The beginning and rapid growth

1898  Adolf Messer founds Frankfurter Acetylen-Gas-Gesellschaft Messer & Cie. in Hoechst as a manufacturer of acetylene generators and lighting appliances

1903  Ernst Wiss develops the first hydrogen-oxygen cutting torch at Griesheim-Elektron. This is followed by equipment and machinery for oxy-fuel welding and cutting

1908  The first oxygen plant opens at Chemische Fabrik Griesheim-Elektron
 

The entry into the industrial gases business with Hoechst

1965  Hans Messer founds Messer Griesheim GmbH. Merger of Adolf Messer GmbH with parts of Knapsack Griesheim AG belonging to Hoechst

1966  Expansion into Western Europe and North  America

1990  Expansion into Eastern and Central Europe

1995  Entry into China and rapid expansion
 

The way forward, back into family ownership

2001  Goldman Sachs Funds and Allianz Capital Partners buy up Hoechst (Aventis) shares

2004  Acquisition of all shares of the financial investors by the Messer family; financing through sale Germany/UK/USA. Continuation as Messer Group GmbH.

2005  Ownership of the welding and cutting division passes back to the Messer family

2006  Sales exceed one billion euros for the first time: Messer and Messer Eutectic Castolin. Expansion of activities in Europe and Asia

2008  Messer Industriegase GmbH is founded in Germany

2011  Move to new joint company headquarters in Bad Soden

2018  120th anniversary of Messer

2019  Messer Group and CVC Capital Partners jointly acquire significant parts of Linde’s US business, the Linde operations in Canada, Brazil and Colombia, and the Praxair operations in Chile.

2021  Change in legal form of Messer Group GmbH into Messer SE & Co. KGaA (partnership limited by shares)

2023  Bernd Eulitz takes over the role of CEO; Stefan Messer becomes Chairman of   the Supervisory Board