In 1901 in Kassel, pharmacist Dr. Carl Siebert and glass and thermometer specialist Albert Kühn founded the company Dr. Siebert & Kühn. The production and sales programme covered high-quality precision glass thermometers and glass equipment for laboratory supplies. Led by Albert Kühn, important developments were made in the area of glass thermometry, in particular for high-temperature measurements of up to 625°C. In this context, it is worth mentioning that Dr. Siebert & Kühn is known as the manufacturer of the first quartz glass thermometer. Thanks to their precision and reliability, the thermometers produced by SIKA became known around the world and received the highest degree of appreciation – various certificates bear witness to their superior quality.

Qualified engineer Hans Siebert, son of Dr. Carl Siebert, joined the directors of the company in 1930.

In 1932, Hans Siebert took on his father’s company shares, as well as those belonging to the Kühn family. For 36 years, until 1968, he controlled the fate of the company as the sole owner, with inventiveness and entrepreneurial spirit, and he laid the foundations for the success of the globally active family company today.

In 1939, Hans Siebert was granted a patent for the SIKA industrial thermometer which he developed.

The constantly growing demand for SIKA thermometers meant that the production capacity had to increase from 1940. For this purpose, a factory building in Kaufungen, just outside Kassel, was purchased and underwent extensive renovations. In 1943, the company moved to its new location.

After the turmoil of the war and the post-war era, the company experienced a revival in 1949 with the successful market launch of the SIKA industrial thermometer.

In 1952, once the SIKA thermometer had become the standard thanks to its good qualities and global recognition, the customers demanded that the SIKA thermometer construction become a German Industry Standard (DIN). Under the chairmanship of qualified engineer Hans Siebert, a standards committee was founded, staffed by other industry experts. In 1961, this committee successfully completed what he had started – the approval of DIN 16181 to 16191.

The transition which began in the 1950s, where SIKA went from being a manufacturer of laboratory glass thermometers produced individually to a mass producer of industrial thermometers, ended in 1962. To be able to meet the increasing global need among industry customers for temperature measurement devices with displays, the production range was promptly expanded to include dial thermometers based on various measurement principles.

Foundation of the first foreign branch in France. SIKA France SARL is still in based in Paris today.

In 1968, company owner Hans Siebert retired from the company for health reasons, and appointed Horst Maul as Managing Director, a staff member who had already been working as a commercial director since 1964.

Since 1950, the number of employees increased from 40 to 90. The site in Kaufungen, which had been chosen in the first place because of its expansion possibilities, offered adequate options for a two-storey management building for sales and management to be built on the premises.

With the expansion of the factory building by a two-story addition, completed in 1971, the next milestone was laid to continue to secure and expand on the success of the long-standing company. In the same year, Hans Siebert passed away and left Dr. Siebert & Kühn GmbH & Co. KG to his sons, Werner and Christian.

With experience in various businesses both in Germany and abroad, the older son, Werner Siebert, joined the company directors in 1973 as the third generation of managing director. Under his leadership, the product range was further diversified and expanded – for example, the 4...20 mA transducer for temperature measurement developed by SIKA was patented. At the same time, SIKA was developing a product range to monitor and measure flow rate.

Production began of battery-operated electronic manual temperature measurement devices for laboratories and workshops. The production and sale of a vast range of electronic temperature measurement, control, and monitoring devices for all industry applications.

SIKA did pioneering work in the area of dry block calibration instruments for calibrating temperature sensors from -55 °C to 1,300 °C for the quality control of industry systems.

After the sudden death of Horst Maul in 1985, qualified industrial engineer Christian Siebert was a further member of the family to join the company directors in 1986 as managing partner. The clear separation of and concentration on different areas of business led to the consistent further development of the product range.

When SIKA Systemtechnik GmbH was founded, the SIKA company group established itself in the area of Flow Measuring Instruments. SIKA represented tailored solutions in particular for original equipment manufacturers (OEM customers) in the industry.

The production was expanded by an area of 1,000 m² over three storeys. In addition, new social spaces for the workers were created as part of the expansion.

A two-storey addition to the north face of the existing office building allowed for more office workspaces.

With the market launch of SIKA’s turbine flow sensor TURBOTRON, the company had made the first move towards tapping into new markets in flow rate measurement. This product family is subjected to constant further development and is adapted to suit the market requirements, and has been marketed with success up until the present day.

The creation and accreditation of the DKD laboratory for temperature sensors, pressure sensors and dry block temperature calibrators in 1995

SIKA Aquatec GmbH was founded in 2000.

With the completely newly developed TP 38 000 series, SIKA successfully reacted to the growing market demands in temperature calibration technology.

Based on modern electronics, a thermometer operated with solar cells was developed for the local temperature display.

The spatial capacities had to be expanded once more. With a three-storey addition to the existing factory building, room was created for new offices, production rooms and social spaces over an area of 1,570 m². Qualified industrial engineer Sebastian Siebert, son of Werner Siebert, joined the directors of the company.

SIKA USA Inc. was founded in 2004 in Sturtevant, Wisconsin.

SIKA also started building up a presence in China.

In the marine sector, the development of the TP 17 000 series from the dry block calibrators expanded the product range to include a device for quality inspections on ships.

The TP 17 000 series was expanded to include calibration baths.

Further business spaces for sales and management were added

The positive development of the product range and sales figures in Flow Measuring Instruments required another expansion of the sales department, which was achieved by constructing a new office suite.

As the result of intensive development work, a modern series of magnetic-inductive flow rate measurement devices could be presented to the customers.

Temperature measurement devices in the SolarTemp 850 series, developed especially for the use of large diesel engines, were brought onto the market

In 2010, Werner Siebert withdrew from the operative business as member of the management board, but remained connected to the company in a consulting capacity.

Foundation of SIKA Korea Ltd. At this time, the fourth overseas branch.

Expansion of the production capacities for magnetic-inductive flow rate measurement devices with the takeover of Zénon SARL in France.

The long-term success of the family company, in its 4th generation at this time, were based on the ability to combine tradition and specialist competence with a joy of innovation, quality and a modern management style, as well as on the dedication of over 300 employees. More than 30 engineers and technicians worked in the research and development, construction, the calibration laboratory and quality assurance, and they contributed to securing the company for the future by way of a continual expansion of the product range to include innovative and profitable products.

The product range of high-quality temperature calibrators was expanded further to include dry block temperature calibrators TP 37165E, TP 37166E and TP 37200E. Each has an innovative touchscreen control surface.

A strong/good business year in 2014 and a sharp rise in demand for Vortex flow sensors made it possible to expand the production lines at the Kaufungen site. To allow for future expansions, an additional 6000 m² of land was purchased near the headquarters in Kaufungen.

The restructuring of the product areas meant that the company could focus on the needs of the customers much better than before. Needs can be recorded and processed simply and independently of the measurement method.

As the fifth sales branch, SIKA Instruments UK was founded in the United Kingdom. We were also delighted about the establishment of a sales office in Austria.

The introduction of new temperature calibrators, as well as the further development of our extensive range of temperature, pressure and flow rate measuring devices bear witness to the continual expansion of our high-quality product range.

Klaus Rümler joined the company management as a new managing director. Together with Christian and Sebastian Siebert, he is to guide the fate of the company and make it fit for the future.

As the sixth sales branch, SIKA Austria was founded, with its registered office in Vienna. This branch handles the customer support and the support of sales partners in Austria and the Balkan countries.

Mathias Schuster succeeds Klaus Rümler as the new Managing Director, who will retire in March 2023.
SIKA achieved a new record turnover of € 65 million.