GERHARDI – An Innovative
Traditional Company
The origin of today's GERHARDI Kunststofftechnik GmbH dates back to 1796. When Gerhardi & Cie. was founded by Hermann Richard Gerhardi, the company as well as his nephew Caspar Gerhardi and Friedrich Nottebohm belonged to the pioneers in the manufacture of buckles made of brass and copper. Later, the product range was extended to the production of tea and coffee sets. In the years 1867 - 1871 the former co-owner Ruderus Steinweg bought the property at "Loher Waeldchen". This is where the production site started-up in 1879 and where the headquarters of the GERHARDI Kunststofftechnik GmbH still is found today.
In addition to continuous innovation, the company also had to put up with significant setbacks in the meantime. Large parts of the work were destroyed by a major fire in 1891. Another breakout of the fire occurred in 1906 and in 1940 half of the work was destroyed by an explosion.
In 1952, the changing demands of the market required the need for company expansion, The company was modernized and the focus was set increasingly on the production of products for the automotive industry. Due to increased production the plant in Ibbenbüren was established in 1970 when the first chrome-plated plastic part also came off the line.
In 1999 the former owners decided on selling Gerhardi & Cie to the company Lydall Inc. Gerhardi Kunststofftechnik GmbH was founded in 2000 by an MBO of today's management. In 2005, the former DGM was renamed to Gerhardi Galvanotechnik Werdohl GmbH and thus became 100% subsidiary of GERHARDI Kunststofftechnik GmbH. Another company growth was reported when GERHARDI Kunststofftechnik announced the majority participation in the injection molder Megatec in 2010.
