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SERIEN FIRMENJUBILÄUM • COMPANY ANNIVERSARY
Iconic Kids: Lebensbegleiter im Bad von klein auf • Iconic Kids: lifetime companions in the bathroom
„Wir sind stolz auf unsere jahrzehntelange
Erfahrung. Der Wunsch, auch in Zukunft mit
innovativen Produkten einen positiven Beitrag
zu einer nachhaltigen Gesellschaft zu leisten,
treibt uns an. So wird sich HEWI immer wieder
neu erfinden und dank der hohen Ansprüche an
Design und Funktionalität doch treu bleiben.“
Thorsten Stute, Geschäftsführer HEWI
Türdrücker des Systems 162: charakteristischer Gehrungsschnitt • System 162 door handle: characteristic mitre cut
046 • AIT 11.2024
H EWI’s origins lie in the processing of plastics. With the purchase of the first-in-
jection moulding machine in 1954 and the development of the first coloured
door handle 101 made of nylon three years later, HEWI set new standards in the
industry. These innovations laid the foundation for the iconic door handle S 111
(photo on the left), developed in 1969 by Rudolf Wilke and the architect Winfried
Scholl. S 111 impressed with its round-tube design and quickly became a classic,
which can still be found today in many public and private facilities worldwide. Star-
ting in 1972, an entire product family was developed on the basis of the round-tu-
be design of the 111 door handle. Handles, window handles, coat racks, handrails,
furniture fittings and the first sanitary accessories from the 477 series, such as soap
dispensers and cups, followed. From the beginning of the 1980s, handicapped-ac-
cessible products were added, laying the foundation for HEWI’s current position as a
leading supplier of handicapped-accessible sanitary solutions. In 1981, the company
expanded abroad for the first time and founded its first foreign subsidiary, HEWI
Inc. This was followed by further subsidiaries in England, France and Italy. This
international expansion helped to make the HEWI brand known worldwide and to
open up new markets. In 2002, HEWI introduced the S 162 building-fittings series,
which further developed the characteristic round-tube design of the S 111 and quickly
became the favourite of architects and interior designers. This was based on the
mitre cut that had already been invented in the 1920s. With the addition of matching
stainless-steel sanitary accessories in 2014, HEWI once again set new standards in
the field of functional and aesthetic design. The continuous further development and
adaptation to current trends is also evident in the handicapped-accessible S 900
series, which was created in cooperation with the Aachen design office NOA for the
th
90 anniversary. This series not only combines universal design with a high degree
of functionality and a unique assortment depth, but also enables the continuous
use of HEWI products from the building entrance all the way to the sanitary room.
In accordance with universal design and a sustainable, holistic design philosophy,
HEWI has been focusing on the individual needs of people for more than 95 years.
Numerous awards underline the company’s pioneering role – including, in 2021,
the Universal Design Award Best of Decade which HEWI received for outstanding
achievements in the field of universal design, Architects’ Darling, the German Design
Awards and, last but not least, the Iconic Awards. These awards are not merely an
appreciation of HEWI’s commitment to the past, but also an incentive to continue to
develop even more innovative solutions. HEWI has always stood for universal design
products that impress with the highest standards of design and function and offer
users the most added value. The principles of simplicity, intuitive use and sufficient
space are incorporated into every product development. This philosophy is deeply
rooted in the company’s DNA and is reflected in every innovation. A particular high-
light is the new Iconic colour concept for the 477/801 series, which sets bold colour
accents and continues the Bauhaus tradition by combining design that focuses on
the essentials and this with innovative solutions.
A look into the future
The pioneering spirit and passion of the first generations can also be felt in the
Managing Director Thorsten Stute and Christiane Küper, Head of Brand & Sales.
Under their leadership, HEWI has become a thought leader in the field of universal
design and a recognized expert in system design. The outlook for the future is clear:
HEWI will continue to offer innovative, aesthetic and functional design solutions that
improve people’s lives worldwide while conserving resources. “We are proud of our
decades of experience. We are driven by the desire to continue making a positive
contribution to a sustainable society with innovative products in the future as well.
This is how HEWI will continue to reinvent itself while remaining true to itself thanks
to its high standards of design and functionality,” emphasizes Thorsten Stute. As the
company’s website states, the company equally takes great pride in its constant inno-
vation, its in-depth understanding of shape, colour and materials as well as impec-
cable product development that has always kept people’s requirements in mind. It
is this that has made HEWI not only the market leader in handicapped accessibility
but the acknowledged expert in system design. From its modest beginnings as a
plastic-processing company to its current position as a globally recognized provider
of handicapped-accessible solutions – HEWI’s history is characterized by pioneering
spirit, innovative strength and the pursuit of perfection.