Erwin Sattler – A family-owned manufactory
13. Jun 2021
“What you can’t buy, you simply have to do it yourself,” was Heinrich Sattler’s motto. Erwin Sattler’s grandfather was a clockmaker and patented a clock for desks and shelves with a “perpetual calendar” on March 4, 1903. Almost 60 years after Heinrich Sattler’s invention, in 1958, his grandson Erwin (in the meantime also a clockmaker) founded his own clock manufactory in Gräfelfing near Munich. Back then, he attached great importance to the finest workmanship, highest precision and timeless aesthetics, all values that are still high on the manufactory’s list of specifications today. In keeping with the style of the period, some of the high-quality wall and table clock cases were hand-carved and poliment-gilded. Viola Sattler, Erwin Sattler’s wife and an artist in the family, also painted various models by hand, creating unique pieces with great attention to detail.
Stephanie Sattler, one of Erwin Sattler’s three daughters, joined the company in 1989. As a business economist, she has been in charge of the company’s business administration since then, in addition to purchasing and sales.
From 1992 onwards, a transformation from a clock-company to a clock-manufactory took place. The aim was to create an own clock-movement production in order to work as independent as possible. A production depth of over 90 percent was already achieved by 2002. The result is an enormous range of individual features and variations in the lovingly handcrafted clocks and precison watch winders.
Erwin Sattler also retired from “his” company in 2002 and handed over the lead to his daughter Stephanie Sattler-Rick and watchmaker Richard Müller, who until then had been a freelance sales representative and later a limited partner in the company.
With the idea to offer precision pendulum clocks as kits that get assembled by the customer himself, the manufactory opened a completely new, unimaginable way. However, the success of Müller & Sattler Uhrenbausatz GmbH, which is still active today, proves that the second generation of company owners was right to take this risk.
In 2006, a milestone in the history of the manufactory was reached – the move to its own, larger company building, which is also located in Gräfelfing near Munich Here, the machinery could be expanded according to the increased demands. Also the number of employed clockmakers increased, so that they found in the brighter and more spacious building better working conditions. A special highlight of the new manufactory building is the facade, where the largest precision pendulum clock in the world is swinging with a pendulum length of almost eight meters!
In 2019, Richard Müller took his well-earned retirement and Markus Glöggler and Jürgen Kohler, two experienced master clockmakers, took over part of the management alongside Stephanie Sattler-Rick.
With the diligence and esprit of all those involved, the Erwin Sattler clock manufactory has developed over the years into a modern clock brand that combines state-of-the-art production technologies with centuries-old craftsmanship. The result is wonderful furnishings and precision instruments that are the visual focal point of any room and can be proudly passed on to the next generation by their owner.
The “Made in Germany” seal of quality is not only used confidently here, but also lived to the smallest detail!
Beitrag von
Julia Rick
Julia Rick ist in München geboren und aufgewachsen. Nach dem Abitur an der Europäischen Schule München absolvierte sie eine Ausbildung zur Handelsfachwirtin im Bereich Schmuck und Uhren. Derzeit studiert sie im Master International Management und arbeitet bei Erwin Sattler in den Bereichen Personalmanagement und Online-Marketing.
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