Thomas Netzsch, a locksmith, and his younger brother Christian Netzsch, an engineer, set up their own business in 1873 in Selb, Germany making fire extinguishers. From there, Gebrüder Netzsch Maschinenfabrik went on to develop machines for ceramic production.
Today, Netzsch remains a family-owned company once again headed by two brothers from Selb: Moritz and Paul Netzsch. As the fifth generation of the Netzsch family of owners, they run the company along with CFO Jens Niessner.
Netzsch operates three business units: Pumps & Systems, Grinding & Dispersing and Analyzing & Testing. The company has around 210 production and sales locations worldwide.
“It is important to me that we have a stable, continued development of what we do today,” says Moritz Netzsch. “My wish is that, with all the reflection, with all the necessary rethinking and new thinking, we grow organically, and bring the company into the next generation stronger than ever.”
Netzsch has had its corporate history researched from a variety of perspectives for its 150th anniversary.
“Our history provides answers as to why we have existed for so long,” says Paul Netzsch. “Our slogan 'Proven Excellence' is no empty phrase. We can prove our excellence from our history. One can observe how we actively shaped entire industries over many years. Along with this, Netzsch has always been able to adapt to radical changes in the corporate world or in the marketplace. Sometimes this also meant that we had to drastically reposition ourselves.” After the Second World War, for example, potato washing machines were designed, and during the heyday of the porcelain industry, Netzsch built complete factories for the ceramic industry.
“We want to transfer this historically grown adaptability into the future as well,” explains Moritz Netzsch.
Important milestones in the company's history can be attributed to Erich Netzsch (1903–1990) and Thomas Netzsch (1946–2010). Both managing directors have shaped the company and brought it forward with groundbreaking decisions. The discovery and further development of the Mohno pump under Erich Netzsch and the intensive internationalization under Thomas Netzsch are just two examples.
“You can feel our Netzsch spirit at every location,” says CFO Jens Niessner. “Our values, the economic success, the perspective for the employees – this pairing sparks an aura that makes us competitive even in places where other companies with a high international profile are located.”
Netzsch Pumps & Systems has served markets worldwide for more than 60 years, providing customized, sophisticated solutions for applications in every industry type. Experts in complex fluid handling, Netzsch supplies Nemo progressing cavity pumps, Tornado rotary lobe pumps, and Notos screw pumps, Peripro peristaltic pumps as well as N.Mac twin shaft grinders, macerators, barrel emptying units, metering technology and accessories. With a workforce of more than 2,200, Netzsch Pumps & Systems is the largest business unit in the Netzsch Group, with annual sales of more than €380 million.
