Schmitt + Sohn Aufzüge was established 160 years ago

This year, the family company Schmitt + Sohn Aufzüge will be celebrating its founding 160 years ago.

The history of Schmitt + Sohn Aufzüge began in 1861. This was the year Martin Schmitt founded the company in Nuremberg. The first lift was built in 1885. The first independent developments in lift building, such as drives, controls, cars and doors occurred in 1900. At this time, the company already had 130 employees. In 1906, it became a purveyor to the Bavarian royal household.

"M. Schmitt & Sohn" – the company adopted this trading name in 1918. In 1920, 300 new lifts were already being produced in Nuremberg annually and exported to Finland, Norway, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Czechoslovakia and Brazil. In 1945, Gerhart and Karl Schmitt began to rebuild the destroyed company.

Production of escalators commenced in 1952. "Schmitt & Sohn Elevadores" was established in 1963 in Portugal. The production of the first electronic controls began in 1971. Swiss Lift Electronic Schweiz was set up in 1974, which was specialised in building electronic controllers.

Sixth generation

Martin Schmitt founded the company in 1861. Photo: © Schmitt + Sohn Aufzüge

In 1988, the fifth generation assumed control of the company in the persons of Dr Johannes and Martin Schmitt. The international sales organisation was expanded under the trading name "Schmitt + Sohn". New companies were founded in the new German federal states, Austria and Czechoslovakia in 1989.

Schmitt + Sohn built its first lift without machine room in 2000. In 2010, the company already had 1,360 employees. Today, it is 1,900. Schmitt + Sohn builds 2,100 lifts annually. Apart from Dr Johannes and Martin Schmitt, the managing partners today also include Anna von Hinüber, Maximilian Schmitt and managing director Fritz Stahlberg.

On the occasion of its 160th anniversary, the company published a multi-part interview series with key persons from the company on its website and the social media channels.

More information: schmitt-elevators.com/inspiration