2023

Lived to inspire - Eduard Spreitzer, who joined the company as managing director in January 1982 and turned it into an internationally operating family business through his visionary and consistent actions, passed away in 2023 at the age of 79. 

Under his leadership, Gruner continually developed new applications and products that today set industry standards. He was Chairman of the Board of Gruner AG until the end of 2018 and from 2019 Chairman of the Supervisory Board and advisor until his death. He also received the Staufer Medal in 2019 - a special, personal award for services to the state of Baden-Württemberg. Eduard Spreitzer contributed by many means to the local society, such as sponsoring different clubs and became one of five honorary citizens of Wehingen. 

With his death, we are losing a great personality whose work and actions have had a huge impact on us over the years and were always for the benefit of the company and all employees. 

2023

The new logistics center in Wehingen with 1,500 m² and over 4,000 pallet spaces is being completed. 

Commissioning of our own PV system on the roof of the company building in Wehingen. The annual electricity generation is optimally around 400,000 kWh. By taking this step, we are actively reducing our ecological footprint and committed to a greener future. 

2022

Expansion of the assembly plant in Serbia. The new production area is 4,000 m². 

2021

Gruner India Private Limited becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gruner AG.

This strategic acquisition enables more effective development of the growing Indian market. 

2019

Opening of the new plant in Tunisia.

Gruner AG is one of the TOP 100 German SMEs in relation to sales revenues, and it occupies a superlative place on the Handelsblatt ranking [a German trade journal].

2018

After 36 years as CEO, Eduard Spreitzer takes over as Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

Building of a new plant in Tunisia.

2016

Volume production launch of the world’s first relay specifically designed for applications in 48V lithium ion vehicle batteries.

2012

Expansion of the assembly plant in Serbia.

2011

The Innovation Prize for volumetric flow sensor G2

2010

Expansion of the Executive Board: Dr. Wolfgang Spreitzer and Patrick Spreitzer.

Construction of the new administration and development building in Wehingen.

Introduction of a new organisational structure. The Board of Management comprises Dr. Wolfgang Spreitzer, Patrick Spreitzer and Martin Spreitzer.

The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, criticises Chinese pirate copies of German products, and she names the Gruner high-current relay as just one example.

2009

New building at the Serbian location.

Production is commencing at the overseas plant in India.

2007

Volume production launch of the 750H battery isolator relay.

Expansion of the plant in Tunisia.

2006

ISO/TS 16949 certification.

The subsidiary in Serbia is founded.

2004

The product surface area in Wehingen is extended by 2,500 m² .

2003

Presentation of the first Gruner volumetric flow controller.

Further development of the 700 series of latching relays.

2000

Introduction of a flat organisational structure and a switch to group work based on sound scientific principles.

Wolfgang Gruner dies at the age of 89.

1999

First actuator with LON interface.

1998

Transformation of the business into a listed company.

Introduction of TQM in accordance with EFQM.

1997

Expansion of the production surface area in Wehingen, establishment of a new test laboratory and investment in the very latest CAQ tools.

1996

Certification in accordance with ISO 9001.

Maria Gruner dies at the age of 86.

1995

Implementation of a modern PPS and CAQ system.

1993

Market launch of the first latching type of relay for 100A.

Introduction of a networked CAD system.

1990

The H armature principle becomes the design concept across the board for latching relays. This concept and its reorganised, ultra-flexible production make Gruner the most significant manufacturer of latching relays for energy management for years to come.

Production and development of customer-specific magnets rises sharply.

Development of a new range of actuators for the HVAC sector.

1989

Conversion and modernisation of the administration building in Wehingen, and production surface area at the head office site extended by 1,200 m² .

1985

Market launch of the polarised 700 range of relays from Gruner.

1982

Eduard Spreitzer joins Gruner, the product portfolio is reorganised and streamlined.

1978

Intensive development of bistable remanence relays.

1977

Assembly plant constructed in Tunisia.

1972

Development of timer relays and electronic coin-operated time switches.

1970

Development of the first latching relay in the 500 series.

1962

Gruner uses the expertise gained from relay technology to diversify, and produces its first solenoids in-house.

1960

Three-floor extension for inventory and assembly.

1957

Two-floor extension and numerous new developments of customer-specific relays.

1955

New build.

Gruner produces its own actuators.

Production of motorised coin-operated time switches for televisions and program indexing units for washing machines.

Production of shaded pole motors and synchronous motors, grill gear units, reversing motor gear units for washing machines and gear units for medical appliances.

1953

Company founded in Wehingen by Wolfgang Gruner.

Start of relay production.

First in-house development: the 353 relay.