100 years of reliability - quality - service. 100 years EFEN!

The production facilities are soon exhausted. The acquisition of the “Klingermühle” on the B 260 between Martinsthal and Schlangenbad creates additional production facilities for the company, which will be EFEN’s headquarters until 2019. With the automotive boom, the demand for vehicle fuses increases steadily and EFEN’s fuses sell like hot cakes.

From small beginnings, the company continues to grow steadily, so that the space in Martinsthal is no longer sufficient. In 1937, the company moved to the new “Klingermühle” plant between Martinsthal and Schlangenbad. Conveniently located on the B 260, further production facilities are created here. In addition to a number of large assembly rooms and a modern testing facility, a glass-blowing shop is built too.

Due to constantly growing production volumes in the automotive industry, fuses from EFEN are in high demand for all types of vehicles. The defense industry in particular is demanding ever higher quantities of EFEN products, and the range of fuses is being expanded accordingly, e.g. to include ship and aircraft fuses.

The demand for vehicle fuses, especially for the defense industry, is constantly increasing. Klingermühle’s production capacities are not sufficient. For this reason, two further plants are put into operation in Wiesbaden-Dotzheim and Wiesbaden-Adolfshöhe. At peak times, up to 450 people are employed here.

Due to the temporary ban on the manufacture of vehicle fuses by the allied forces, production in Eltville does not continue until the end of the 1940s. The demand for EFEN fuses and fuse bases increases continuously.

Series production of NH fuse-bases and disconnectors begins in 1953. While bakelite was originally used as the insulating material, this is gradually replaced by plastic as the material for insulation and cases. House connection boxes and fuse distributors for domestic installations are also produced in Eltville.

The economic miracle shapes the further development of EFEN. Office and production expansions are the norm. Company founder Otto Frees is supported by his daughter Gisela. In 1963, son Friedhelm joins the company. For the engineer and later technical director, the further development of the disconnector into a switch-disconnector is an important step towards greater safety in operation and handling. With the death of Otto Frees in 1969, daughter Gisela takes over leadership of commercial management.

EFEN product development picks up speed. 1964 is an example of the evolution from the NH fuse-switch-disconnector to the NH fuse-load-breaker. This is followed by the development of the NH fuse-load-breaker size 1 and size 2 with extinguishing chambers to prevent arcing when disconnecting under load. The first NH fuse-load-breaker made entirely of plastic represents a quantum leap for further product development. In 1969, EFEN launches the NH fuse-load-breaker size 2 with mechanical fuse monitoring.

Despite the onset of the economic downturn in the 1970s, EFEN continues to grow and open up new sales markets. This includes ongoing and new developments of special products and solutions for all sectors of the manufacturing industry, mechanical engineering and mining. The need for additional employees in the areas of development and construction leads to the construction of a new administration building at the Klingermühle site.

The development of NH fuse-switches for direct busbar contacting has had a decisive impact on distribution board construction. The strips use the busbar space very efficiently and are used in large distribution boards with many load outgoing circuits. The NH fuse-switches from EFEN can be used to create particularly compact and clearly arranged low-voltage distribution boards.

In order to secure the continued existence of EFEN in the long term, the company is transferred to WICKMANN-Werke in Witten by the two owners Gisela and Friedhelm Frees in 1985. The sale represents a strategic integration into the successful and financially strong parent company of Heinrich Industrie- & Handels-AG. This results in a further upswing for EFEN and turnover doubles. 1991 sees the inauguration of a new production building for thermoplastic processing. Two years earlier, another new building was constructed on the site of the former Klingermühle.

In 1986, EFEN launches the NH fuse-switch size 00 and receives the iF design award at the Hanover Trade Fair.

In 1988, the NH fuse-switch for base plate mounting in sizes 00, 1 and 2, designed by Fleischmann Industrial Design, also received this award. The production series of the NH fuse-switch sizes 1-3 receives the iF design award for good industrial design in 1993 too.

Due to the close cooperation with uesa in Uebigau, which began in 1990, a new production facility is established in the south of Brandenburg in April 1992. Just one year later, the new production building in Uebigau is inaugurated. From Uebigau, the sales markets in the new federal states and Eastern Europe are developed.

At EFEN, all signs point to expansion. In 1997, EFEN Kaposvár Hungária Kft. starts production of HV fuses in Hungary and begins serving the Hungarian market. In 1999, EFEN Dongguan Electrical Products Co. Ltd. is founded in Chang Ping, PR China. In Poland, the subsidiary EFEN Polska Sp. z o.o. is founded. In mid-2001, EFEN Dongguan Electrical Products Co. Ltd. starts manufacturing all major products. Production in Eltville is relocated to Uebigau.

With the takeover of Peterreins Schalttechnik GmbH in 2003, EFEN expands its portfolio to include load switches and diverter switches with fuses and low-voltage transformers. As well as expanding into non-DIN markets, EFEN opens up additional sales channels to the Middle East and Africa.

Littlefuse acquires Wickmann Werke in 2004. As EFEN’s product portfolio does not match its expansion plans, the EFEN Group is sold to the Swiss company Weber AG in 2006 and becomes part of the Hager Group. At the end of 2004, Gottfried Stolper, Managing Director and Chairman for many years, hands over the reins to his successors.

EFEN develops compact TPS and battery fuse-links with high energy density for the ongoing expansion of mobile phone networks and DC applications in railroad technology. 2006 sees the market launch of the new SILAS series of NH fuse-switches in sizes 000 to size 3.

Perfectly matched device sizes and accessories make the product range one of the most innovative on the market. With a complete range of current transformers for rated current ranges up to 5,000 A and a variety of special transformers, EFEN offers solutions for systematic measurement and recording of energy consumption.

2010 marks the launch of the NH fuse-switch “E³ series”. EFEN develops new products in response to the increase in volatile power generators and the associated strain on distribution grids. In 2015, the company positioned itself with “SMART GRID READY” by EFEN – intelligent solutions for future distribution grids. With innovative measurement technology, EFEN is making an important step to a reliable energy supply in the grid. The product portfolio is expanded to include “outdoor power” enclosure technology for the energy supply market.

2017 marks the start of the EFEN online store at the Hannover Messe. EFEN now offers customers the convenience of ordering around the clock.

In September 2018, EFEN’s headquarters will be relocated to Frankfurt Airport. Due to the Hager Group’s intention to sell, uesa Managing Director Helmut Hoffmann intervenes to preserve EFEN. EFEN GmbH is acquired by uesa GmbH in September 2019. The headquarters in Uebigau, which opened in 1992 as a production site, is now EFEN’s head office. The Eltville site becomes a sales service center.

The development of the Smart Grid Interface Module (SGIM) comfort and the MEM module offer intelligent solutions for expanding existing energy distribution systems for the smart grid. 2021 sees the launch of the surge protection strip for reliable protection of intelligent measurement technology against overvoltage, lightning and electromagnetic interference. In 2022, EFEN will launch the E⁴-NH fuse-switch and E⁴ fuse strip. The focus of these and future developments for EFEN is the consistent realization for smart and reliable energy distribution.