In our more than 150-year history, we have grown from a local manufacturer of machines into a global lift and escalator business. On the way, we have shaped the industry, defined best practice as a mobility provider and as an employer, and prospered in a highly competitive global environment. The story begins in a workshop in Lucerne in 1874...
1874: Robert Schindler (pictured) and Eduard Villiger establish the collective joint partnership: Schindler & Villiger.
1883: Move to the newly built plant at Sentimattstrasse in Lucerne.
1892: The first electric lift with belt drive is built.
1901: Robert Schindler sells the company to his nephew Alfred Schindler (pictured).
1906: Schindler & Cie. o.H.G, the first subsidiary outside of Switzerland, is established in Berlin.
1915: Schindler starts production of lift motors.
1920: The name of the company changes to Kommandit-AG Schindler & Cie., Aufzüge- und Maschinenfabrik mit Giesserei.
1925: The company name changes to Kommanditaktiengesellschaft Schindler & Cie., Aufzüge und Maschinenfabrik.
1929: PARS Finanz AG in Hergiswil, Switzerland, is founded.
1936: Schindler installs the first escalator.
1937: Death of Alfred Schindler. His son, Alfred F. Schindler (pictured) takes over management of the company.
1945: Schindler Waggon AG, Pratteln, Switzerland, is established.
1952: Schindler launches the Directronic drive.
1957: Transfer to new headquarters in Ebikon (pictured).
1960: Schindler acquires the Schweizerische Wagons- und Aufzügefabrik Schlieren (SWS).
1965: Launch of Dynatron drive.
1971: Trading in shares of Schindler Holding AG on the main Zurich Stock Exchange begins.
1974: Joint venture with Jardine Matheson & Co. Ltd in Hong Kong.
1980: First industrial joint venture of the People’s Republic of China with a western company (pictured). China Schindler Elevator Co. is established in Beijing.
1985: Alfred N. Schindler, Luc Bonnard and Dr. Uli Sigg are elected executive directors and take over the management of the company.
1990: World’s first hall call destination system, Miconic 10 (pictured).
1998: Schindler separates from the rolling stock business
1998: Schindler takes over the Haushahn Group in Stuttgart, Germany.
1999: Schindler acquires 63.64% of the shares of Elevadores Atlas S.A., Sao Paulo, Brazil.
2003: Launch of SchindlerID, a new traffic-management and access-control technology.
2009: Introduction of Transit Management System, the PORT Technology.
2014: Opening of new factories in China (pictured) and India.
2014: Schindler acquires a majority in Joint Venture with XJ-Schindler (Xuchang) Elevator Co. Ltd, China.
2017: Silvio Napoli becomes Chairman of the Board of Directors.
2017: Launch of new digital platform “Schindler Ahead”
2018: Launch of breakthrough Robotics Installation System for Elevators (R.I.S.E).
2019 - 2021: Launch of new Schindler product lines based on modular elevator concept
In its more than 150-year history, Schindler has grown from a local manufacturer of machines into a global lift and escalator business.