History
ELCO, a pioneer of modern gas, condensing boiler, solar and heat pump technology, has been demonstrating its sense of innovation for over 90 years. It all began in 1928 with the founding of E. Looser & Co. by Emil and Elsa Looser in Switzerland. From the market launch of the first solar vacuum tube collector in 1975 to the first oil burner with free flame technology in 2003, ELCO has repeatedly set new standards in the industry. After being taken over by the Italian Ariston Group in 2001, ELCO found a strong partner to help it grow sustainably internationally with customised heating solutions.
Milestones in our history
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1906
Together with his brother Florian, Peter Klöckner founded an iron and steel trading company in Duisburg, which later became Klöckner & Co.
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1928
The company E. Looser & Co. was founded by Emil and Elsa Looser in Vilters. It was not long before the two founders had 25 employees.
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1930
Production of the first heavy oil burners in Vilters. The products were also exported to Belgium and Sweden.
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1939 - 1945
During the Second World War, there was a general lack of heating oil. This led to a low demand for burners. Production was quickly converted to the manufacture of hot-air heaters and woodworking machines. After the war, the production of oil burners was resumed.
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1950
Klöckner & Co. is entering the heating oil business.
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1951
The burners in the engine room of the Gorch Fock are serviced by Klöckner service technicians. Five VW Beetles (radio-controlled cars) are used as service vehicles.
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1954
VW panel vans are used by Klöckner for construction and installation crews.
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1958
Emil Looser & Co. establishes ELCO representations in Germany with offices in Munich, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Essen.
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1960
Klöckner & Co. is changing its name to Klöckner Wärmetechnik. The company is now authorised to use the VHF harbour radio network in the greater Hamburg area. This means that its services now cover an even larger area.
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1961
Production and sale of the first oil burners under licence from Oertli.
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1962
Production of the first gas blower burners by the Swiss company ELCO in the expanded plant in Ravensburg, Germany.
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1973
Oertli's licence is expiring and will not be renewed. Klöckner is now building its own burners.
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1977
Klöckner is one of Europe's leading companies for heating and combustion systems.
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1978
We are celebrating the 50th anniversary of ELCO Switzerland.
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1983
Always at the forefront of new ideas: Klöckner is even working on the latest innovations with corporate giants such as VW.
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1989
Swiss company ELCO Energiesysteme AG is taking over the heating technology division from Klöckner.
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1993
The merger of ELCO Energiesysteme GmbH and Klöckner Wärmetechnik GmbH in Germany has given birth to ELCO Klöckner Heiztechnik GmbH. At the same time, we are celebrating the opening of the new ELCO research, development and training centre in Hechingen.
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1994
Takeover of the Rendamax Group.
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1996
Purchase of the Swiss ELCO Energiesysteme AG by the German Preussag AG, one of the largest conglomerates in Germany. ELCO Klöckner Heiztechnik GmbH retains its identity.
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1996
The 50,000th end customer signs an ELCO maintenance contract.
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2001
Takeover of the entire ELCO Group by the Ariston Group.
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2005
ELCO Klöckner is becoming ELCO heating solutions. The new brand name is being presented for the first time at the ISH in Frankfurt am Main.
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2006
ELCO is opening its own heat pump production facility in Switzerland.
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2008
AURON vacuum collectors supply the Olympic Village in Beijing with solar heat.
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2011
Three important anniversaries are being celebrated: 60 years of ELCO service in Germany, 50 years at the Hechingen site and 10 years as part of the Ariston Group.
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2021
70 years of ELCO first-class service in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, and 20 years as part of the Ariston Group.