Last year Endress+Hauser filed more patents than ever before, demonstrating the family-owned business’ commitment to success through product innovation. The automation and measurement instrumentation specialist employs over 700 people in research and development to enable customers worldwide to make their processes safer, more efficient and environmentally friendly.
The patent department at the Endress+Hauser Group cannot complain about a lack of work: the organisations developers have never filed as many inventions as they did last year. In 2014, a total of 337 submissions came from teams from different sites and locations, with 259 of these scrutinised and eventually filed as patents. The number of active industrial property rights has now topped 6000 – yet another indication of the innovation of this globally competitive group of companies.
It was in flow, level and analysis measurement technology that the company filed most new technical applications. “Innovative products which give our customers added value are our biggest strength, especially in these times of economic uncertainty,” says Michael Ziesemer, deputy CEO of the Endress+Hauser Group. “An invention is usually not worth much before it has proved its success in the market. Only about 30% of all patents reach a level of economic relevance – often after many years. But they are crucially important for the growth of our group of companies. Protecting achievements at the earliest possible point in time is our life assurance.”
One in 16 people working for the Endress+Hauser Group is in one way or the other employed in research and development and works every day to find solutions for problems – new and old – in measurement and automation engineering. An important role in Endress+Hauser’s innovation process is played by what is known as the customer parliaments, where experts meet customers from the various industrial sectors to find out more about their needs and requirements. “Learning from the customer has always been a principle held in high regard by Endress+Hauser,” says Ziesemer. “Our corporate culture which cultivates and promotes a spirit of research also involves honouring our inventors and innovators during the annual Innovators’ Meeting, held this year in Switzerland. All 344 people who were involved in patent applications in 2014 were invited and rewarded.”
RS South Africa shapes future engineering talent RS South Africa
News
RS South Africa is demonstrating that nurturing future engineers goes beyond traditional classrooms or competitions. On STEM Day, the company shone a light on the full spectrum of its educational initiatives.
Read more...UKZN’s SMART lab wins aviation award
News
: The SMART Lab at UKZN was awarded first place in the Aviation Research and Development category at the Civil Aviation Authority of South Africa’s award ceremony for outstanding contributions and achievements in the aviation sector.
Read more...Meta and partners announce completion of 2Africa subsea cable system
News
Meta, in partnership with leading global and regional telecommunications companies, has announced the completion and activation of the core 2Africa subsea cable system. This marks a historic milestone in digital infrastructure, establishing what the world’s longest open-access subsea cable system.
Read more...SEW-EURODRIVE unveils world class facility in Gqeberha
News
In a landmark event in the Eastern Cape attended by key customers and industry leaders, SEW-EURODRIVE officially opened its expanded state-of-the-art facility in Gqeberha, marking a major milestone in its strategy to strengthen regional support and deepen its footprint in the region.
Read more...Africa’s brightest young battery innovators Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Schneider Electric and Enactus, the international NGO dedicated to inspiring students through entrepreneurial action, have announced the winners of the 2025 Energy Transition Battery Innovation Challenge, funded by the Schneider Electric Foundation. It empowers young innovators to design battery solutions addressing the region’s most pressing energy challenges.
Read more...The road to the Indaba
News
The Africa Automation Indaba 2026 is set to become a landmark gathering for Africa’s automation, process control and manufacturing community. SA Instrumentation and Control will be running a dedicated editorial series spotlighting the voices, ideas and debates shaping Africa’s industrial future.
Read more...Crash reconstruction tests advance vehicle safety research
News
The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Scientific Multidisciplinary Advanced Research Technologies (SMART) Lab recently participated in a series of collaborative crash reconstruction tests held at the Toyota Test Track.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version