Where we come from
With pioneering spirit to success
Recognising opportunities, actively implementing ideas and always keeping an eye on the future - this has always guided Wilhelm Kern and his son Reiner in their everyday work and shaped the company's development. As early as the 1930s, Wilhelm Kern recognised that the spare parts business promised success in the emerging automotive boom and thus set the course for the HILGER&KERN GROUP. Even under adverse conditions, he retained his pioneering spirit after the end of the war and positioned the company for the future, later handing it over to his son Reiner. Reiner recognised the potential of dosing and mixing technology and set up the group of companies internationally. Our company is still family-run today. We are proud of that.
Where we come from
With pioneering spirit to success
Recognising opportunities, actively implementing ideas and always keeping an eye on the future - this has always guided Wilhelm Kern and his son Reiner in their everyday work and shaped the company's development. As early as the 1930s, Wilhelm Kern recognised that the spare parts business promised success in the emerging automotive boom and thus set the course for the HILGER&KERN GROUP. Even under adverse conditions, he retained his pioneering spirit after the end of the war and positioned the company for the future, later handing it over to his son Reiner. Reiner recognised the potential of dosing and mixing technology and set up the group of companies internationally. Our company is still family-run today. We are proud of that.
1927
The founding
1927
The founding
In 1927, Walter J. Hilger, a graduate engineer, founded a trading company near Heidelberg. In 1928 Wilhelm Kern joins the company as an employee. They successfully sell spark plugs, V-belts and paint spray guns made in America. In times of the emerging automobile boom, this turned out to be a successful business model.
1936
Take-over by Wilhelm Kern
1936
Take-over by Wilhelm Kern
After the death of Walter J. Hilger, Wilhelm Kern took over the company in 1936. The Hilger u. Kern GmbH was founded. He completely abandons the automotive spare parts business and concentrates his sales activities on supplying industrial companies. Because Hilger u. Kern had recognised the potential of drive belts: They were not only suitable for use in motor vehicles, but also excellently suited for power transmission in general mechanical engineering.
1940-1960
Leading V-belt supplier
1940-1960
Leading V-belt supplier
In the years that followed, V-belts and paint spraying technology brought the company more and more customers from general industry. Hilger u. Kern makes a significant contribution to the introduction of V-belts to industry and develops into one of the largest V-belt suppliers in Germany by the mid-1950s.
1976
Founding of DOPAG
1976
Founding of DOPAG
Hilger u. Kern has been active in the field of metering and mixing technology since the early 1970s. At that time, Reiner Kern was managing the company in the second generation. Together with three business partners, he founds DOPAG Dosiertechnik und Pneumatik AG in Cham (Switzerland). The core business initially consists of the production and sale of metering and dispensing valves as well as drum pumps for automotive suppliers. Numerous new product launches and the registration of various patents follow. The product range is expanded to include multi-component metering and mixing systems.
1989
Beginning of internationalisation
1989
Beginning of internationalisation
Since its foundation, DOPAG has been able to acquire important and international customers. Metering and mixing technology develops into the leading business area of the HILGER&KERN GROUP and also gains more and more importance internationally. In 1989, the expansion of the international sales network begins with the founding of DOPAG France. At the beginning of the new millennium, further branches are added. In 2004, DOPAG is founded in the United Kingdom and Italy. The USA followed in 2009 and China in 2010, and DOPAG India was established in 2014. In 2017, the group consolidated its successful sales activities in Eastern Europe, Mexico and South Korea through its own subsidiaries.
2014
Take-over of METER MIX
2014
Take-over of METER MIX
In 2014, the HILGER&KERN GROUP completed its product portfolio in the field of metering and mixing technology and took over METER MIX Systems Ltd. based in Rushden, Great Britain. METER MIX Systems produces metering and mixing systems for the manual processing of single and multi-components. Founded in 1989, the company is now the market leader in the UK. METER MIX is also continuously expanding its worldwide business.
2017
90 years HIILGER&KERN GROUP
2017
90 years HIILGER&KERN GROUP
In 2017, the HILGER&KERN GROUP celebrates its 90th anniversary. The main part of the business activities of the internationally positioned family company is in the field of metering and mixing technology. For both the DOPAG brand and the METER MIX brand, the group of companies is further strengthening its worldwide activities in the coming years. In addition, DOPAG is further expanding its range of automated dispensing systems. For all customers in Germany, Hilger u. Kern Industrietechnik offers individual advice as well as an extensive product range from the areas of drive and vibration technology as well as industrial electronics.
2021
Securing the future through digitisation
2021
Securing the future through digitisation
The HILGER&KERN GROUP is going digital in all areas of the company. A customer relationship management system networks our branches worldwide. We are also connected to our customers online via our online shops. We have developed the LifeCycleLogger 4.0 for online process monitoring of our dispensing systems and metering components. It enables comprehensive online diagnosis of the machine status, increases production safety and supports predictive maintenance.
