AUTHOR Andre Weiland
PUBLISHED 21. FEB 2025
ERCO Light Factory – Light is the fourth dimension of architecture
ERCO history / milestones
1934 Founded as Reininghaus & Co by Arnold Reininghaus, Karl Reeber and Paul Buschhaus. All with commercial and technical backgrounds in the local electrical industry. Initially, parts for lights such as pendants and spring balancers are manufactured. ERCO emerges as a brand name for complete light fittings. Turnover of approx. 1.5 million Reichsmark per year until the outbreak of war. 1946 Restart after the war. In 1945, production was still severely damaged by bombing. Paul Buschhaus is killed in the war, heirs are paid out. The first post-war trade fair is held in Hanover, customer relations are partially resumed and table lamps are produced in rented halls. 1956: Trade mark protection of the name ‘ERCO’.
1959 The lighting programme includes kitchen pull lights, bedside lights and wall lights. However, bathroom lights are the mainstay of sales. Exports also develop. 1960 (50%) and 1970 (100%) Karl Reeber sells his shares to the daughter of A. Reininghaus.
1963 MARriage of Klaus J. Maack and daughter of A. Reininghaus, succession issue is thus resolved. Foundation stone laid for radical change in the product range, introduction of product lines such as track, spotlights and flush-mounted downlights. New production building (30000 square metres) by K.J. Maack, who enjoys the full confidence of A. Reininghaus.
1968 New concept ‘Light instead of luminaires’ is presented at the trade fair in Hanover.
1974 Legal form as a limited company. Start of collaboration with Otl Aicher, who significantly characterises the ERCO
( CI ) and with many international designers. Numerous design awards follow.
1977 First issue of ERCO Lichtbericht is published, which has been reporting on lighting applications in architecture ever since. Foundation of international subsidiaries, turnover in 1979 at 84 million DM.
1980 German MARketing Award for ‘Light instead of luminaires’, further high-calibre design awards follow
1988 Completion of technical centre, numerous architectural awards. Turnover of DM 200 million in 1990.
1993 Klaus Jürgen Maack is honoured with the Federal Design Award.
2003 Klaus Jürgen Maack hands over the management of the company to his son Tim Henrik Maack
2015 Complete conversion of the entire product portfolio to LED technology
ERCO Vision : Improving architecture and society through light
Light is our contribution to making society and architecture better and at the same time preserving our environment. We see light as the 4th dimension of architecture – and therefore as an integral part of sustainable building.
The world around us is three-dimensional. For us, light is an independent dimension of architecture. By this we mean that our lighting solutions give buildings, offices or outdoor facilities an additional design dimension and provide added value for the people who use them every day. Our vision is to make architecture and society better through light
ERCO Mission : Specialising in high-end lighting solutions
We are specialists in high-quality and customised lighting solutions. We provide our services in designing these lighting solutions for our customers through the intelligent combination of lighting tools from our development and production site and the consulting services of our global network of ERCO lighting consultants in the world’s major cities.
Our target markets are the small and large trend-setting construction projects in the world’s urban centres. Here we want to grow faster than our competitors with our customised lighting solutions.
We are focussed on the application areas of Work, Culture, Shop, Community, Contemplation, Hospitality, Living and Public.
ERCO Today
ERCO is a leading international specialist for efficient architectural lighting with LED technology. The family-owned company based in Lüdenscheid is represented worldwide with independent sales and partner organisations in around 55 countries. In 2015, the company became the first classic luminaire manufacturer with a product range based entirely on LED technology. The approximately 1,000 employees worldwide are committed to ensuring that LED technology not only remains a technology, but is further developed into sustainable lighting tools.
Sources: www.erco.de , book ERCO Lichtfabrik (Ernst & Sohn), ppt company presentation 2025, wikipedia