Company history

Founded in 1988

The company is founded as “Dr. Gebhardt & Partner GmbH”. Founders are Doctor of Engineering Bernd Gebhardt, graduate engineer Ulrich Gebhardt and graduate engineer M. Pesavento.

1988

  • Digital control computers, based on CP/M, with Z80 and TMS 320 C10 processors
  • Simulation studies

1993

  • Introduction of TURVIS software as engineering system and process visualisation
  • New control hardware, based on digital signal processors, 80286 and 80386 processors
  • Production and sale of the first large scale 19” rack-mounted systems
  • First dedicated office, with associated workshop
  • >3 employees

1995

  • First engineering project, open and closed loop machine control, process visualisation and communication
  • >5 employees

1997

  • Dipl. Ing./ TH Ulrich Gebhardt succeeds as sole owner and managing director
  • Control panel shop
  • Move to a new office building, approx. 700 sqm space for office and production
  • >10 employees

2000

  • Introduction of TurWin software as the new engineering system and process visualisation, running under operating system Windows NT/2000
  • Training and commissioning support
  • Expansion of panel shop
  • >20 employees

2001

  • Company name changed to GEBHARDT Automation GmbH
  • Development of new controller hardware: embedded controllers, smart I/O cards, etc.
  • Use of RTAI Linux as operating system for embedded controllers
  • >22 employees

2005

  • Development and TÜV certification of new, triple modular redundant safety systems, type approved up to SIL3
  • >25 employees

2007

  • New safety system family GA DUPLEX-S certified by TÜV Rheinland
  • >30 employees

2008

  • purchase of a new site for a larger building
  • >35 employees

2009

  • The new building will increase the quality and quantity of the production and service activities
  • A new TÜV approved test laboratory will be built inside the new manufacturing plant. All necessary enviroment tests can be accomplished in accordance to IEC 61131-2 by Gebhardt- Automation GmbH itself. These will increase the manufacturing quality

2010

    • After more than 10 years of successfull work at the old site improvements were needed. Construction of the new facilities started in 2009, now the last departments finished the move to their new places.