KaWe Medical
From the original factory established in 1890, KaWe has grown to a modern, globally-oriented medical technology company. Today, products from KaWe can be found on almost every continent. Since its founding at the end of the 19th century, KIRCHNER & WILHELM GmbH + Co. KG has been a family owned business and has been manufacturing otoscopes and stethoscopes from the beginning, making it one of the oldest existing German manufacturers of medical technology. Over the course of the history of the company, the product portfolio has steadily expanded, so that today it includes a broad range of small-scale diagnostic instruments. In addition to high-quality otoscopes, ophthalmoscopes and dermatoscopes, KaWe also offers a wide selection of laryngoscopes, blood pressure monitors, metal instruments and medical equipment.
Company details
Find locations served, office locations
- Business Type:
- Manufacturer
- Industry Type:
- Medical Equipment
- Market Focus:
- Globally (various continents)
- Year Founded:
- 1890
About Us
KaWe: represented in over 100 countries
Globalization did not stop when it got to KaWe’s doorstep. From the beginning of the company’s history, the reputation of KaWe products has been spreading throughout the world. Today, KaWe products are sold in more than 100 countries by medical specialty retailers - and these numbers are still on the rise.
Together with our valued worldwide retail partners, we guarantee customer service, quality and flexibility in nearly every country in the world.
History
When Gustav Kirchner and Hugo Wilhelm registered the company Kirchner & Wilhelm in Stuttgart on April 1st, 1890, they laid the corner stone for a successful, globally operating company. Back then, diagnostic and surgical medical instruments were already being manufactured for the entire German market. With its record-syringes especially, KaWe was able to make a name for itself among suppliers, doctors and hospitals.
Toward the end of 1916, due to his failing health, Hugo Wilhelm turned the business completely over to Gustav Kirchner. With much skill and huge effort, he was able to successfully guide his company through the chaos of the war. Not even two years later, in 1918, his eldest son Albert was able to proudly take over the executive board which he headed until 1952.
Following family tradition, Georg Kirchner assumed the position of executive in 1962. With him, the entrepreneurial spirit of the Kirchner family lived on for 54 years. In 2006, Georg Kirchner died after a long illness.
Regina Kirchner-Gottschalk assumed an upper management position in the company (at the time located in Stuttgart) in 1986 after obtaining a professional degree and spending time abroad. KaWe moved to a new building in Asperg (district of Ludwigsburg) in 1989.
Regina Kirchner-Gottschalk took over the position of executive director in 1997 and consistently expanded foreign operations and raised export numbers by 70%. The company is now represented across the whole world in more than 100 countries.
In the development of new products or when improving existing instruments, the company depends not only on its own research and development department but also on cooperation with doctors, professors and local universities.
Due to this growth, the new building in Asperg became too small after just a few years. With the addition of a new building in 2003 and an additional story added in 2008, the area was increased by about one third. In 2017 a new logistics and production center was built,which again almost doubled the total area.
KaWe continues to be led with a combination of Swabian down-to-earth style and entrepreneurial vision. Regina Kirchner-Gottschalk expects very positive corporate growth in the future.
Quality
Our products meet product-specific standards and norms and are continually being improved upon in order to keep them up-to-date and in line with the most modern technology. For the safety of patients, users and third parties, our products are subject to a risk management process during all phases of the product life cycle in accordance with standard DIN EN ISO 14971. Naturally, our reprocessable products are compliant with the standard EN ISO 17664.
Our medical products are known for their high quality and exceptional reliability. The certification with EN ISO 13485 and the CE label serve to assure you that with each purchase of a Ka-We product, you are receiving a top quality instrument.
Our KaWe brand, technical processes and our designs are and have always been patent protected.
Our primary goal is to protect our authorized dealers as well as users and patients from plagiarized products and the consequences thereof. Plagiarism results in reputation damage for all concerned, and in addition, such articles do not comply with Medical Devices Act requirements, which define the safety, suitability and performance of medical devices and protect the patient, user and third parties.
Development
Time for innovation.
In the more than 125 years since its founding, KaWe has developed into a modern, globally active medical technology company. Research and development have always come first at KaWe.
In recent years, the research and development department has been enlarged and strengthened personnel.
When developing new products, KaWe's feedback from customers and users is extremely important. Great emphasis is placed on cooperative and open cooperation.
In addition to new developments, existing products are constantly being further developed and improved.
In all developments, precision and a high degree of quality are always in the foreground. Innovations are the guarantor of the future, as Managing Director Regina Kirchner-Gottschalk knows.