Company History
The idea of using the power of water vapour as an energy source can be traced back to the
17th century. With the start of the 19th century and the development of steam boiler systems, efforts were made to use them in a targeted manner in order to continuously increase the performance of the boiler systems.
Unfortunately, such efforts were increasingly hindered by operational safety problems, and serious industrial accidents were the result.
Carl Schneider – Pioneer of Steam Technology
Against this background, the young engineer Carl Schneider understood that a regular inspection of the systems in operation as well as a thorough inspection of the steam boilers being put into operation is necessary to prevent industrial accidents. He presented this concept to the association of large breweries. With the consent of this association, he founded the “Dampfkessel-Revisions-Verein” [Steam Boiler Inspection Association] in Berlin on 10 February 1881. On 27 November 1881, he was informed by the royal police headquarters that he was approved as an inspector. From then on, familiar with the task of inspecting and maintaining boiler systems, he also began to educate his employees about the dangers of unnecessary pollutant emissions. The topic of environmental protection, which had hardly ever been discussed before that time, started to be taken seriously for the first time and became a feature and criterion of SCHNEIDER-KESSEL products.
Until his death on 17 April 1898, Carl Schneider remained chairman of the “Dampfkessel-Revisions-Vereins”, which was renamed the “Technischer-Überwachungs-Verein-Berlin” [Technical Inspection Association of Berlin] on 17 March 1938.
Siegfried Schneider - The Founding Years
With the intent of producing his own steam generator, Siegfried began his engineering career at Borsig. In 1919, he founded his own engineering company: Siegfried Schneider, Ingenieur”, a steam boiler manufacturer that had been one of the largest manufacturers for decades. Despite the harsh economic climate at the time and the restrictions it imposed, Gerhard Schneider joined his father’s company. In 1941, the company was renamed “Siegfried Schneider & Sohn – Dampfkesselanlagen und Rohrleitungsbau Berlin”.
Gerhard Schneider - Reconstruction
During the Second World War, Gerhard was briefly drafted into the military. After the end of the Second World War, a critical economic situation and an uncertain political situation, the resumption of the family business then required consistent action from Siegfried and Gerhard. But the efforts paid off and a new company logo was created as a sign of this reconstruction. This logo still marks the modernization of the company and the development of new boiler systems and types.