history
Company history
1951 – TODAY
1951
On July 1st, Wilhelm Krug and Ludwig Priester founded the company as specialized retail store, repair shop, and manufacturing facility for office machines, located at Tübinger Str. 7 in Balingen. Already in the founding years the young enterprise exhibits its products at the Hanover Fair - the basis for early success in export business.
1953
The production of duplicating machines, paper trimmers, ballpoint pens and spray guns moved into the first company-owned building on Schickhardtstraße.
1956
The production facilities were enlarged by erecting additional buildings and the production was concentrated on paper trimmers and duplicating machines.
1958
The retail division of the company was abandoned. Guillotine paper cutters supplement the production program.
1959
IDEAL develops paper shredders for the American market; along with the cutting machines they become a main product group for the production and world-wide distribution. A new office building at the Schickhardtstraße site made it possible to merge production and administration at one location.
1964
The production space was adapted to the steadily growing demand for the IDEAL products.
1966
2000 sqm production space were added in a new building.
1968
Wilhelm Krug left the company. Wolfgang Priester joins as a new share holder in the limited partnership.
1970
A neighbourhood piece of land with a production building was acquired and used as a workshop for the tool and die makers and for the R & D department.
1976
Happiness about the 25th anniversary of the company and the acquisition of a neighbouring site over 10,000 sqm, which assured, that the firm had room to expand in the future, sadness on the other hand about the death of company founder Ludwig Priester. The firm was carefully restructured, new buildings replaced old ones, modern CNC technology was introduced, and intensified, customer oriented distribution ensures further expansion.
1986
The purchase of an additional site enables the company to build a modern, environmentally friendly powder coating plant. Product innovations and modern marketing methods guarantee further growth as well as higher market shares for IDEAL shredders and IDEAL paper cutting machines.
1990
A new administration building with a modern logistics center is opened at the Simon-Schweitzer-Straße.
1991
IDEAL celebrates its 40th anniversary. A 50 percent partnership is acquired in the longstanding US agency, which helps to secure a larger market share in the most important export market of the company.
1992
The reunification of Germany creates a big demand for IDEAL products. The company turnover reached almost 90 Mio. German Marks.
1994
IDEAL acquires 93 percent of the shares of its longstanding French agent, E.A. Clémentz & Cie., Reichstett.
1996
The extension of the production premises by a further 2,000 sqm finalizes the constructional development as per today.
1998
IDEAL is the leading manufacturer worldwide for paper shredders and office cutting machines. If the sales of the partner companies in the USA and France are consolidated, the turnover is considerably over 100 Million German Marks.
2001
On June 30th the company is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in the municipal festivity hall of Balingen. During that time the company has 380 employees in Balingen.
2005
The company is investing into the location Balingen and the extension of the administration building by further 1.000 sqm in the Simon-Schweitzer-Strasse. Target of this measurement was the centralisation of all commercial and technical administration departments on one floor. For an improved internal communication - by shorter distances, more efficiency and optimised work courses.
2008
With AL1 Krug & Priester designs a veritable first class document shredder. For its innovative concept AL1 is decorated with numerous worldwide recognized design awards like the „red dot design award“ and the „iF product design award“. It is further nominated for „The 2008 Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany” and is chosen „Product of the Year 2008” by the PBS Industry Association.
