Family-owned since 1919
As a family-owned company in its fourth generation, we stand for tradition in craftsmanship. For over a century, we have dedicated ourselves to the art of casting and are proud to pass on our passion from generation to generation.
History
Family-owned since 1919
As a family-owned company in its fourth generation, we stand for tradition in craftsmanship. For over a century, we have dedicated ourselves to the art of casting and are proud to pass on our passion from generation to generation.
History
1919 - 1940
Company founder Ernst Strassacker was born in 1872 and completed an apprenticeship as a chaser at WMF. Frustrated by his faltering career, he emigrated to England with his wife Bertha and son Max. The family returned to Germany in 1912. Ernst Strassacker became plant manager of the galvanoplastic department of the Kuntze company in Süßen. However, when he returned home from the First World War, he found himself unemployed and decided to become self-employed in producing letters and grave decorations.
He acquired letter models from a company in the surrounding area, which had closed its production at that time and took over the first customers. Ernst Strassacker took advantage of this entry opportunity and registered a business in 1919. The company grew despite economic challenges and expanded its product range. Ernst Strassacker died in 1940.
How it all began
1st generation
Company founder Ernst Strassacker was born in 1872 and completed an apprenticeship as a chaser at WMF. Frustrated by his faltering career, he emigrated to England with his wife Bertha and son Max. The family returned to Germany in 1912. Ernst Strassacker became plant manager of the galvanoplastic department of the Kuntze company in Süßen. However, when he returned home from the First World War, he found himself unemployed and decided to become self-employed in producing letters and grave decorations.
He acquired letter models from a company in the surrounding area, which had closed its production at that time and took over the first customers. Ernst Strassacker took advantage of this entry opportunity and registered a business in 1919. The company grew despite economic challenges and expanded its product range. Ernst Strassacker died in 1940.
1919 - 1940
1940 - 1974
Max Strassacker, Ernst Strassacker's son, took over the business. During the Second World War, however, bronze casting of any kind was forbidden. Only so-called "war-important" work was permitted. Production was, therefore, converted to a war economy from 1940 to 1945, but secret business relations with stonemasons were maintained. After the war, the focus remained on technical aluminum casting and the company produced cooking pots, spätzle machines, waffle irons and frying pans.
Max and his sons Wolfgang, Ernst, and Werner worked hard to build up the company. Even after their father's retirement, the trio of brothers developed new ideas and products. These brought success and the company continued to develop. A modern wet casting process and electric melting furnaces were introduced to deal with the increasing demand and delivery times. Today, the fully automatic molding plant with a closed casting furnace is the highest possible standard currently available in Süßen.
What happened afterwards
2nd generation
Max Strassacker, Ernst Strassacker's son, took over the business. During the Second World War, however, bronze casting of any kind was forbidden. Only so-called "war-important" work was permitted. Production was, therefore, converted to a war economy from 1940 to 1945, but secret business relations with stonemasons were maintained. After the war, the focus remained on technical aluminum casting and the company produced cooking pots, spätzle machines, waffle irons and frying pans.
Max and his sons Wolfgang, Ernst, and Werner worked hard to build up the company. Even after their father's retirement, the trio of brothers developed new ideas and products. These brought success and the company continued to develop. A modern wet casting process and electric melting furnaces were introduced to deal with the increasing demand and delivery times. Today, the fully automatic molding plant with a closed casting furnace is the highest possible standard currently available in Süßen.
1940 - 1974
1954 - 2001
After 1950, art casting experienced an upswing. With the increase in art casting orders, a new process was introduced in production, the lost wax casting process. In the 1970s it finally became apparent that the construction possibilities would soon be exhausted and the labour market was also virtually empty. So the three brothers set up a factory for processing raw castings from Süßen in Heimsbrunn, the location of the newly founded subsidiary in France. Spectacular orders such as the portals for the palace of the Emir of Qatar were processed there.
Wolfgang Strassacker, the oldest of the three brothers, retired in the spring of 1992 and his brother Ernst retired in April 1994. Werner Strassacker was now responsible for the overall management. Since 1992, Edith Strassacker, Werner Strassacker's daughter, has been the fourth generation of the family to be actively involved in the business.
How it continued
3rd generation
After 1950, art casting experienced an upswing. With the increase in art casting orders, a new process was introduced in production, the lost wax casting process. In the 1970s it finally became apparent that the construction possibilities would soon be exhausted and the labour market was also virtually empty. So the three brothers set up a factory for processing raw castings from Süßen in Heimsbrunn, the location of the newly founded subsidiary in France. Spectacular orders such as the portals for the palace of the Emir of Qatar were processed there.
Wolfgang Strassacker, the oldest of the three brothers, retired in the spring of 1992 and his brother Ernst retired in April 1994. Werner Strassacker was now responsible for the overall management. Since 1992, Edith Strassacker, Werner Strassacker's daughter, has been the fourth generation of the family to be actively involved in the business.
1954 - 2001
2001 - today
Edith Strassacker has been managing the family business in the fourth generation since 2001. Since then, new foreign markets have been opened up and new product segments in architecture have been developed. In 2012, the publishing and distribution of own editions by renowned artists was further expanded with Edition Strassacker. However, sacred art and creative gravestone design continue to be Strassacker's main focus. In addition to optimizing operational processes, new technologies such as modern CNC milling techniques and 3D printing for model creation were introduced.
The quality of the products and the claim to be the competent partner for stonemasons, artists, sculptors, architects and municipalities have the highest priority for Edith Strassacker. After the successful restructuring in recent years, the company, which currently has around 320 employees, is ideally positioned for the future.
The story takes its course
4th generation
Edith Strassacker has been managing the family business in the fourth generation since 2001. Since then, new foreign markets have been opened up and new product segments in architecture have been developed. In 2012, the publishing and distribution of own editions by renowned artists was further expanded with Edition Strassacker. However, sacred art and creative gravestone design continue to be Strassacker's main focus. In addition to optimizing operational processes, new technologies such as modern CNC milling techniques and 3D printing for model creation were introduced.
The quality of the products and the claim to be the competent partner for stonemasons, artists, sculptors, architects and municipalities have the highest priority for Edith Strassacker. After the successful restructuring in recent years, the company, which currently has around 320 employees, is ideally positioned for the future.