GEDORE history and milestones
A small forge in Remscheid grows into one of the world’s leading tool manufacturers. For more than 100 years, GEDORE has stood for quality, innovation and the aspiration to create “Tools for Life”.It all began in 1919, when the three brothers Karl, Otto and Willi Dowidat established a small forge with virtually no capital, manufacturing adjustable spanners and other hand tools. They named their company GEDORE, an acronym formed from GEbrüder DOwidat REmscheid.
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More than 100 years of tool expertise
Since its foundation in 1919, the family-owned company has been dedicated to manufacturing high-quality tools, specialist tools and bespoke solutions for professional use in industry and the skilled trades. With more than 16,000 products, GEDORE now offers one of the most extensive ranges of any European tool manufacturer and is one of the world’s leading suppliers in the premium segment.
The former craft business has grown into an international group with more than 2,000 employees in over 70 countries. Despite this enormous growth, GEDORE remains family-owned to this day: in 2019, Dr Christian Dowidat became the fourth generation of the family to join the company’s management.
Highlights from GEDORE’s history
From a forge to a global company
GEDORE’s success story began on 15 December 1919. In the toolmaking city of Remscheid, the brothers Karl, Otto and Willi Dowidat established a small forge with virtually no capital, manufacturing adjustable spanners and other hand tools. They created the name of their company from their origins: GEDORE, an acronym formed from GEbrüder DOwidat REmscheid.
Relocation to Remscheid-Lüttringhausen
The high-quality hand tools quickly found buyers, both in the rapidly growing craft and industrial businesses and in the emerging automotive industry. Before long, the original forge became too small. In 1926, the company relocated to Stursberger Höhe in Remscheid-Lüttringhausen, which remains GEDORE’s headquarters to this day.
Expansion abroad
GEDORE experienced dynamic growth during the 1960s. To keep pace with increasing demand, Otto Dowidat took a step that was almost revolutionary for the industry at the time: international expansion. New manufacturing sites were established in Brazil, England, Austria and South Africa. At the same time, GEDORE drove forward groundbreaking innovations, including the aluminium DREMOMETER torque wrench. The company further expanded this expertise in 1980 with the development of its first electronic torque wrench.
Family-owned for generations
Today, GEDORE is an international group with more than 2,000 employees in over 70 countries. Despite its growth, the tool manufacturer has remained firmly family-owned. From 2000 onwards, Karen Dowidat, granddaughter of company founder Otto Dowidat, led the company as Managing Director and shareholder. Since 2019, her son Dr Christian Dowidat has been part of the management of GEDORE Holding GmbH, continuing the family tradition and guiding it confidently into the future.
Further topics
Portrait
Our GEDORE product line stands for a universal and comprehensive range of high-end tools, specialist tools and – on request – bespoke solutions for safe, professional use in a wide range of industrial and trade applications. The products represent the proven quality of GEDORE, which in some cases goes beyond the requirements of the relevant DIN standards.
Tool forge
Robots, automated production lines and high-performance computers alongside steel, heavy drop hammers, dies and glowing tool blanks. At the GEDORE tool factory, progress and traditional forging craftsmanship go hand in hand. Since 1919, this long-established manufacturer has been producing its tools at the Remscheid site, bringing together more than 100 years of forging expertise.