The WAGO Story Begins
WAGO’s history starts with the original patent for spring pressure connection technology, leading to the establishment of this family-owned company. It was 1950. While playing cards in Berlin, brothers-in-law Heinrich Nagel and Friedrich Hohorst learned about a patent for a screwless leaf-spring terminal block with push-buttons. The duo spontaneously purchased all of the rights, as well as housing, springs, current bars and rivets for a first assembly batch.
This series of events laid the foundation for the new family-owned company: WAGO Klemmenwerk GmbH was established in Minden on April 27, 1951. Initial concepts followed, as well as some highs and lows, while the duo remained convinced their screwless connection technology would be successful. The first decade was characterized by innovations, products, patents and initial successes at home and abroad.
Product Developments from the 1950s
- 1951: Acquisition of the original terminal block (including patent)
- 1952: SUPRAFIX Banana Plug
- 1953: SUPRAFIX Terminal Strips with pressure spring connection (12-pole); SUPRAFIX Compact Terminal Blocks with push-buttons on both sides (2-pole)
- 1954: Small SUPRAFIX Modular Terminal Block with pressure spring connection
- 1957: WAGO’s first line of rail-mount terminal blocks with spring clamp connection for standardized DIN-rails
From Then to Now
Get insight into other decades of WAGO corporate history here
Tina Meyer
