Martin A. Vermöhlen

 

Jakob Käfer

From specialist to system provider.

 

1919

Founding of the company in Aachen by Martin A. Vermöhlen under the name J. G. Merckens.

To start with shut-off valves for the textile industry are manufactured.

Later because of increased safety precautions for the operation of steam boilers, liquid level gauges and float switches are added.

 

1964

After the death of the company founder, Jakob Käfer acquires the company shares of J.G. Merckens KG.

The product range is continually improved and supplemented.

The telegram abbreviation „IGEMA” is gradually becoming the brand name.

 

1968

Merckens is the first manufacturer to develop an electronic solution for liquid level monitoring.

Jakob Käfer dies in May of that year. His wife Gisela continues to run the business.

 

1977

J.G. Merckens GmbH & Co. KG continues to grow and moves from the cramped city centre of Aachen to a new property in the industrial area of Eilendorf-South on the edge of Aachen.

 

1994

TÜV Rheinland certifies the company in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001.

 

1998

Mrs Gisela Käfer sells the business to Erich Kilchert who has a degree in Business Administration.

In the following years the company is restructured. Sales and development are separated into IGEMA GmbH and production into LECOS GmbH.

 

2000

The production is certified in accordance with the European Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC.

The product range is consistently extended. IGEMA changes from a liquid level specialist to a system provider.

 

2003

KDH Industriearmaturen GmbH in Leonberg is taken over. 

KDH supplements the sales of IGEMA products in South Germany.

 

2005

With the takeover of the bico steam traps of Holter Regelarmaturen GmbH & Co. KG, IGEMA moves into condensate technology.

The product range is supplemented step by step by further components in the area of heat engineering.

 

2008
In September of this year the group of companies is expanded with the addition of imo-elektronik GmbH in Bielefeld.

With this step IGEMA puts new emphases in the area of the development and production of electronic measuring and control technology.

 

2012

On March 12, 2012 our name is changed to IGEMA HST GmbH (Heat & Steam Technology). With the name change we want to highlight the continually growing demand in recent years for intelligent concepts in the field of heat and steam technology.