Founding of the company

In 1859, Carl Fuhr decides to found his own company in Heiligenhaus at just 23 years of age. His first workshop is located not too far from what is now Carl-Fuhr-Straße. Initially a one-man operation, the company quickly grows. Carl’s three sons are born in the years that follow, starting work at the company at just 12 years old.

The second generation takes over

15 assistants and apprentices join the Fuhr family at the workshop, which can now be found on the current company premises. Germany enters the machine age and the presses are now operated using a steam engine. Carl hands over the company to his sons in 1898.

The company grows

FUHR begins real manufacturing operations. Along with the company’s gradual growth and expansion of its workforce to 45 employees, its orders become more and more complex over time. The second generation of managing directors therefore divide up the areas of responsibility.

The challenges of the war years

As the first representative of the third Fuhr generation, Carl joined the company in the middle of World War I. Willy Fuhr followed one year later. The company overcomes countless crises throughout the post-war period following the war, defeat and resulting revolution. In the years that follow, however, inflation and the global economic crises take their toll on the lock and hardware industry and the export rate falls dramatically. 

Third generation weathers all storms

75 years after its foundation, FUHR overcomes the challenges of the global economic crisis and profits from cheap construction growth. Otto Fuhr joins as the third member of the third generation as Germany finally surrenders to mark the end of World War II. The company is now completely in the hands of the three successors. 

Economic miracle brings prosperity

Carl Fuhr is named as the first postwar mayor in Heiligenhaus in 1946. He holds the office for a total of 18 years, taking part in various honorary posts.

1955 is the most successful economic year in German history. Locks for garage doors for car storage, the new status symbol of this time, become a permanent fixture in the product range.

100 years of FUHR

Managing directors Otto, Carl and Wilhelm Fuhr are able to present a thriving and modern company, that now has 220 employees, as part of the 100-year anniversary celebrations in 1959. The production programme now includes special window fittings, door and gate fittings, garage and bodywork fittings, special locks for electric systems and drive locks.

Modernisation and expansion

CNC technology grows in popularity in the mid 70s and the digital revolution begins to fundamentally change lock and fitting production. 120 years after its foundation under the management of Carl Hermann Fuhr, the branch plant in Heiligenhaus/Hetterscheidt is opened, the new home for the production of INFRONT tilt-and-turn and sliding fittings.

A milestone for multisafe

The safety door lock no. 455 is presented for the first time in 1980 to form the cornerstone of the FUHR multisafe product range. This item group makes up a significant part of the company’s revenue today. The first key-operated multipoint locking systems for doors, balcony and terrace doors are introduced onto the market over the course of the decade. 

The first motor lock with finger scanner

The range of mechanical multipoint locking systems is expanded over the course of the decade. Locks for emergency exit doors with panic function are now offered alongside special solutions for apartment building entrance doors. The high point of technological development comes in 1999 following the presentation of the first motor lock with biometric access control at the International Hardware Fair in Cologne.

European focus

Sales focus lies on the European market and the company’s field staff foster close customer contact in selected countries. The first sales branch is founded abroad in Libiaz (PL) in 2003. In 2008, FUHR Benelux opens its site in Ede (NL) which is also the location of the FUHR Experience Center, a training centre with a product exhibition. Another branch follows two years later in Telford (UK).

150 years of FUHR

The FUHR company history “The History of a Brand” is presented for the company’s 150-year anniversary headed by Dr Ulrich Morgenroth, curator of the lock and fitting museum in Velbert (Schloss- und Beschlägemuseum).
The range now includes more than 6,000 sellable products, documented in a 1,400-page catalogue.

Andreas Fuhr takes over leadership

At the age of 30, Andreas Fuhr takes the wheel and becomes a part of the FUHR company management. The family tradition continues into its 5th generation. Driven by his leadership, the company and its product portfolio undergo stark modernisation, particularly in the areas of SmartHome technology and system solutions. 

Setting course: smart access solutions

Smartphones and tablets start to shape developments as part of a digital lifestyle. FUHR responds to the increasing demand for SmartHome solutions. The company SmartWireless is founded in 2013 in Cologne to drive forward the development of radio-based access controls, such as SmartTouch and SmartHome products. The first smart product is presented on the market in 2015. SmartConnect easy – a WLAN module that allows users to open doors via an intelligent app on their smartphone.

A new generation of automatic locking

With the type 10, a new series of automatic multipoint locking systems was presented at the FENSTERBAU/FRONTALE trade fair in Nuremberg: autosafe 835 and autotronic 836. The innovative latching hook bolt combination with DuoSecure technology guarantees secure, automatic locking for doors of all materials – even in difficult conditions. With it, FUHR expands its existing range of material-specific system solutions with the extensive type 4/10/11 concept. 

Blazing new trails:
if it’s great...

... it’s FUHR! FUHR uses this slogan as part of its anniversary celebrations to mark 160 years in the business. It is the central message of the new colourful marketing campaign that presents new and developed products alongside virtual testimonials. read more

The Covid-19 outbreak put the whole world into disarray. Unfortunately, we were not able to present the diverse world of FUHR products in the way we had originally planned, e.g. at trade fairs. Instead, the campaign website fuhr-richtig-gut.de was created to allow customers to learn about our new products. 

Into the future with FUHR 

FUHR pushes forward with the development of smart products for front doors. The most recent development success story is SmartConnect door – an interactive intercom system that is controlled via your smartphone.find out more

Despite huge challenges posed by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, FUHR is able to confidently look to the future in 2021: the demand for security systems is as high as it’s ever been. We are therefore highly motivated and look forward to continuing to be your reliable partner. FUHR will continue to gear its developments to the needs of its customers in the future and strive to find increasingly efficient and sustainable product solutions – for joint success on the market.