EKATO GROUP

1933 – A courageous step

At the age of 22 years Erich Karl Todtenhaupt takes the plunge into self-employment, and on May 28, 1933 founds the company EKATO Elektroapparate und Laboratoriumsbedarf in Düsseldorf. Initially he leads the company without further employees with the focus on “stirring and mixing”. The first products are laboratory stirrers and laboratory equipment for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry as well as for plants processing mineral oil.

1943 – Expansion and relocation

The company continues to prosper with the focus on “stirring” and is renamed EKATO Apparatebau. At the end of the 1930s, EKATO has 35 employees. Due to the war, in 1943 the company is relocated to Schopfheim, a town in southern Germany. Due to the proximity to Switzerland, companies of the Basel-based chemical industry can be won as customers.

1952 – Internationalization

Representations are set up in many countries. The product range is extended by a modular system for high-speed stirrers and patents for special designs are applied for. Since agitator seals purchased from the market do not fulfill the requirements satisfactorily, the decision is taken to develop own seals.

1960 – New administration building

EKATO grows steadily and now has 100 employees. A research and sales company is founded, EKATO Rühr- und Mischtechnik GmbH. In 1961 a new administrative and research building is inaugurated. The product range continues to grow and new solutions are developed in collaboration with customers in many large-scale processes.

1970 – Market leadership and a new generation

With 240 employees and as a specialist in mixing technology, EKATO is now the market leader in Germany. The second generation becomes active in the company. In 1974, the first foreign subsidiary is opened in France, followed by further subsidiaries in Europe. Adapted to special process requirements, EKATO offers optimized and patented impellers.

1982 – EKATO GROUP

The expansion into the EKATO GROUP begins with the founding of FLUID Misch- und Dispergiertechnik GmbH in Lörrach having the focus on the production and supply of standard agitators of modular design for industrial use. A few years later, the expansion into more distant markets follows with the opening of a subsidiary in the USA. With 370 employees, EKATO is now the largest specialist company for stirring and mixing in Europe.

1988 – Own sealing technology

Since the 1950s, mechanical seals are being used and form part of agitator technology. With the development of own seals EKATO is one of the pioneers in this field. The continuous growth of this business along with the already existing know-how lead to the foundation of ESD GmbH EKATO Sicherheits- und Dichtungstechnik. Even today, EKATO is the only agitator manufacturer that offers its own mechanical seals and their supply systems.

1991 – Most modern manufacturing facility

With the construction of the new manufacturing facility in Schopfheim, EKATO sets new standards introducing manufacturing and design islands for the production of industrial agitators. Meanwhile, the number of employees has risen to 490 and EKATO is the market leader in Europe. At the same time, the first edition of the EKATO Handbook of Mixing Technology, a compendium and reference book for the fundamentals of mixing technology, is published. In 2012, the third edition is published under the title EKATO. THE BOOK. 

2004 – World market leader

The expansion of the EKATO GROUP continues with the founding of EKATO SOLIDMIX GmbH, which specializes in the development and production of machines for solids processing. With the takeover of Haagen + Rinau Mischtechnik GmbH (UNIMIX), EKATO expands its business portfolio to cover process plants for the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry. In 2006, both companies merge to form today’s EKATO SYSTEMS GmbH. EKATO expands into the Asian market and with around 600 employees is now the world market leader.

2013 – Research & development

Continuous research and development, the focus always being on the perfect solution for the customer and the adherence to the highest quality standards, form the cornerstones of the corporate philosophy right from the very beginning. On the occasion of the company’s 80th anniversary, EKATO inaugurates a new administrative building with an affiliated state-of-the-art research center at its headquarters in Schopfheim. The production facilities are expanded by adding a new assembly hall for large units. 

2018 – 85 years EKATO

Over the past 85 years, EKATO has grown to be the world market leader in mixing technology and today offers optimized mixing technology for all process-oriented industries. EKATO has a global presence with 735 employees, international subsidiaries and a network of trading partners on all continents. EKATO continues to invest in its production facilities and is already planning a further expansion of its Schopfheim headquarters.