For more than 65 years our name stands for highly-precise, reliable measurement devices. Over the course of time, we have experienced many changes and have developed with the market. But the emphasis of our action is still on the development of individual solutions for measurement instrumentations. In doing so we have always been concentrating on service culture and customer focus.
The company was founded by master lather operator Heinz Himpe in 1948. The first production facility was an old barn in the city center of Kamen. An old turing lathe that was disposed in a ditch by the occupying powers and selfmade tools were the first equipment.
Since in the postwar period during the currency reform useful primary materials were only accessible for established companies against coupons, he had to gather material from scrap metal of old armour and tanks. The first orders were mainly repair works for farmers, construction companies, breweries, dairies and coal mines.
After the machine outfit had been gradually expanded, more complex jobs could be realised with regards to manufacturing technology, such as the produciton of hydraulic aggregates.
With the new production opportunities more orders could be accespted, so that the production facilites became too small. An offer by the city council for new premises on the outskirts of the city came just at the right time. So in 1957 an new factory was buildt.
Therewith, the clientele increased and new challenges productionswise were accespted, such as the manufacture of eyeglas lens grinding machines and devices for the insertion of stabilising bars into temples. The permanent staff increased to 20 employees.
In the 60s the demand of chemical plants and petrochemical plants came to the fore of production. Especially the manufature of thermowells made from stainless and acid-resistant materials was a key element, since this initiated development impetus for the single-lip-drilling process.
Furthermore, orifices and nozzles for flow measurement as well as small vessels were produced. According to the new product requirements, higher quality standards were demanded. Customers required engineering drawing, calculations and certificates (The first certificates „0001“ was issued in 1965). The basis for retraceability was buildt with the transfer of identification process 3.1B according to DIN 50049 (today EN 10204).
Therewith not only the production facilities were broadened but also the adminsitration office was extended with design draughtmen and an authorised plant expert. The staff had increased to 30 by that time.
The 70s were all about the extension of existing machinery as well as the international sales of chemical plants form Germany plant engineering companies such as UHDE and Lurgi. Thermowells in length of more than one meter, orifice plates of more than DN 2000 and venturi tubes up to DN 1800 were meanwhile standard.
With Monel, Inconel, Incoloy, Hastelloy or Titanium the materials got more „exotic“, too, so the production requirements increased further: Now besides of material certificates, also welding certificates, heat treatment certificates and testing certificates were demanded.
Another expansion to fulfill all requirements were not posible on the premises. Another plant location just 300m from the old premises were added with meanwhile 10 more employees to meet the markets requirements.
On 1. January 1982 the founder's son Udo Himpe took over the sales department. Only two months later with the successful graduation as engineer in the area of manufacturing engineering he also took over the production of thermowells. As a result the company was split into the founder's company „Messapparatebau heinz Himpe“ and a second company Messgeräte Himpe KG in form of a private limited partnership (Udo Himpe as general partner and Heinz Himpe as limited partner). For the production of thermowell, there machine park was expanded by three deep-drilling machines that also served for commission work.
During the 80s the emphasis lay on technological innovation involving the modernisation of the machinery. A positive business outlook made extensive investements possible. A friendly competition between father and son started in terms of machinery renewal. As a result, investments comprised for instance a NC turning machine, an automatic bar machine for small component series, a cross table drillingmachine for commision work, a new annealing furnace for heat treatment, a 3-cylinder round bending machine for an optimised production process for venturi tubes and nozzles as well as a self-made flow test stand for the calibration of promary devices.
At the end of the 80s the expansion of the machine park was so extensive, that the factory as well as the outside facilities required a structural alteration to offer space for the delivered materials designated for commission drilling. Therefore, in 1989 the deep-drilling service was moved to the nearby industrial premises as independent company called BTH (Bohr-Technik Himpe). The production of measurement equipment moved there one year later. The three companies now employed more than 70 people permanently.
At the end of the 80s requirements for a holistic quality management system began to form since the submission of the AD-HP0 or W0 authorization were not sufficient anmore. Therefore, a QM-system was developed that were transferable to the three existing firms and was obligatorily implemented by 1991. Due to further project orders by planning agencies, further certifications were attained such as:
The company's founder died in 1999. During his illness, his son Udo Himpe already had taken over the management of his company „Messapparatebau H. Himpe“ provisionally. Through the foundation of a stock corporation the three companies were consolidated into one family corporation. Therewith the a structural change began that resulted in leaner structures and a more effiecient value chain:
The new decade announced further structural change. After the production reorganization, the product portfolio was extended to meet the market's demands. The focus of the product extension was the development of a wholistic range of services offered that were directly associated with the production process.
Therewith the set-up of the testing facilities started, that were to offer the whole range of non-destructive tests. Various testing equipment, amongst others an inhouse x-ray apparatus with permanently installed radiation protection room, was acquired. Consequently, employees were trained and certified to conduct the different tests reliably.
/Moreover the already existing flow test stand was modified to generate even more precise calibration results. During that time a software for the calculation of flow restrictors – called „FlowCal“ was developed that still facilitates the calculation of various restrictors as one of the leading software programmes on the market.
2015 another big step for thelong-term development of the company was made. The stock-company that had developed from formerly 4 small firms was further centralised. The main production facility was modernized and expanded in order to integrate the administration office. The remaining sites were now completely integrated into one centralised headquarter. At the same time the daughter of the managing director joined the family business and therewith ushers in the company's future in the third generation. The company's future development has also been marked by the strengthening of the sales force. With a fresh key account manager in the field work the customer relationships will be consolidated especially in for foreign market.