Heidenhain

Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH is a German manufacturer of mechatronic measuring instruments for length and angle of seat in the Upper Bavarian Traunreut; also CNC controls are made. The length and angle measuring systems are eg for use in automated machinery and equipment, in particular for machine tools.

History

The company has its origins in a founded in Berlin in 1889 Metallätzerei, which was founded by Wilhelm Heidenhain. This Metallätzerei made ​​next template, corporate and nameplates also scales. 1928 with Heidenhain the metallurgy method was developed and applied for a patent. This lead sulfide copying process made it possible for the first time the exact copy of an original division on a metal surface and allowed to use industrially. Died in 1932 the company owner Wilhelm Heidenhain and his son Dr. Johannes Heidenhain ( 1898-1980 ), who was already a partner since 1929, took over the management of the company. 1943 made ​​Heidenhain linear scales with a deviation of ± 15 microns and part circle slices with a deviation of ± 1 arc second. Instantly manufactures Heidenhain linear scales with measuring increments of 0.005 microns.

After the Second World War the company Dr. Johannes Heidenhain was founded (entry in the commercial register from 1 January 1947), was based first in Rain am Lech, but it was followed in 1948 the company moved to Traunreut. The invention of the Diadur process that allowed very fine structures of chromium on arbitrary substrates such as Glass applied. This used Heidenhain for the production of price-indicating weighing scales or writing discs. On February 28, 1950, the patenting of DIADUR procedure was performed. Based on the Diadur procedures were added to the program in 1952 optical position encoders for machine tools. 1961 followed photoelectrically scanned length and angle measuring devices. 1968 numerical position indicators were produced for the first time.

In 1970 the non-profit Foundation Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH was founded. Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH is 100% owned by the Foundation.

In 1976, the first Heidenhain CNC control has been developed. In 1987, the series introduction of a length scale with interferential scanning principle, the measurement steps allows up to one nanometer. 1997 was created with the EnDAT interface, a high-speed serial data channel for transmitting position information.

2005 supplement to the company museum was founded in the company's archives.

Company data

The company manufactures linear encoders, measuring inputs, angular encoders, rotary encoders, train control systems, Werkzeug-/Werkstück-Tastsysteme, digital readouts, and counter cards.

The Company holds a 100 % interest in various subsidiaries:

• MD Electronics GmbH, Waldkraiburg, County Mühldorf (manufacturer of cable assemblies for the automotive industry )
• RSF Elektronik Ges.mbH, Tarsdorf, Austria (manufacturer of length measuring systems )

Heidenhain early 2011, claims to sales offices in 50 countries and employs approximately 6,000 people, of which 2700 (as of 2007) in the main factory Traunreut, Germany. By early 2011, around 12.5 million lengths or angular encoders, digital readouts, and 450,000 over 220,000 CNCs were produced.

Others

• The Johannes - Heidenhain -Gymnasium in Traunreut bears the name of the company. The Foundation awards each year to a high school graduates of the school a scholarship that hedges a study of up to five years financially.