History

Foundation of Elektrisola in Germany

Elektrisola was founded on 1 July 1948 in Eckenhagen, Germany, by Dr. Gerd Schildbach. His father, Dr. Ing. Richard Schildbach, already had been in the wire industry. He produced fine resistance wires and held the world record in drawing the finest wire (0.008 mm) in 1938. Based on this wire drawing knowledge, Dr. Gerd Schildbach started to design and build his own fine wire enameling machines. This own developed process technology later became a major contributor for the rapid growth of the Elektrisola fine wire production worldwide.

Italy: The first factory outside Germany

Expanding to new markets resulted in establishing Elektrisola Atesina, located in the Alp mountains in the German-speaking part of Northern Italy, starting production in 1964.

First factory in EFTA economic area

Between 1957 and 1960, Europe had been divided into 2 different blocks, EWG (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg and The Netherlands), which became EU in 1993, and EFTA (Austria, Denmark, Great Britain, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland), with duties levied for trading between those blocks. In order to serve customers in the EFTA zone, Elektrisola Feindraht, Switzerland, was founded in 1968.

Wire drawing factory in Italy

For expansion of the Italian production a second plant 15 km away from the first one started production in 1973 to have better access to workers close by. This company is specialized in wire drawing.

First factory outside Europe

In the 1960ties, Elektrisola had exported fine wires successfully to the U.S.A. With business growing, a plant in Boscawen, New Hampshire, was opened in 1976, which became soon the biggest fine wire factory in North America.

First sales company of Asia

Sales to Asia became a new challenge in the 1980ties. Therefore a trading company, Elektrisola Hong Kong Ltd., was founded in Hong Kong in 1984.

First factory of Asia

To support the fast growing Asian market with local production, Elektrisola (Malaysia) started operation in 1993 near Bentong, Malaysia.

Generation change in Management

Dr. Gerd Schildbach passes the management of the Elektrisola Group on to his sons, Dr. Detlef and Dr. Oliver Schildbach.

Sales office in Japan

With Japanese customers in Asia being major consumers of magnet wire, service at their headquarters in Japan was needed besides selling in Japan. Therefore Nippon Elektrisola was founded as a trading company in 1994 to serve the Japanese market and support Japanese based customers worldwide.

Expansion in North America with a factory in Mexico

Within North America in the late 1980ties industrial production started to move to the south of the U.S.A. and to Mexico. To supply these customers Elektrisola S.A. started operation in Cuauhtémoc, Mexico, in 1995.

Acquisition of ultrafine wire production from Huber & Suhner and from Polydraht, Switzerland

Trading Company France

After the decease of the Elektrisola agent in France, Elektrisola France took over the business of the agent northwest of Paris in 1999 as distributor and agent to sell mainly magnet wire.

Trading Company Korea

In 1999 Elektrisola Korea was established as a trading company to support the Korean market customers.

Start of taped, profiled and extruded litz wire in Elektrisola Eckenhagen, Germany

First factory in China

Within emerging markets, China became very important for the electronic industry. After importing enamelled wires to China since 1982, Elektrisola Hangzhou was set up in 2005 to supply customers in China.

More Sales Offices in Asia

For improving the service in Asia, the Thailand Representative Office was founded in 2005, Elektrisola Indonesia in 2006 and Elektrisola India in 2008.

Takeover of sales organisation in Italy

From Cofili S.r.l. and establishment of new office of Elektrisola in Biassone.

Start of litzwire production in Elektrisola Malaysia

Development of new conductor materials

for high strength, including High Tension Copper Clad Aluminium in Elektrisola Feindraht, Switzerland for use in enamelled wires and litz wires.

New hall for solar wires in Elektrisola Feindraht, Switzerland

Major expansion of Elektrisola Hangzhou in China

Start of litzwire production in Elektrisola Hangzhou, China

Takeover of Rea fine and speciality wire

Brazilian distributor Tecnofio established

Dr. Gerd Schildbach, founder of Elektrisola, passed away on 29th of September

Establishment of Elektrisola Medical Technologies (EMT) in USA

for Polyimide Tubing and specialty medical wires.

Acquisition of MWS

a speciality wire producer and distributor near Los Angeles, USA.

Major expansion of Elektrisola Mexico to support local market for automotive

Major expansion of Elektrisola Hangzhou, China

MWS new facility completed in Oxnard, California

Major expansion of litz wire production in Elektrisola Eckenhagen, Germany