Franz Kirsten

Franz Kirsten

Franz Kirsten (born September 7, 1906 in Bingen ; † October 2, 1998 ) was a German entrepreneur. He was the founder and long-time director of the automotive supplier Franz Kirsten Elektrotechnische Spezialfabrik in Bingerbrück .

Kirsten was born the third of seven children to a cellar master. After attending elementary school, he began training as a building fitter , which he completed on May 27, 1923 with a journeyman's certificate. Shadowed by the economic crisis of the 1920s, he worked for various companies in the years that followed.

In 1928 Kirsten designed a push button switch . The switch used mechanically simpler and cheaper technology than conventional built-in toggle switches. However, his innovation did not initially fall on fertile ground. His employer showed little interest. When he had to declare bankruptcy in 1930, Kirsten rented the workshop and founded his own company on April 16, 1930, the Franz Kirsten Elektrotechnische Spezialfabrik .

In the following years he quickly succeeded in building up a major automotive supplier from the smallest of beginnings. With his company, he specialized in the construction of small switches. In 1935 he and his 20 employees moved to a company's own production hall in Bingerbrück. Four years later, his company already had 120 employees. At that time Kirsten supplied a number of well-known car brands such as Opel , Porsche and Peugeot . In an air raid on December 22, 1944, his factory was largely destroyed.

After the end of the war and reconstruction, Kirsten continued to expand his company. In 1960 he was able to open further production facilities in Langenlonsheim and 1962 in Rheinböllen . Between 1949 and 1990 the special factory registered 26 patents for its innovative developments.

In 1973/74 Kirsten withdrew from the management and put his company in the hands of his two sons.

Awards

Kirsten was honored for his services during his lifetime. On October 11, 1962, the Johannisstrasse in Bingerbrück, where Kirsten's company was based, was renamed after him. Four years later, on September 5, 1966, he was made the first honorary citizen of the community of Bingerbrück. In December 1966, the Federal President awarded him the Federal Cross of Merit, First Class.