Merker AG

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Merker Liegenschaften AG
(formerly Merker AG)
legal form Corporation
founding 1873
Seat Baden , Switzerland
Branch Real estate industry
Website www.merker-areal.ch

Merker AG

logo
legal form Corporation
founding 1873/1991 (new foundation)
Seat Wolfhausen , Switzerland
Number of employees 45
Branch Household appliance trade
Website www.merker.ch

Merker is the name of two Swiss companies that emerged from what was once a major company in the kitchen appliance and washing machine industry. At the peak of its development, it had almost 400 employees and was one of the most important in this branch in Switzerland.

The former parent company based in Baden (founded in 1873) is now a pure real estate company that has been operating as Merker Liegenschaften AG since 1991 . It maintains the former factory site in the center of Baden and rents it to numerous subsequent users. Merker AG , which exists today, was founded in the same year. The company based in Wolfhausen has given up industrial production. It deals in washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers; It also offers advice, installation and services.

history

Petroleum lamp of Gotthardbahn of F. flag & Cie 1896 different image
F. Merker & Cie company sign on a kerosene lamp on the Gotthard Railway in 1896

The Berlin- born plumber Johann Friedrich Merker settled in Baden in 1839 and opened a workshop there. Son Fritz Merker and his brother-in-law Eduard Meining from Chemnitz took over the father's business in 1873 and expanded it into the Merker & Meining metal goods factory . Initially, the company mainly manufactured kerosene stoves, later adding sheet metal goods and items for the kitchen and household.

After Meining's death in 1878, Albert Sartory from Basel joined the company, which was renamed Merker & Sartory . In the same year it set up the first telephone line in the canton of Aargau between the factory hall and the management . The contractual relationship with Sartory was terminated in 1889, the company took on the legal form of a sole proprietorship and was now called F. Merker & Cie. From 1896 she operated the first enamelling factory in Switzerland. The range expanded to include bathtubs , bath stoves , boilers and instantaneous water heaters .

Instantaneous water heater from Merker, approx. 1930

Fritz Merker handed the company over to his four sons in 1907. In 1911 they founded Sanitas AG, a later independent sales organization (today part of Sanitas Troesch ). In 1917 the family business was converted into a stock corporation . In 1950 Merker developed the first fully automatic washing machine made in Switzerland (Merker-Bianca) . Fitted kitchens were manufactured from 1958 , and automatic dishwashers from 1964 . In 1973, the anniversary year, the company had 380 employees and was one of the leading manufacturers of large washing systems.

In 1991 the company gave up industrial production due to growing competitive pressure. The washing machine business was sold to the Schulthess Group in Bubikon , the special items and industrial parts departments went to Egro AG in Niederrohrdorf . In the same year, it was re-established as a trading and service company, while the former Merker AG has been operating as Merker Liegenschaften AG since then. The latter manages the urban building that was built around 1900 and developed into a cultural and commercial center with numerous small businesses, artist studios and architecture offices as well as a cultural venue.

literature

Web links

Stock: Merker. City Archives Baden AG . 1829-2008. Signature: U.02. link