Milestones in HÄNDLE’s history
From workshop to leading global partner of the ceramic industry

FROM MACHINE SHOP TO FULL-FLEDGED FACTORY

The HÄNDLE era began in 1870 at a machine shop-cum-smithy set up by a young master machinist by the name of Karl Händle in a rented workshop in Dürrmenz, Germany, near Mühlacker.

1870

Master machinist Karl Händle founds his own company in Dürrmenz

1905

New factory building with railway siding erected next to railway premises in Mühlacker

1922

Construction of a casting shop

1947

Addition of a pilot plant and laboratory

1977

Construction of a production facility to house the machine production capacity

1985

Closure and conversion of the casting shop into a central spare-parts store

1993

Construction of a new machine assembly hall with approx. 1,000 m² floor space

2011

Expansion of the assembly hall to accommodate larger machinery

2014

New logistics center with 1,540 m² high-bay magazine for 3,500 Euro pallets

ESSENTIAL INVENTIONS AND SYSTEM DESIGNS

Turning the de-airing pug mill into a combined de-airing extrusion unit turned the company itself into a leading manufacturer of ceramic processing machines.

1890

Construction of the company’s first brick press for a neighboring brickyard

1906

Invention of a mixing box feeder

1930

Delivery of HÄNDLE’s 1000th box feeder

1937

Completion of the company’s 1000th extrusion machine
Development of the de-airing pug mill into a combined de-airing extrusion unit

1965

Construction of the first de-airing stiff-extrusion unit

1978

Construction of the world’s largest pan mill for the ceramic industry

1988

Construction of Händle’s 5000th extruder

1992

Development of bucket-chain excavators

1999

Appearance of new-generation roller mills: high-performance ALPHA II fine roller mills

2000

NOVA II revolving press enables first pressing of large-format roof tiles with 5 pcs/m²

2003

Progressive development of the WEGA high-tech turntable pressing system

2009

Takeover of excavator program and production of first longitudinal-dredging excavator in Mühlacker

2012

120 years of HÄNDLE extrusion technology
Extension of the Futura II extruder line

2014

Portfolio rounded out by inclusion of ZMB BRAUN and KAMPEN shaping & molding tools

2017

Development of the NOVA III roof tile press with eccentric cam