The Henschel dynasty stands as a pillar of German industrial history, its origins tracing back to the late 18th century when Georg Christian Carl Henschel established a foundry in Kassel. From these beginnings, the family business evolved into Henschel & Sohn, a company that would become a driving force in the fields of mechanical engineering, locomotive manufacturing, and later, vehicle and armaments production.
Under the direction of successive generations-including visionaries like Carl Anton Henschel and Oscar Henschel-the company not only pioneered technological advancements but also set new standards in social responsibility, offering vocational training and employee welfare decades ahead of its time.
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Henschel & Sohn had grown into the largest locomotive manufacturer in Germany, exporting its products worldwide and playing a central role in the industrialization of Europe.
The family’s commitment to innovation and excellence was matched by remarkable resilience. Henschel & Sohn navigated the company through periods of war, economic upheaval, and rapid technological change. Under the leadership of figures like Sophie Henschel, who took over after the death of her husband Carl Anton Oscar Henschel in 1894, the company not only survived but thrived, reaching milestones such as the production of its 5,000th locomotive in 1899 and its 10,000th by 1910. By 1923, the company had built 20,000 locomotives, and by the end of the 1920s, it employed around 12,000 people.
Henschel’s product portfolio continued to expand, including not only steam, diesel, and electric locomotives but also trucks, buses, military vehicles, and aircraft. Even as the company faced the challenges of the Great Depression and the devastation of two world wars, it remained at the forefront of German engineering.
After the original firm underwent mergers and transformations-eventually becoming part of global giants like Thyssen, ABB, Daimler, Rheinmetall and Alstom-the Henschel legacy continued to shape engineering and manufacturing in Kassel and beyond.
Today, the spirit of innovation and dedication to quality that once defined the Henschel family tradition finds a new expression in Henschel-Robotics GmbH. As a family member inspired by this remarkable heritage, I founded Henschel-Robotics to contribute to the field of robotics and automation technology in my own way. While our company is not a direct continuation of the historic Henschel & Sohn, we are proud to carry forward some of the values and pioneering mindset that have long been associated with the Henschel name.
At Henschel-Robotics GmbH, we focus on developing advanced, energy-efficient servo drives and integrated solutions for the robotics industry. Our aim is to bring practical, high-quality innovations to the market, drawing inspiration from the legacy of engineering excellence that shaped my family’s past. In this way, Henschel-Robotics GmbH seeks to honor that tradition, while forging its own path in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape.
