Chronicle

31. 7. 1811 | CHARTER
His majesty Friedrich I. of Württemberg signed the charter for the Royal Weapon Factory of Oberndorf.

1867 | INVENTION
The brothers Paul and Wilhelm Mauser invent a completely new operating principle for breech-loading rifles. The Royal Weapon Factory becomes Mauser-Werke.

1945 | DISMANTLEMENT
After World War II the French occupiers dismantle the Mauser-Werke.

28. 12. 1949 | FOUNDATION OF THE HECKLER & KOCH GMBH
Edmund Heckler, Theodor Koch and Alex Seidel, former Mauser-Werke engineers initially start manufacturing urgently required components for household machines and bicycles.

1959 | G3
Heckler & Koch is awarded the contract to produce the G3 Infantry Rifle for the new German Bundeswehr, founded in 1955.

FROM 1960 | PRODUCT EXTENSION
Heckler & Koch set the focus on a consistent further development of modern weapons. Products such as the MP5 submachine gun and the HK33 assault rifle are created.

FROM 1980 | DIVERSIFICATION STRATEGY
To offset negative economic and political developments Heckler & Koch diversifies in new areas such as Machine Tool and Industrial Plants Division, Automation and Precision Technology.

1989/1990 | G11
The contract for the G11 case-less ammunition system was cancelled.

1991 | AQUISITION
Heckler & Koch was purchased by Royal Ordnance, a wholly owned subsidiary of British Aerospace (now BAe Systems). Restructuring activities led Heckler & Koch's return to its "core business".

SINCE 2002 | INVESTMENTS
With production concentrated on a single site, large investments are made in buildings, manufacturing plant, infrastructure and IT-Systems.

2002 | AQUISITION
Heckler & Koch is taken over by private individuals. In the same year the company receives large orders such as the “Midlife-Improvement Program" of the British SA80 assault rifle.

2007 | LOGISTIC CENTRE
With the opening of the new logistic center, Heckler & Koch increases its warehouse capacity.

2010 | TRAINING CENTRE
Heckler & Koch established a new training centre on approx. 800 m2.

Our Company Founders

Edmund Heckler

* 2. 2. 1906 | † 2. 7. 1960
Edmund Heckler passed his apprenticeship with Messrs. Mauser. In 1925 he attended an engineering school in Esslingen. In 1936 he applied to work with Messrs. Schneider AG and quickly made a career with him finally managing three of their plants.

Theodor Koch

* 13. 5. 1905 | † 21. 10. 1976
Theodor Koch passed his apprenticeship as a precision mechanic. He then attended an engineering school in Esslingen. In 1924 he started work for Messrs. Mauser,Oberndorf as an engineer and stayed with them until 1931.

Alex Seidel

* 4. 7. 1909 | † 24. 10. 1989
Alex Seidel passed his apprenticeship with Messrs. Mauser to become an industrial mechanic. He then attended the Esslingen engineering school and started to work for Mauser again in 1932.

ENDE