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100 years of TRUMPF

A story of innovation

Learn more about 100 years of TRUMPF

Founded in 1923, the name TRUMPF now represents the cutting edge in industrial sheet metal processing and laser technology. And for pioneering technologies of the future.

A conversation with our partners of the future

Starting with a look to the future: What affects and will affect the economic region, Germany and the world today and in years to come? What technologies will play an important role? From a Nobel prize winner to the CEO of Europe's most valuable technology company, these experts took time between November 2022 and February 2023 to discuss the future together, exclusively for TRUMPF.

Semi-conductor industry

Peter Wennink, President and CEO, ASML N.V.

Artificial intelligence

Dr. Feiyu Xu, Global Head of AI, SAP

Ultrashort pulse lasers

Prof. Dr. Gérard Mourou, Nobel Prize winner in physics

Baden-Württemberg, an economic hub

Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister of Baden-Württemberg

Social partnership
Germany as an economic hub
Disruptive technologies

Social partnership

Roman Zitzelsberger, District manager of IG Metall Baden-Württemberg

Germany as an economic hub

Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Lars Feld, Economist

Disruptive technologies

Dr. Miriam Meckel, Communication scientist

To the interviews

How it all began

The 1930s

Get started early if you want to become a sheet metal professional

The company grows rapidly and Christian Trumpf starts looking for a larger site. He strikes it lucky in Weilimdorf, at the time a suburb of Stuttgart. There, as well as flexible shafts, the company is also able to produce handheld tools for sheet metal working for the first time.

Heads

Leaders of the company

Many different people have influenced the fate of TRUMPF over the 100-year history of the company.

Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller

In 2005, Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller becomes President and Chairwoman of the Managing Board, joining her brother Peter Leibinger and husband Mathias Kammüller.

Berthold Leibinger

From 1978 to 2005, Berthold Leibinger is President and Chairman of the Managing Board and turns the "little factory" into a global player.

Hugo Schwarz

In 1953, Hugo Schwarz becomes a shareholder and commercial director and holds this position until 1978.

Christian Trumpf

Company founder Christian Trumpf hands over the reins to his godson, Berthold Leibinger in 1973.

Curve shears conquer the market

TRUMPF surpasses the one million mark in sales for the first time in the 1950s. This is ensured, among other things, by the TRUMPF TAS 4 curve shears. The stationary machine performs punching and nibbling processes. Soon after their introduction,the company has curve shears to thank for a large part if its turnover.

XXL holes

A brochure from the 1950s advertises the advantages of the all-rounder in terms of nibbling and punching.

TAS production

TRUMPF's curve shear production is so successful that the company opens another production site in Hettingen in the Swabian Alb.

Spade logo

In 1948, Christian Trumpf introduces the "Spade" logo that then goes on to represent the TRUMPF brand for more than 30 years.

Holes without a hitch

In 1957, TRUMPF patents the sheet metal coordinate guide. Thanks to this innovation, the machine operator no longer needs to guide sheets by hand. The coordinate guide allows for nibbling with millimetre precision and is the starting point for the numerical control of machines.

The 1960s

The nibbling king

Nibbling device

In the 1960s, the press crown TRUMPF the "nibbling king".

Bevellers

Alongside the nibblers, in 1963 the company launches a tool that prepares sheets for welding processes.

Customer Centre on four wheels

Thanks to the mobile Customer Centre, in the 1960s TRUMPF is able to perform on-site product demonstrations at the customer's premises.

From Ditzingen to the world

TRUMPF starts establishing foreign subsidiaries across the world at the beginning of the 1960s. For example in:

Switzerland

TRUMPF founds its first subsidiary in 1963 in Switzerland. A production site in Grüsch follows in 1982.

USA

In 1969, Berthold Leibinger opens the first non-European subsidiary in Farmington, USA.

Japan

In 1972, the first Asian site is established with "TRUMPF Japan Co." in Yokohama.

China

In 2000, TRUMPF founds its Chinese subsidiary in Taicang, near Shanghai.

On the road at trade fairs

USA, 1974

TRUMPF exhibits its numerically controlled punching-nibbling machine in Chicago.

China, 1981

In the early 1980s, green and brown tones dominate the stand design at the Shenyang trade fair.

China, 1985

In Shanghai, visitors to the TRUMPF stand are impressed by the quality of the power tools.

Greece, 1961

At the trade fair in Thessaloniki, flora and fauna set the scene for the power tools.

Germany, 1955

TRUMPF is represented at the trade fair site in Hanover from the mid-1950s.

Sales team, 1955

Christan TRUMPF (centre) and his sales colleagues pose in front of a TRUMPF building in 1955.

Germany, 1986

At the Blech trade fair in Essen, TRUMPF shows off with a sunny yellow stand design.

Step by step towards automation

The hole card takes over

The TRUMATIC 20 automatically processes workpieces using punched tapes for the first time. It is a sensation at the European machine tools exhibition in Paris in 1968.

Advertising through the ages

TRUMPF has been marketing its products with adverts and brochures since the 1930s.

Always a front-runner

TRUMPF spreads the word about its product range with this English-language flyer from 1969.

On your marks, get set, go!

This advertisement from the 1980s promotes the advantages of a TRUMPF punching machine.

TRUMPF copy nibbling machine

The TRUMPF logo in this advert from 1969 looks pretty in pink.

Double the power

This poster advertisement from the 1930s promises 100% more power.

Spoilt for choice

From 2012, TRUMPF offers its laser cutting machine with CO₂ or SSL lasers and advertises them with a striking poster.

We welcome the laser!

The 1980s

From the technology of the moment to an all-time favourite

In 1985, TRUMPF builds its own CO₂ laser, the TLF 1000. As early as 1986, the company decides to only use lasers manufactured in-house in their machines.

Changing times

The wall falls

In March 1989, Berthold Leibinger meets with Erich Honecker in Leipzig. At the time, TRUMPF was delivering machines to the GDR.

A spirit of optimism at TRUMPF

The company starts expanding its product range in the 1990s. Bending machines and laser tube-cutting machines complete the range of products for sheet metal processing.

TRUMPF in Saxony

Even before the fall of the Wall, TRUMPF had made contact with a "nationally owned enterprise" (VEB) that manufactured special machines. After German reunification and privatisation, the company "Sächsische Werkzeug- und Sondermaschinen GmbH" was founded in 1992 as a company of the TRUMPF Group. In the summer of 2001, the company was then renamed to "TRUMPF Sachsen GmbH".

Responsibility and sustainability

Promoting education and research

TRUMPF supports a wide variety of educational and research projects with the aim of creating enthusiasm for mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology and of advancing topics of the future.

Art & culture

From the Linden Museum in Stuttgart to arty lunch break for employees, TRUMPF promotes selected art and cultural projects, creating an environment for innovative ideas to have room to flourish.

Climate

TRUMPF has initiated the climate protection strategy "Climate Action 2030" for the entire value chain. It includes sites, products and the supply chain. TRUMPF is already producing on a carbon-neutral basis.

Today

Shaping tomorrow

3D printing, EUV, quanta and more

3D-printed components for particle accelerators, laser lights for the production of the latest computer chips or quantum technology - TRUMPF products are shaping the future, today.

A conversation with our partners of the future

What is in store for companies in the next 100 years? How can we be successful in the long term and what are the key technologies that will play a role? On the occasion of the centenary, TRUMPF is not only looking back, but also forward into the future and is posing these questions to scientists, politicians and managers.

Peter Wennink, President and CEO, ASML N.V.

We talk to the CEO of Europe's most valuable tech company about the semiconductor industry in Europe.

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Dr. Feiyu Xu, Global Head of AI, SAP SE

The AI expert classifies current trends and tells us what she thinks AI can do.

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Prof. Dr. Gérard Mourou, Nobel Prize winner in physics

The scientist sheds light on the potential of ultrashort pulse lasers for industry and medicine. He and his colleagues once laid the foundations for this.

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Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister of Baden-Württemberg

TRUMPF belongs to a strong network of large industrial companies in the southwest of Germany. We talk about the challenges and competitive advantages of the economic region with the Minister of Economics, Labour and Tourism for the State of Baden-Württemberg.

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Roman Zitzelsberger, District manager of IG Metall Baden-Württemberg

How much bureaucracy and how much dynamism does the state need? The trade unionist discusses this question in conversation with TRUMPF.

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Prof. Dr. Miriam Meckel, Professor at the University of St. Gallen

The communication scientist analyses disruptive technologies and their significance for Germany.

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Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Lars Feld, Head of the Walter Eucken Institute

From energy policy to mobility of the future - the economist addresses the pressing issues of our time.

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Downloads

TRUMPF anniversary press packet

We have compiled our milestones at a glance as well as historical images for you in our press packet.

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