Hofmann GmbH Maschinenfabrik und Vertrieb (Abbreviated: HOFMANN GmbH) is a family-owned German company, based in Rellingen. That develops, produces and distributes road marking machines.[4][5] The company was founded in 1952 in Hamburg.[6]

Hofmann GmbH
Company typeGmbH
IndustryMechanical engineering and vehicle engineering[1]
Founded1952 in Egenbüttel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
FounderWalter Hofmann
Headquarters,
Germany
Key people
Frank Hofmann and Jan Philipp Hofmann[2]
ProductsRoadway marking machines and complementary products
Number of employees
100[3] (2015)
Websitehofmannmarking.de/en/

History edit

Walter Hofmann (1907–1999), the company's founder, began by designing and constructing Agricultural machinery,[7][6] in 1962 Hofmann purchased property in Egenbüttel (now Rellingen).[8] The company moved three years later.[7][better source needed]

In 1955 the company introduced its first special machine to the market: the Rolling disk marker unit.[9] It has since developed quite varied machines, components and systems that differ in their dimensions, drives, application systems, environmental compatibilities, functions and technical performance data.[10] In this context the company applied for a number of patents in painting and spraying technology.[8][4][11][12] Moreover it repeatedly expanded the Company grounds.[7]

In 1982 the registered merchant enterprise became Walter Hofmann GmbH.[7] In 1992 the founder quit his job as managing director of the company, and his son Frank Hofmann took over.[13]

In 1990 the Rellingen company acquired the Quickborn-based company S+S Gesellschaft für Sicherheit auf Straßen m. b. H. Herstellung und Vertrieb von Straßenmarkiermaschinen, which is also active in the road marking technology.[7] Twelve years later the two companies merged completely,[14] ever since (2002) the company acts as Hofmann GmbH.[7] At the beginning of 2008, Jan Philipp Hofmann, grandson of the company founder, entered the management.[15]

The first decade of the 21st century was characterized by a pronounced growth. Thus the number of employees increased from 67 (end of 2000)[4] to 100 (mid-2011).[16]

[17][18] In March 2009, the VDI nachrichten listed the company 37th of the fastest-growing small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany.[19]

In 2012 the company developed the first line width stabilizer. In road-dependent airless-spraying, it automatically keeps the line width variance within narrow limits.[10]

The present edit

 
Street marking machine from Hofmann (Model H26-4), May 2017

Products from the company are distributed worldwide in 132 countries (2011).[16] The company supports its global Sales and Service with a network of more than 60 partners and extended partners.[20] The export share of the turnover is about 90 per cent.[3][4][9][5]

The machines are predominantly used for marking public roads as well as airports (apron and runways). They are also occasionally used on company premises and stadiums.[8][21] In its special market segment with about a dozen suppliers,[9][17] the Rellingen supplier is considered the market leader.[6][9][22][8][5][16][23]

The company portfolio[24] includes roadway marking machines from manually operated devices via ride-on machines in the mini tractor format to trucks with special bodywork.[4] Also offered are special accessories and equipment such as drying machines, demarking machines, trailers or line graduation electronics, moreover cookers for the material to be applied. The form, material, width and pattern of the applications are varied.[25][26]

Since 2001, the Hofmann GmbH regularly organizes technology days on its Rellingen premises. This event is considered an in-house and trade fair for an audience consisting of representatives from manufacturers, suppliers, associations, authorities, customers and scientists.[22][27][21][28][29]

References edit

  1. ^ For vehicle manufacturing see Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt: Verzeichnis der Hersteller von Kraftfahrzeugen und Kraftfahrzeuganhängern – alphabetisch – Stand: 15. Januar 2017. SV 3.1, page 56. The manufacturer key number awarded by the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt is 6450.
  2. ^ Hofmann GmbH Maschinenfabrik und Vertrieb: Jahresabschluss zum Geschäftsjahr vom 01.01.2019 bis zum 31.12.2019. Published in Bundesanzeiger on 11 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b Hofmann GmbH Maschinenfabrik und Vertrieb: Jahresabschluss zum Geschäftsjahr vom 1. Januar 2015 bis zum 31. Dezember 2015. Published in Bundesanzeiger on 23 February 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e Jens Neumann (2007-03-18). "Rellinger Firma baut Fahrzeuge für Fahrbahnmarkierungen. Umsatzwachstum mit Spezialmaschinen". Welt am Sonntag (in German). Retrieved 2017-08-22.
  5. ^ a b c Hofmann zet toon op gebied van wegmarkeringtechnologie. de Rondweg. Jaargang 9, nummer 2, September 2009, Vakgroep Specialistische Wegenbouw.
  6. ^ a b c Elisabeth Meyer: Sie markieren die Straßen der Welt. Pinneberger Tageblatt, 6 March 2006.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Information about the company development is provided in section “Hofmann. About-us” of their website.
  8. ^ a b c d Burmeister, Rainer. "Straßenstriche - made in Rellingen" (in German). Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  9. ^ a b c d Wolfgang Buhmann: Weiße Striche für die Sicherheit. Kieler Nachrichten, 2 November 2009.
  10. ^ a b Information about the history of technology and innovations is provided in section “Hofmann. History” of their website.
  11. ^ Jens Neumann: Straßenstrich schafft Sicherheit. Holsteinischer Courier, 3 April 2007.
  12. ^ For details about patents, see the Overview in www.patent-de.com, retrieved 22 August 2017.
  13. ^ Announcements in the German Trade Register of 25 Juli 1992 (Bundesanzeiger).
  14. ^ See the trade register announcement of S+S Gesellschaft für Sicherheit auf Straßen m. b. H. Herstellung und Vertrieb von Straßenmarkiermaschinen of 15 January 2003.
  15. ^ Trade register announcement of Hofmann GmbH Maschinenfabrik und Vertrieb of 26 January 2008.
  16. ^ a b c Fuchs, Burkhardt (20 May 2011). "Ein Strich für mehr Sicherheit" (PDF). Kieler Nachrichten.
  17. ^ a b "100 Jahre Fahrbahnmarkierung. Der Straßenstrich, den alle kennen". Handelsblatt (in German). 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
  18. ^ Jürgensmeier, Annette. "Markiermaschinen: Der Straßenstrich, den jeder kennt | shz.de". shz (in German). Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  19. ^ "Top 100 Wachstums-Champions im „klassischen" industriellen Mittelstand" (PDF). VDI nachrichten. 13 March 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  20. ^ Information about partners is provided in sections “Contact. Worldwide”, of their website.
  21. ^ a b Rainer Burmeister: Hofmann markiert die ganze Welt. Hamburger Abendblatt, 29 November 2010.
  22. ^ a b Dietmar Vogel: Rellingen wird zum Nabel der Welt. Pinneberger Tageblatt, 1 December 2006.
  23. ^ Norddeutscher Rundfunk: Der Straßenstrich in Schleswig-Holstein. Schleswig-Holstein Magazin, 19 June 2008, retrieved 23 August 2017.
  24. ^ Information about the portfolio is provided in sections “Products”, “Technologies” and “Service” of their website.
  25. ^ Norddeutscher Rundfunk: Der Straßenstrich in Schleswig-Holstein. Schleswig-Holstein Magazin, 19 June 2008, especially from minute 2 on, retrieved 23 August 2017.
  26. ^ Norddeutscher Rundfunk: Hofmann Straßenmarkiertechnik in Rellingen, report of 21 October 2009, minutes 0:22 to 2:30, retrieved 23 August 2017.
  27. ^ Dietmar Vogel: Hofmann erwartet Gäste von fünf Kontinenten. Pinneberger Tageblatt, 28 October 2010.
  28. ^ 330 Gäste aus 33 Nationen. Pinneberger Tageblatt, 6 December 2010.
  29. ^ Die Weltmeister – Markierungsmaschinen – Made in Germany[permanent dead link], report of Deutsche Welle TV, December 2008, especially minutes 0:38 to 1:31 as well as 3:05 to 3:15, retrieved 23 August 2017.

External links edit