A small find with greater significance
An unassuming find can reveal much more than meets the eye. This is precisely what the story of an old sample board featuring STAUFF clamps – discovered at our customer Schlie Hydraulik in Hamburg – demonstrates.
The board had apparently been hanging in the warehouse for many years – showing its age, but still complete and essentially intact. The brief note accompanying it was as simple as it was remarkable:
“It seems we’ve been a customer for a long time – this might already be 40–50 years old.”
A find that we at STAUFF were delighted to discover. We’re taking this as an opportunity to invite our customer, Schlie Hydraulik, to swap the old sample panel for a new one.
How a found artefact led to a personal exchange
On 11 June, a visit finally took place at the Werdohl site, where representatives from both companies came together. The focus was not only on the handover of the old sample panel, but above all on personal dialogue.
The panel was handed over by the customer and, in return, replaced with a current sample panel. A side-by-side comparison of the two panels clearly illustrates the significant expansion of the STAUFF product range over the past decades.
This exchange symbolises the further development of the partnership: the existing is honoured, whilst at the same time new impetus is provided.
The meeting served not only as a handover but also to strengthen the partnership and discuss future topics. Potential was identified here, particularly in the area of STAUFF Connect.
Those present included (from left to right):
Andreas Biesterfeldt and Ralf Welzel from Schlie Hydraulik
Arend Wiebe from STAUFF’s sales department
Andreas Toporowsky, Product Manager for Connect
What the sample board reveals about STAUFF’s quality and durability
The sample panel can be dated to the late 1970s, specifically around 1978. This dating is based, amongst other things, on the STAUFF company logo used at the time and the colour scheme of the clamps.
At that time, different colour codes were still in use:
Green for metric versions
Brown for imperial pipe sizes
Blue for the imperial system
It was only later that this differentiation was abandoned in favour of a standardised colour scheme.
The fact that this chart still exists today and that the products on it are clearly recognisable is more than just a coincidence. It shows that the underlying solutions were – and still are – designed for durability.
Examples such as these make quality tangible. They show that claims regarding durability can not only be formulated in theory, but also remain verifiable over the course of decades.
Why is the clamp green?
As can be seen in this post, the colour scheme of our clamp has evolved over time. To find out how it came to be the distinctive STAUFF green and what else lies behind it, read our blog post
STAUFF in the late 1970s – a look back
The sample board also provides an insight into an earlier phase of the company’s development.
By the late 1970s, STAUFF was already operating internationally, albeit with a much more focused product range. The head office was located on Neustadtstraße in Werdohl.
The product range primarily comprised:
STAUFF clamps
Return Line Bushings
Plastic tank filler necks
Turnover stood at the equivalent of around 5 to 6 million euros, whilst sales were already being made in around 20 countries worldwide. These included markets in Europe, Japan and South Africa, as well as the first branches in the USA, the UK and Australia.
At this stage, STAUFF was still firmly positioned as a component manufacturer. The development into a comprehensive full-range supplier of hydraulics piping technology from its own production only took place in the following decades.
Why such encounters are more than just symbolic
Encounters such as these go beyond a purely symbolic nature. They demonstrate how important personal interaction is in an industrial context.
The presentation of the sample board and the direct dialogue illustrate that cooperation takes place on several levels: technical, business-related and, above all, based on partnership.
This is not just about products or individual projects, but about a long-term perspective. Solutions continue to evolve, requirements change – yet the foundation is a collaboration that has grown over the years.
At the same time, it becomes clear how STAUFF itself has evolved: from a specialist manufacturer of individual components to a diversified partner with a global presence.
This little find from Hamburg thus ultimately stands for something greater: for continuity, development and the link between the past and the future.
FAQs
How old is the STAUFF sample board that was found?
The sample board can be dated to around 1978. This is indicated by the logo used at the time and the colour coding of the clamps.
Why is the sample board a special example of quality?
Because, after several decades, it is still fully intact and its function and structure are clearly recognisable. It demonstrates the durability of the products.
What happened at the meeting in Werdohl?
The old sample board was handed over by the customer and replaced with a current version. At the same time, there was a face-to-face discussion about future collaboration.
What does this story reveal about working with customers?
It shows that partnerships in industry grow over the long term and are nurtured through personal contacts.
What products did STAUFF offer in the 1970s?
The product range consisted mainly of clamps, pipe glands and plastic components such as tank filler necks.
How has STAUFF developed since then?
STAUFF has evolved from a component manufacturer into an internationally active company with a broad portfolio of system solutions.
Newsletter sign-up
Sign up now and never miss another post!
