StarragHeckert Holding AG
History
1862
In Geneva Switzerland the physicist Auguste De La Rive and the botanist Marc Thury founds their own business - named "Société Genevoise d'Instruments de Physiques". Historie
1885
In the German federal state of Saxony, the"Chemnitzer Velociped-Depôt Winklhofer & Jaenicke" - precursor of the world-famous "Wanderer Werke AG" - is founded. Historie
1897
In Rorschacherberg (CH), Henri Levy founds his own business - named "Mechanische Werkstatt Henri Levy " (Mechanical workshop Henri Levy) from 1901 - with the purpose to manufacture and market automatic threading machines for the textile industry. Henri Levy
1899
Wanderer starts the series production of milling machines.
1902
The first Wanderer 1.5 hp motorcycle is built.
1904
Wanderer delivers first "Continental" typewriting machine.
1911
Completion of the first subcompact car "Wanderer-Püppchen" (two-seater with 1,15 l four-cylinder engine und 12 hp braking power).
1914
With the outbreak of the first World War, Wanderer has to convert their peacetime production to wartime production. At this time, more than 3,000 people are employed.

The textile industry in Eastern Switzerland is hit by a severeeconomic crisis.
1916
First ten-digit "Continental" adding machine.
1917
Levy builds turret and center lathes.
1920
The first RIGID milling machine with a closed frame construction is launched on the market.
1921
The company is renamed "Starrfräsmaschinen AG Henri Levy" and finally "Starrfräsmaschinen AG"(1925).
1932
The Wanderer motorcar department is taken over by the Auto Union AG (today Audi).
1934
Wanderer is Europe's largest milling machine factory and also the largest office machine company. Staff amounts to approx. 5,000 employees.
In Rorschacherberg, approx. 400 people are employed.
1936
Introduction of the first STARRAG copy milling machine. Copy milling technology enables Starrag to penetrate the increasingly important market segments of turbine, aircraft and mold and die manufacture.
1944
Between 1936 and 1945, production of both Wanderer and Starrag is focused on military technology. During World War II, approx. 9,000 people are employed in Chemnitz. On September 11, 1944, production facilities are almost completely destroyed in an air raid.
1946
Wanderer works take up production under improvised conditions and manufacture 38 milling machines.
1949
Wanderer employs 253 people again, Starrag approx. 700.
1959
Starrag delivers the first 5-axis milling machine of the wold.
1962
Starrag equips its first copy milling machine with numercial control driven by a magnetic tape. Starrag staff amounts to 1,200 people.
1968
In Chemnitz, the VEB Werkzeugmaschinenkombinat "Fritz Heckert" (machine tool combine) is founded, i.e. a group of 21 different machine tool companies with more than 20,000 employees. The former Wanderer works become its headquarters.
1973
Starrag delivers the first 5 axis/3 spindle copy milling machine for titanium helicopter engine impellers to Rolls Royce.
1975
In Chemnitz, the first FMS (Flexible Manufacturing System) of the world, named "Prisma 2", is put into operation.
1978
The American subsidiary "Rigid Machine Tool Inc." is founded in Rye, N.Y. In France and the UK, Starrag already holds own sales offices.
1989
First high-speed milling tests with speeds of up to 80,000 rpm at Starrag. With 4,300 employees, the Heckert "headquarters" are the largest machine tool company in the Eastern bloc.
1990
Under control of the Treuhand-Anstalt Berlin (Trust corporation), the "Heckert Chemnitzer Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH" is founded.
1992
In Chemnitz, the first CWK 400 to CWK 1600 machining centers are designed and built. Maschine
1993
Heckert is taken over by Traub AG.
1996
The bankruptcy of the parent company Traub AG leads to the liquidation of Heckert.
1997
The "Heckert Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH"is re-founded.
1998
The shares of the Starrfräsmaschinen AG are listed on the secondary market of the Zurich Stock Exchange.

Inauguration of sales offices in Moscow and Shanghai.

Heckert Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH Chemnitz (198 employees) is taken over by Starrfräsmaschinen AG Rorschacherberg.

Starrfräsmaschinen AG is renamed "STARRAG". The different company names "La Rigide" and "Rigid", which are still used worldwide, are replaced by one single name: "STARRAG".

At the end of 1998, 625 employees are part of the Group.
1999
Start of joint development work on the platform strategy.
2000
Introduction of the SKM 400 kinematics machine (tripod).

The StarragHeckert Group is re-structured under the holding company StarragHeckert Holding AG, Rorschacherberg.		 Maschine
2001
Market introduction of the first generation of platform machines: The former ZT range is replaced by the STC 1000, while the HEC 1000 substitutes the CWK range of heavy-duty machining centers. STC 1000
2002
The two companies within the StarragHeckert Group are renamed StarragHeckert AG (in Rorschacherberg) and StarragHeckert GmbH (in Chemnitz). All products are sold under the brand name "StarragHeckert". The Group employs approx. 730 people worldwide.

In the United Kingdom, the former representation of Heckert products is taken over with 32 employees and renamed "StarragHeckert UK Ltd.". At the same time, StarragHeckert acquires 40% of the equity of the British software development company "TTL".		 Standort TTL
2004
The StarragHeckert Group has undergone a restructuring based on customer-orientated Business Units along with the necessary support structure.
2005
Starrag-Heckert acquires a controlling majority of the British company Toolroom Technology Limited (TTL), a global market leader in providing advanced machining systems for the repair of aircraft engine componenets. Therewith Starrag-Heckert offers its customers additional services in milling technologies.
2006
Starrag-Heckert acquires all assets of SIP (Société d'Instruments de Précision SA) in Geneva, Switzerland, and its subsidiaries American SIP and SIP China. This merger with the renowned manufacturer of ultra-precise machine tools and coordinate measuring systems for customers in the aerospace and precision machine building industry will lead to extensive synergies.
 
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