THE 1920S
Pioneers of a cleaner world
1927
The founding
The company „MEIKO Maschinen und Apparatebau“ is founded. Great cleaning starts with the founders’ vision of „making the world a cleaner place“. MEIKO builds the very first professional dishwashing machine (the „Standard DRP“ model) which becomes a huge seller all across Europe. The company lays the foundations for high export sales right from the start. Today, exports account for 60% of its sales.
Between 1927 and 1950, MEIKO produced machines with wonderful names such as Konstanze, Monika and Erika. Monika was the successor to the original „Standard DRP“ model.
1928
The product range is being extended
MEIKO increases its range of products, manufacturing and offering new additions including tables and counters for commercial kitchens, specialist food processors for tasks such as grating, chopping, stirring, mixing and whipping, and water heaters.
THE 1930S
A turbulent period of integrity and ingenuity
1934
More Products for hospitals & nursing homes
MEIKO starts making „emptying, washing and disinfecting machines“ for hospitals and care homes. After the war, the models initially retained the same basic look. It wasn’t until many years later that their design was completely overhauled. Nowadays they are generally referred to as bedpan washer-disinfectors.
1937
Oskar Meier becomes sole owner
Oskar Meier is keen to leave MEIKO and start up a new company to make refrigerators. The idea is for Franz Konrad to take sole charge of MEIKO – but things don’t work out as planned. On 17 September 1937, Konrad is taken into custody by the Gestapo. He had been denounced by an apprentice after criticising the Nazi regime and Adolf Hitler in front of his employees on numerous occasions. Charged, detained and ultimately acquitted, Konrad has to sell his stake in MEIKO in 1938 to stop the company losing its government contracts. The two MEIKO founders agree that Konrad should receive a payment of 65,000 Reichsmarks. In 1940, he opens an ironmongers in the Polish city of Kalisz.
THE 1940S
Destruction – and a new beginning
1940
Rack type dishwashing machines are launched on the market
People are looking for new solutions to deal with larger amounts of dishware, especially in restaurant and catering environments. The aim is to run the dishwash area smoothly and efficiently and avoid piles of dirty dishware. To meet this challenge, MEIKO launches a new product in the early 1940s: rack type dishwashing machines. They are an immediate hit, and they continue to sell well today. At that time, the focus was still firmly on automatic machines and appliances.
1944
Complete destruction & Reconstruction
MEIKO doesn’t escape unscathed from World War II: on 27 November 1944, the company is completely destroyed by an aerial bombardment and production is temporarily shifted to Zunsweier. The following years are particularly tough. Some employees have been captured as prisoners of war, and the company struggles to rebuild things from scratch. Some of those held in captivity return to the company after their release.
1945
Post-war period: New Contracts
The post-war period sees the company engage in some very different kinds of work. Faced with a scarcity of resources, MEIKO workers strip down railway freight cars and passenger carriages that were destroyed in the fighting to reuse their parts. Work also comes from the occupying powers, including contracts to clean up the debris along railway lines and rebuild the prison in Offenburg. Getting hold of the materials needed to make machines is extremely difficult. MEIKO Ettenheim specialises in taking apart the remains of old aircraft. Aluminium is particularly sought-after as a raw material for making pots, pans and spaetzle presses. A brisk bartering trade is up and running. Oskar Meier spends a period working as the factory manager at the company Nestler in Lahr, which made pots and pans.
1948
New part of the company
An iron and metal foundry is set up in Ettenheim and incorporated as part of the company. This benefits MEIKO enormously, because the company mostly relies on acquiring cast parts, stopcocks and valves made from grey cast iron in order to install them in dishwashing machines and medical devices. Today, the Ettenheim iron foundry employs 50 people, including two apprentices. It makes a range of products including injection molded parts, pumps, fittings and gear units as well as application-specific components.
THE 1950S
A flourishing period of research
1954
Two new machines
The 1950s mark the launch of the MEIKO SE 100/U, which becomes a huge export success. Its innovative features include a chainless conveyor for dish racks and baskets as well as a steam condensing system and a dishware drying system. It soon becomes Europe’s best-selling machine based on a circulating pump – a genuine dishwashing marvel! But MEIKO doesn’t stop there. Its next step is to launch a flight type dishwashing machine, which also proves to be a great hit. The success of this popular type of MEIKO dishwashing machine began in 1954 with the BA 125 and still continues today with the M-iQ range.
THE 1960S
Ups and downs in Offenburg
1960
Individual Solutions
The EE60 heralds a new generation of hood type dishwashing machines – and it takes the market by storm. Its success stems from how it makes life so much easier for machine operators. The magic word ergonomics is already on people’s lips. The goal is to put less strain on people in the workplace – and that’s a philosophy that MEIKO continues to pursue today. But the company focuses on more than just washing dishes. MEIKO has started making special washing machines to clean handsets from public telephone booths for the German Post Office, and even comb washers for a comb manufacturer! It is also reaching out beyond high-volume production to place more of an emphasis on tailored solutions for individual customers.
