Solderjoint_No2_Magazin - Flipbook - Page 9
Weller was already international early on – how did
that expansion into Europe and beyond actually
begin?
Werner Grupp: It all began with a few bold steps and
a lot of persistence. Carl Weller had the vision, but the
actual groundwork had to be built from the bottom
up. Each market had its own regulations, habits, and
technical realities – even the simplest things like plugs
or wiring required adaptation. Our first real breakthrough came with Egli Fischer in Zurich, a partnership
rooted in trust and shared craftsmanship. From there,
we steadily expanded into France, Italy, and eventually to Africa and Asia. It was less a business plan than
a network of people who believed in what we were
doing.
could match American quality while setting new
European standards.
Weller has created some iconic products – from the
Magnastat to the blue soldering stations. How did
that culture of innovation evolve?
Werner Grupp: Innovation was never a one-man show.
Ideas came from everywhere – from engineers, from
sales, but also from customers. The first electronic
soldering stations were built on both sides of the
Atlantic at the same time. The Americans had their
style, we had ours. The famous Weller blue color, for
example, became a symbol. It made every tool
instantly recognizable on the workbench, statement
of identity and quality.
Those early years must have been full of surprises.
Do you remember a moment that really showed
Weller’s determination?
Over the years, soldering has shifted from mass
production to precision work. How did Weller adapt
to those changes?
Günter Rittmann: (laughs) Oh, plenty! I remember
when a shipment of soldering irons didn’t meet Swiss
standards. Instead of giving up, we redesigned the
entire product line overnight. At one point, we even
had to dispose of faulty units ourselves – but we
learned from every mistake. The drive to get it right,
technically and ethically, was what made Weller
strong.
Fritz Schmid: When automation took over, many
thought hand soldering would disappear. But it didn’t.
It just moved closer to innovation, to R&D labs, repair
centers, and prototyping. During that time, we
expanded our portfolio with Hobby- and Profikits,
entering the semi-professional and hobby sectors and
serving DIY and traditional retail stores. This expansion
is reflected in our range of red soldering products.
Mr. Rittmann, the early days of electronics were full
of uncertainty – how did Weller handle the technical
challenges of that new era?
Looking at the future – what advice would you give
to the next generation of engineers and product
leaders at Weller?
Günter Rittmann: Back then, electronics were fragile
– either they worked or they failed immediately. We
had to experiment constantly. Printed circuit boards
would fail, sensors would break, and yet we kept
improving. I still remember how we replaced fragile
U.S. sensors with our own robust versions, designed
in-house. That changed everything – suddenly, we
Günter Rittmann: Never compromise on quality. That’s
the heart of Weller. We once built a low-cost soldering
station for China – they didn’t want it. They preferred
the expensive one, because it worked perfectly. That
taught me something: innovation without reliability is
nothing. Keep testing, keep improving, and never let
go of what defines us – excellence.
Bundled sales expertise: Marcel Teller, today SBU Leader Weller
Tools, and Werner Grupp (from 1962 to 1996 at Weller)
Bridging Generations: Robin Junginger – today Global Product
Manager, Weller Professional and Günter Rittmann (from 1976 to 2006
at Weller)
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#2– 2025
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