings, drive shafts and motor mounting parts. The production of toothed wheels continues in Fellbach.
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The 2000s – Ready for global challenges
In 2001, WITTENSTEIN GmbH & Co. KG becomes WITTENSTEIN AG, taking over the strategic leadership and control of the entire WITTENSTEIN group. This creates the framework within which the then eight strategic business fields can develop. In 2008, WITTENSTEIN establishes a new uniform brand presence worldwide with the slogan “WITTENSTEIN– one with the future.” In Igersheim-Harthausen, the talent arena is inaugurated as an innovative training center.
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The 2010s – Preparing for the future
On May 23, 2014, the WITTENSTEIN Innovation Factory is opened. Development, sales and production are closely interlinked on an area spanning some 18,000 m2. The entire value creation process – from the idea to the finished product – takes place within a radius of 30 meters. In 2015, WITTENSTEIN presents its revolutionary drive technology at the Hannover Messe with the Galaxie® drive system. Thanks to the unique kinematics, the Galaxie® hollow-shaft compact drives and gearboxes achieve previously unimaginable performance data. WITTENSTEIN receives the prestigious HERMES AWARD 2015 for its world first.
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The 2020s – WITTENSTEIN remains in motion
In 2022, the new WITTENSTEIN logo sculpture is unveiled at the Harthausen site. On the same day, the shareholders of WITTENSTEIN take the next step as a family business: Dr. Anna-Katharina Wittenstein moves from the Management Board to the Supervisory Board of WITTENSTEIN SE. Dr. Manfred Wittenstein steps down as Chairman of the Supervisory Board and becomes Honorary Chairman of the Board. The products which were originally purely mechanical have long since become mechatronic and are constantly evolving. WITTENSTEIN shapes the world of cybertronic drive technology and equips its products with artificial intelligence, for example.
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