History of Kummler+Matter AG

Kummler + Matter AG is part of a long business tradition. The company was founded by Hermann Kummler, one of Switzerland’s leading pioneers in the field of electrical equipment, power lines and electrical engineering.

A short account of the company and its founder: 
 
1863
Hermann Kummler born in Aarau on 27th June 

1881
Our founder entered the Aargauische Creditanstalt (a bank) as a trainee 
 
1884-1885
Kummler is active in the import business in Marseille 
 
1888-1891
Kummler works for Cramer-Frey & Co., Pernambuco, in the import business 
 
1892
Elektrizitätswerk Aarau, Bäurlin & Kummler. The concession for the first light and power system for the City of Aarau.

1894
Share-holder in the “EW Olten-Aarburg”, Ruppoldingen power station. This formed the basis for the construction of the first major power cable system. Separated from Bäurlin (later Sprecher & Schuh) and founded his own company, H. Kummler & Cie. 

1896
Built a new factory in the Bleichmatt, Aarau. Study visits to the Berlin Electrical Trade Exhibition and the Bavarian Electrical Exhibition in Nuremberg. He also visited Emil Rathenau, AEG and Schuckert. 

1897
Married Elsa Sauerländer. Their first home was at Herzogstrasse 27, Aarau but they later bought Villa Olinda which is now Parkweg 9.
Involved in power station projects in Schinznach and Gnadenthal. The competition was from Acetylene and gas lighting. 

1899
Visits to the Berlin Automobile Exhibition, AEG, the express tramway running between Marienfelde and Zossen, Voigt & Haeffner in Bockenheim and C.F. Benz in Mannheim.

1899
Foundation of the Schweizerische Automobil-Gesellschaft in Aarau (Swiss Motor Company)

1901
Competition with AEG in the Basel region

1905
First order for a catenary system (Langenthal-Jura railway)

1906
Construction of the catenary system in the Simplon tunnel (order placed by BBC, the main contractor)
First order outside Switzerland (from BBC: Borgomanero-Novara). Foundation of the VSEI (The Association of Swiss Electrical Engineering Companies) with Hermann Kummler as President.

1909
Foundation of the Kummler & Matter partnership which was converted later in the year Kummler & Matter AG with Kummler as Chairman of the Board and Matter as vice-chairman.

1910
Kummler & Matter granted the concession for Rupperswil power plant. This was later sold to BBC in exchange for a major order for the construction of a cable system.
Branch formed in Stuttgart – the start of the company’s involvement in cable systems in Germany.

1911 and onwards
Catenary systems for a large number of private railways and tramways.

1914 ff.
Outbreak of World War I. The company moves from a precarious to a strong position in Germany. Conflict with France. Changes to the company in Stuttgart - the “Gesellschaft für elektrische Anlagen mbH“ (GEA) is founded. GEA is the origin of AAT which is now also part of the Alpiq Group.
Shortage of copper and steel wire.

1916/20
Chairman of the Board and one of the founders of the Basel Fair.

1918/19
"Emergency electrification" of the SBB (Swiss Federal Railways): first order for the SBB placed with Kummler & Matter (Lenk-Sion).

1918-1922
Catenary system for the Rorschach-Heiden Mountain Railway (Kummler & Matter as main contractor)

1922 and later
Major orders for catenary systems for the SBB

1926
The “Export Department" formed: expansion into the manufacture of electrical equipment for export under a new manager. Division of responsibilities at Kummler & Matter. Kummler resigns from the Board and with-draws from involvement in catenary systems.

1927/28
The expansion turns into a fiasco. The manager of the Export Department is dismissed.

1929
Kummler withdraws from the company and business life.

1932
A Zurich investment group headed by Ernst Göhner acquires the majority of shares in Kummler + Matter AG.

1938
Expansion into overhead contact systems for trolley-buses.

1949
Hermann Kummler dies on 5th February in Aarau at the age of 85. The company’s Head Office is moved from Aarau to Zurich.

1953
Elektrowatt becomes the majority shareholder. Continuous expansion of the electrical engineering activities.

1997
Atel AG (Aare Tessin AG für Elektrizität) takes over Kummler + Matter AG. The electrical installations business within buildings is moved from K+M and operates under the name of Alpiq Elektroanlagen K+M AG. Kummler + Matter AG retains their name and concentrates on their original activities of cabling, catenary systems, power lines and traffic control systems.