160 years of liveable buildings: GEZE celebrates its anniversary
160 years, six generations, one vision: creating liveable buildings – then, now and in the future. The company that began as a craftsman's shop in 1863 in Göppingen has developed into a global technology company. Today, GEZE is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and service partners for innovative, modern door, window and safety technology. The successful family business has enjoyed an eventful past, and looks forward to an exciting future.
Growing older – staying young.
“Our 160 year anniversary is an important moment for GEZE and another milestone in our history. We are proud of our employees’ outstanding performance and of the consistency that we have demonstrated as a company over 160 years,"says Andrea Alber, Chief Officer Corp. Strategy & Marketing at GEZE.
Our 160 year anniversary is an important moment for GEZE and another milestone in our history. We are proud of our employees’ outstanding performance and of the consistency that we have demonstrated as a company over 160 years.
Andrea Alber, Chief Officer Corp. Strategy & Marketing at GEZEGEZE honours long-serving employees at anniversary celebration
This year's jubilarians were specially honoured as part of the staff party celebrating the 160th anniversary. © GEZE GmbH
The company anniversary was celebrated in a big way with all German employees at the company site in Leonberg. © GEZE GmbH
The 160th anniversary celebration, held in July, highlighted the key role that employees play in the company. This year's 43 long-serving employees were also specially honoured during the employee party – 34 of them for their 25 years of service and 9 for their 40 years of service. "Over 40 or 25 years of service, each of the honourees has followed and demonstrated our idea of innovation and helped actively shape GEZE’s development. The extraordinary commitment and loyalty of our employees have played an important role in the company’s 160-year success story", says Sandra Alber, Chief Officer Legal & Finance. The company anniversary was celebrated together with all employees from all German sites at the headquarters in Leonberg. In addition to tasty street food, the celebration offered a colourful variety of games, fun, entertainment and music – completely in line with the anniversary motto “Growing older – staying young.”
The extraordinary commitment and loyalty of our employees have played an important role in the company’s 160-year success story.
Sandra Alber, Chief Officer Legal & FinanceSetting new standards with a pioneering spirit and force of innovation
What began as a craft business in 1863 has evolved into a global technology company.
From a craftsman's shop to a technology company, from ski bindings to automated technical building systems: GEZE was born from the company Göppinger Dreherei Vöster & Co., founded in 1863. By merging the company with the united building fittings factories Vereinigte Baubeschlagfabriken Gretsch & Co. GmbH in 1924 Reinhold Vöster paved the way for the family business today. Under his technical leadership, the product range was modernised and expanded: building fittings, hardware for sliding doors and GEZE's legendary ski bindings were the greatest successes of his time.
In 1968, his granddaughter Brigitte Vöster-Alber became the chair of the board of management. She acted as the driving force behind the company's process of growth and internationalization, which continues today. With a pioneering spirit and force of innovation, the company is setting new standards throughout the industry. In 1980, Vereinigte Baubeschlagfabriken Gretsch & Co. GmbH became GEZE GmbH. Hermann Alber was named Managing Director Technics at GEZE GmbH in 1984. Since 2020, the company has been led by Andrea-Alexandra Alber, Marc Philipp Alber, Sandra Daniela Alber and Tomislav Jagar. Today, the family business is a global market leader for innovative products and system solutions in door, window and safety technology, and is making a key contribution to driving digital networking forward in building automation.
“The 160-year history of our company clearly shows how we have reinvented ourselves over time” says Marc Alber, Chief Officer Product Development & Operations. “However, our focus on innovation, quality, and direct contact with our customers has never changed. Our goal is to design liveable buildings alongside our customers. That is why we would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers. Without you, we would not be where we are today. Your needs and wishes are at the heart of everything we do and drive us to new levels of excellence time and time again”.
However, our focus on innovation, quality, and direct contact with our customers has never changed. Our goal is to design liveable buildings alongside our customers.
Marc Alber, Chief Officer Product Development & OperationsGEZE is focused on the future
On the occasion of its 160th anniversary, GEZE looks back on a successful past, but above all into an exciting future.
On its 160-year anniversary, GEZE looks back on a successful past and forward into an exciting future. “Continuously advancing new developments and technologies is part of our DNA”, explains Marc Alber. “Digital networking is playing an ever more important role in this, and will be a driving force for innovation and progress in technical building systems as well”.
GEZE demonstrates its innovation and creativity not only through its technology, but also through its focus on sustainability. “At GEZE, we understand that buildings will make a key contribution to reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions for the long-term. That is why smart and energy-saving solutions are our focus, and that of our customers, more than ever before” says Sandra Alber, Chief Officer Legal & Finance. To ensure products themselves are created in a sustainable way, GEZE is investing continuously in improving and converting internal processes to achieve more sustainability.
More about sustainability at GEZE
Download sustainability report (PDF | 3.23 MB)An interactive, multimedia way to experience GEZE
Customers, partners, and stakeholders can learn even more about the history of our company and our milestones on a microsite created for the anniversary.
Discover more about GEZE's history herePress information
Download Press material (ZIP | 27 MB)
For editorial questions:
Jonathan Wurster
thepublic GmbH
Tel.: +49-151-14648048
E-Mail: geze@thepublicpr.com