Rudolf Wanzl senior opens a locksmith's in Giebau (Sudetenland). It is expanded into a scale manufacturing business and agricultural machinery store with 20 employees.
New beginning after the displacement to Leipheim: Rudolf Wanzl Sr. and Jr. found a workshop for scale manufacturing and repair service.
Hand-made custom Wanzl shopping baskets are included in the first self-service pilot project in Augsburg. The opportunity presented by the self-service concept is recognised and the cornerstone is laid for the company's success.
Self-service begins to conquer Germany with wire products from Leipheim. The first self-service shop in Hamburg provides its customers with 40 ‘Pick-up’ shopping trolleys and 100 shopping baskets.
The first patent: the stackable shopping basket with hinged handle, the design of which remains virtually unchanged to this day.
The first Concentra shopping trolley with a fixed basket is patented. The company now employs 50 staff and achieves a turnover of DM 750,000.
74 employees primarily manufacture shopping baskets, shopping trolleys and sales equipment and achieve a turnover exceeding DM 1 million for the first time.
As fast as self-service spreads, Wanzl rapidly expands with it. 400 employees increase turnover to over DM 16 million. Many industries discover the benefits of the self-service system, and Wanzl produces numerous special products for them.
Several branches are founded – the first of these are located in the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, England, France and Belgium.
1600 employees in four German and one French production facility produce well over 1000 products for sale in more than 50 countries.
Plant IV in Leipheim, located directly beside the motorway, commences operation just at the right time to be able to supply orders on time for Germany's new federal states.
Wanzl can now plan and outfit supermarkets in their entirety with creative systems from the Shopfitting division.
The triumphant advance of self-service begins in Eastern Europe. Branches are established in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.
Turnover exceeds the DM 300 million mark for the first time.
The new Wanzl plant with administration and production is opened in the Czech Republic.
50 years of Wanzl – 50 years as a retail partner. In its anniversary year, Wanzl supports its trading partners with a seamless range of products for planning and outfitting supermarkets.
In the third generation, Gottfried Wanzl takes over the position of managing partner. Wanzl branches are founded in Spain and the People's Republic of China.
World record – annual shopping trolley production in Leipheim exceeds the one million mark for the first time.
Production of shopping trolleys is started in the Wanzl plant in Shanghai.
Further branches are founded in Italy, South Korea and Russia. The Passenger Handling Services division supplies airports worldwide with Wanzl luggage trolleys and systems.
The Logistics+Industry division taps into new customer groups outside of retail. Wanzl Australia Pty.Ltd. is founded in Melbourne.
Wanzl Hotel Service starts with an innovative product range for outfitting national and international hotels.
Wanzl celebrates ‘60 years’ and extends the production areas in the Leipheim plants II and IV. The new Wanzl plant with administration and production is opened in China.
Wanzl wins the ‘Bavarian State Quality Award’ in the Industrial Firms category. The new Wanzl branch in Dubai launches with the Shopfitting and Hotel Service divisions.
Founding of the Wanzl sales branch in Pune, India. Completion of the new administration building next to Plant IV with communication centre and exhibition rooms for all business divisions.
Systems for electroplating and surface coating are put into operation at the China plant. |
Rudolf Wanzl Senior opens a locksmith's in Giebau (Sudetenland).
New beginning after displacement: Rudolf Wanzl Senior and Rudolf Wanzl Junior establish a workshop in Leipheim for scale manufacturing and repair service.
Wanzl products are used in the first self-service pilot project in Augsburg.
The first “major order” is received from the Consumer Cooperative Society (Konsumgenossenschaft) in Hamburg. 40 trolleys and 100 hand baskets are ordered for the opening of the first self-service shop in post-war Germany.
The first patent: the stackable shopping basket with hinged handle, the design of which remains virtually unchanged to this date. To date, there are only 20 self-service shops throughout Germany.
The first “Concentra” shopping trolley with a fixed basket is patented. The company now employs 50 staff and achieves a turnover of DM 750,000.
The 200th self-service market opens its doors.
There are now 1,400 self-service shops, openings are increasing rapidly. The company’s workforce grows to 74 employees, who help to generate a turnover of DM 1 million.
Wanzl now employs 400 staff and turnover has increased to over DM 16 million.
New branches are founded in the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, the UK, France and Belgium.
In order to process orders from Germany’s new federal states in due time, Plant IV in Leipheim begins operation.
The Shopfitting business division is founded.
Branches are established in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. Group turnover exceeds DM 300 million.
The new Wanzl plant with administration and production is opened in the Czech Republic.
The third generation takes over, with Gottfried Wanzl assuming management of the Group as Managing Partner after 10 years as Managing Director. Branches are established in China and Spain.
Production of shopping trolleys is started in the leased Wanzl plant in Shanghai.
The Passenger Handling Services business division is founded, branches are established in Italy, Korea, Slovakia and Russia.
The Logistics+Industry business division is founded, in addition to a branch in Melbourne, Australia.
The Tango plastic shopping trolley is launched.
The Wanzl Hotel Service business division is added and a branch is established in Ukraine.
The production areas in the Leipheim plants II and IV are expanded. A new Wanzl plant with administration and production is opened in China.
The Wanzl branch in Dubai is opened.
The Wanzl CreativeCenter is opened. Wanzl Shop Solutions GmbH and a branch in India are established.
The Security Products business division completes the product range.
Systems for electroplating and surface coating are put into operation in China. |
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