AZ Armaturen Company History
from founding times to internationality
Small and modest beginnings in the Black Forest in 1963 were the foundation stone for today’s internationally active AZ group of companies. With its specialized products and expert advice, AZ has always been a partner to industry and plant engineering for the highest standards of quality and technology.
An AZ valve from the past…
…and from today
Today
Since 1997: CEO and Owner: Dipl.-Ing. Jörg Wisser (*1964)
October 2024
AZ UK: New premises
in Roecliffe (North Yorkshire, England)
September 2024
AZ France: Own service workshop
near Lyon/France
November 2023
New service center for AZ Thailand
AZ Armaturen Thailand has moved its service center to a new building owned by AZ.
October 2023
2023: 60 years of AZ Armaturen
60 years of AZ Armaturen – anniversary celebration with international guests
September 2023
Plant expansion in Taicang (China)
A new, larger production hall was added to the AZ plant in Taicang, China.
January 2021
AZ Nuclear Division
The AZ Armaturen Nuclear Division is founded in 2021.
September 2020
2020 Foundation of AZ Armaturen France
in Lyon/France
February 2020
Expansion of the AZF foundry in Brazil
A new hall was added to AZ’s own foundry in Itatiba, Brazil.
June 2019
2019 Foundation of the sales subsidiary AZ Armaturen Vietnam CO. LTD.
in June 2019
August 2016
2016 Foundation of AZ Valves North America
im August in Houston, Texas
December 2014
2014 Foundation of AZ Armaturen Eurasia, St. Petersburg
AZ Eurasia, our representative office in the Russian Federation, is founded in December 2014. It is based in St. Petersburg.
September 2014
2014 Expansion of production
The second expansion of the production areas at the Mönchweiler plant.
September 2013
2013 Construction of the Polish branch with service workshop
Construction of AZ Armaturen Polska Sp.zo.o’s own offices and service workshop in Opoczno.
September 2012
2012 Foundation of AZ Armaturen Thailand Co. Ltd.
Foundation of AZ Armaturen Thailand Co. Ltd. in Nonthaburi (Bangkok).
2012 AZ Armaturen builds the world’s largest plug valve
The world’s largest 24″ full bore plug valve realized for a project in India.
January 2012
2012 New production halls for the Taicang/China plant
AZ Armaturen Trading Co., Ltd. moves into new production halls in Taicang/China.
January 2010
2010 Development of valves for nuclear power plants
- Development and delivery of high-pressure plug valves made of forged material with electric actuator for nuclear power plants in Hungary, size DN 80 Extra, PN 100.
- A “gray room” is set up at the Mönchweiler plant for the oil- and grease-free assembly of valves that are required, for example, for ultra-pure silicon production or for the pharmaceutical and food industries.
- Expansion of the company’s own photovoltaic system to a total of 295 kW. In summer, up to 70 % of the company’s own power supply comes from solar energy.
- The production company AZ Armaturen Trading Co., Ltd. relocates production from Shanghai to Taicang/China.
January 2009
2009 Own stainless steel foundry in Brazil
- Expansion of the plant in Brazil with the construction of an in-house stainless steel foundry for investment casting.
- Patent granted for the 2-fold cardan coupling for drive mounting.
- Expansion of incoming goods inspection with X-ray gun for flawless metal analysis.
July 2008
2008 Introduction of CFD flow simulation
- Introduction of CFD flow simulation analysis to optimize the control valves.
- In July, AZ Armaturen Trading Co., Ltd. is founded in Shanghai, China.
- 16″ and 20″ plug valves with full round passage are delivered for a project in Poland.
December 2007
2007 AZ Armaturen on course for expansion
- In December, AZ Armaturen Italia Ltd. Caltignaga/Italy is founded,
- in February the subsidiary AZ Armaturen Asia (Pte) Ltd. in Singapore.
September 1995
1995 Foundation of AZ Armaturen do Brasil Ltda.
in September in São Paulo, first production in rented buildings in Itatiba.
October 1992
1992 Foundation of AZ Valves (U.K.) Ltd.
in Gravenhurst, Great Britain, in October.
March 1992
1992 Move to Mönchweiler
- The move from Schonach to Mönchweiler to the new production and administration building takes place in March 1992. In April, the son of the company founder, Dipl.-Ing. Jörg Wisser, joins the company.
- AZ receives utility model protection for the SAMPLING sampling system.
January 1988
1988 Introduction of the dye penetration testing
The dye penetration process (FE) in accordance with DIN EN 571 becomes an integral part of quality management.
June 1987
1987 Foundation of AZ Benelux Special Valves BV
in Lisse/Netherlands.
September 1985
1985 Foundation of AZ-Armaturen South Africa (Pty) Ltd
in Johannesburg/Boksburg. Valves for the African (sub-Saharan) economy are manufactured and sold here. AZ-Armaturen South Africa also offers the typical services associated with the AZ product range – technical advice, customized design, overhaul of existing valves and 24-hour service.
January 1978
1972 Lined valves
Valves are lined with FEP in order to be able to dispense with high-quality materials for aggressive media.
AZ is one of the pioneers in this process and starts with FEP lining using the transfer molding process. At the same time, high-voltage pore testing is introduced for this new generation of valves.
January 1968
1968 Explosion-proof pneumatic actuators
The first explosion-proof pneumatic actuator is developed. Electric actuators are on the decline in the chemical industry.
January 1965
1965 First own production
The first premises are rented in Triberg. Gerhard Wisser produces on 64 m2 with 3 employees.
The Karlsruhe Nuclear Research Center is one of the first major customers to order hundreds of sleeve valves.
October 1963
1963 Foundation of AZ Armaturen GmbH
Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Wisser founds the company AZ Armaturen GmbH with a former fellow student on October 18, 1963.
The first products are designed and manufactured by third-party companies.