HARTING’s Vision

 “We Want to Become a Global Company.”

A global network stands for closeness to our markets and customers. We provide optimal solutions due to the networking and integration of all areas.

The corporate aim of the HARTING Technology Group is to:

Customizing Connector Solutions ‑ The HARTING Technology Group

The HARTING Technology Group is skilled in the fields of electrical, electronic and optical connection, transmission, and networking, as well as in manufacturing, mechatronics, and software creation. The Group uses these skills to develop customized solutions and products such as connectors for energy and data transmission. HARTING’s applications include mechanical engineering, rail technology, wind energy plants, factory automation, and telecommunications.

In addition, HARTING also produces electro-magnetic components for the automobile industry and leads the market in the field of electronic shop-and-service systems, such as vending machines for cigarettes, prepaid phone cards, and the associated management of supplies.

Major Products

Applications 

HARTING Sales and Organizational Structure

The HARTING Technology Group is headquartered in Espelkamp, Germany and comprises the holding company HARTING KGaA, independently operating and developing manufacturing companies worldwide, as well as sales companies.

Sales

Sales in the 2003/2004 business year: € 280 million

Organization

Workforce

HARTING staff holds the necessary competencies ‑ technical and professional competence ‑ paired with interpersonal, intercultural, and language skills to meet, and exceed, our customer’s needs.

Manufacturing locations - Five plants in Germany, one in Switzerland, one in UK, one in China, one in Romania.

Sales locations in 22 countries.

Contact Addresses:

Quotes of a Company Spokesperson:

Entrepreneur at the Helm of Espelkamp-based Company for 37 years, Dietmar Harting Celebrates his 65th birthday.

Referring to his untiring business and political commitment, Dietmar Harting states, "Resolute entrepreneurial action, long-term perspectives and networking with policy-making instances are essential in advancing innovations worldwide. Naturally, this not only involves impulses generated all over the world, but for myself, starts right here at the HARTING Technology Group. As an entrepreneur, it is one of my essential tasks to always generate new impulses for my company, and to motivate my staff."
 

Review of the Business Year 2003/2004

“We want to increase customer benefits by implementing technological change and progress,” as Dietmar Harting, president and partner of HARTING KGaA, cited the first company goal. “Thanks to the improvement of all company processes and by the focus of our staff on these aims and objectives, we have been able to make very significant progress.”

Summing up the situation of HARTING’s business year 2003/2004, the entrepreneurs Dietmar and Margrit Harting commented, "In the past year the development of the company moved in the right direction.” The outlook is on the optimistic side: “We hope to generate considerable growth. The orientation of the company gives us sound reason for this conviction.”

HARTING’s History

The Years 1945 – 1949
First Products, First Successes - Motivation In The Days Of The New Beginning

On 1st September 1945, Wilhelm and Marie Harting established the company, Wilhelm Harting Mechanische Werkstätten.

A small hall measuring around 100 square meters in a repair workshop in the town of Minden became the company premises. The production range mainly consisted of basic necessities such as energy-saving light bulbs, much sought-after hotplates, electric lighters, twin-plate electric cookers and irons.

The size and number of orders increased steadily, as did the workforce, which grew to 40 within two years. By then, the available production space was no longer adequate.

In 1947, HARTING moved its entire staff to the former military hospital for horses at the Simeon Barracks, in Minden. The company continued to grow and the plant expanded. A laboratory, test workshop, and design office were set-up.

The Years 1950–1958
Demand Increases – Production Grows

In 1950 HARTING, now with a staff of 180, moved to the flourishing refugee settlement of Espelkamp. Wilhelm Harting – Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Plant, Danziger Strasse, Espelkamp-Mittwald, was the new company address.

Several former ammunition stores provided temporary facilities while a 50,000 square meter modern plant was built in stages. High-performance drilling and grinding machines, punching machines, turning lathes and turret lathes, guillotine shears, and presses were installed.

During these years – the era of enthusiasm for technology – there was already a market for a little luxury. In 1954, Wilhelm Harting was commissioned to build a jukebox. Subsequently, production of gramophones and portable record players began. In addition, he surprised the market and his customers with the 12-record changer, while 1957 saw production of the first electromedical diathermy units.

The Years 1959–1969
Launch of Vending Machines - The Product Range Expands

In 1957 Wilhelm Harting founded the Picker & HARTING GmbH factory for X-ray equipment together with the proprietor of the well-known American company. The production range comprised the manufacture of the successful Picker X-ray apparatus and diagnostic units, as well as electromedical diathermy units from HARTING.

Another branch of production was added, which was to be of decisive importance for the company's growth. Electromechanical and electromagnetic components became known for high quality in expert circles. In 1959, HARTING became the first European company to produce electric cigarette vending machines. At the beginning of the 1960s, HARTING had started specializing in electromagnetic devices (lifting, turning and control solenoids), a wide but scarcely exploited field at that time.

When Wilhelm Harting died in 1962, his company already employed more than 700. After the death of her husband, Marie Harting took over management of the company, which she ran successfully and single-mindedly. Five years later, she received support from her own family when her son Dietmar joined the company, followed by his brother Jürgen two years later. Dietmar Harting, having graduated in Business Administration (Diplomkaufmann), took responsibility for commercial matters, while his brother Jürgen managed the entire technical side of the business up to his early death in 1973 at the age of only 32.

The Years 1970–1979
Expansion and Development in Espelkamp

On 1st October 1972, the company was converted into a limited liability company (GmbH). “Wilhelm Harting Werk für Elektrotechnik und Mechanik GmbH“ was the new name.

Ever since the 1970s, production of PCB connectors has been in full swing. In the middle of that decade, production and sale of jukeboxes ended, and the company focused on cigarette vending machines for indoor use and on connectors.

In 1979, a 50,000 square meter site was acquired on the Espelkamp North Industrial Estate and the first construction stage of Plant 2 was completed. An additional 53,500 square meters were added later. In the same year, the company was renamed “HARTING Elektronik GmbH“.

On 1st January 1979, the first European subsidiary was established in France, to be followed by others in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, China, Dresden, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Singapore, Spain, the Czech Republic, Taiwan, and the USA.

In the same year, HARTING became involved in the development and manufacture of components for fiber optic transmission systems with polymer fibers in machine control units. This marked the beginning of HARTING's investment in yet another innovation.

The Years 1980–1989
Expansion of Production – Worldwide

At the beginning of the 1980s, the automobile electrics sector was sold and a manufacturing plant established in Great Britain. Four years later, the second construction stage of Plant 2 in Espelkamp began.

In 1983, flat cable connector production was set up in Biel, the Swiss watchmaking center, a production building was erected, and two years later was enlarged with another construction stage.

In 1986, HARTING developed, produced and distributed the first electric outdoor vending machines, called “Semtron.“

In March 1987, Margrit Harting became managing director of the GmbH. In 1987, a combination connector, “Han Com“, was developed, which contained both electronic and power contacts.

The pièce de résistance in 1988 was the Canteen created in what used to be a Labour Service hut. Guests and staff were given a particularly stylish reception, and now it also gives all employees a pleasant atmosphere for their lunch break on the site of the main plant in Espelkamp.

On April 3, 1989, Marie Harting died. Together with her husband and sons, she had shaped the company's fortunes with her commitment, far-sightedness, wisdom, and devotion.

The Years 1990–1999
The Motto is: People – Power – Partnership

At the beginning of the 1990s, HARTING started developing and manufacturing a new metric system for PCB connectors.

The years 1992-1993 saw the launch of the innovative “Smokythek“, an electric cigarette dispenser for retail food shops, which is well received by both the German and European markets.

On 1st September 1995, the company's 50th anniversary was celebrated in style with a special concert. Minister-President Johannes Rau was the guest speaker. Two days later, the town of Espelkamp honored HARTING by renaming a street “Wilhelm Harting Strasse“.

From December 23, 1996, HARTING was converted into a company limited by shares but with general partners (KGaA). One year later, there was another technical and visual change when the first fully electronic outdoor vending machine, “VARIOTEC“, was demonstrated to customers at the Adlon Hotel in Berlin. In 1997, the slogan, “People – Power – Partnership“ was introduced.

At the beginning of 1998, HARTING took over the site and buildings of the Picker company with a production area of around 19,500 square meters. The same year, Dietmar and Margrit Harting were awarded the Federal Service Cross with Ribbon in recognition of all the work they do for various organisations on an honorary basis.

In 1999, the HARTINGs commissioned the world-famous Swiss architect, Mario Botta, to design a new distribution building in Minden. During the same year, Dietmar Harting was elected President of the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (ZVEI).

The Years 2000–2005
The HARTING Technology Group

The new millennium has begun with the orientation of the company as a Technology Group. HARTING adopting an organizational structure, which lends itself to fast and flexible solutions. Since 2001, six global business units and more than 20 sales companies have been dedicated to serving the customer.

Some outstanding examples of products aimed at enhancing customer benefits include industry-compatible solutions for Ethernet that extend from RJ 45-based connectors to complete cabling systems and active components, such as switches. Intelligent connectors and systems that provide flexible energy connections for manufacturing processes are also now featured in the HARTING product range, along with electro-optical connectors for high-speed data transmission.

In the field of vending technology HARTING is pioneering new electronic shop-and-service systems, such as the load & call mobile handset top-up system. Extending the Group’s skill base is bringing advances in the field of micro-technology and micro-packaging, such as the bonding of micro-chips.

In the spring of 2001, the German sales company moved into its new premises in Minden, designed by the leading Swiss architect Mario Botta. Early in 2002, Europe’s most modern vending machine plant was opened in Espelkamp-Isenstedt.