Company

Our history

One man, one name: Walter Hengst

Whether it is fate or simply coincidence that the name Hengst builds a bridge between horsepower, engines, oil and Fuel filters has been the subject of philosophizing for over half a century. To be precise, since 1958, when Walter Hengst founded Ing. Walter Hengst KG in Münster. In doing so, he laid the foundations for the eventful and successful development of a company that is now run by his grandson Jens Röttgering as Hengst SE, now in its third generation.

Founded at a time of change and development, the company has always kept pace with the rapid development of the fast-growing automotive industry and its ever-increasing demands on filter products. Then as now, these are the company's core business.

Tomorrow is already yesterday

For us, looking back is as much a company history as it is an exciting family history. It is important in order to remain aware of our roots and our development. Above all, however, looking back strengthens our confidence and optimism for a secure future for our company and our employees. And this is all about: "Taking the tried and tested with us. Leaving the tried and tested behind."

2020s

2022
Acquisition of the industrial air specialist Linter from São Paulo.
2021
Start of a climate offensive by the Hengst Group: Münster will be the first location to become climate-neutral in 2022.
2021
Takeover of the hydraulic filtration business of Bosch Rexroth and integration of the Ketsch plant in Baden-Württemberg as the 21st location of the Hengst Group.
2021
Foundation of the Health Care Filtration business unit with a focus on medical filtration products.
2020
Successful start to the production of medical surgical masks and air purifiers in Münster and Camden.

2010s

2019
Opening of the Hengst Group's 20th location in Jinan, China.
2019
Opening of the Hengst Group's 19th location in Rawicz, Poland.
2018
Takeover of the industrial air specialist DELBAG from Herne in North Rhine-Westphalia.
2018
Opening of the Hengst Group's 16th location in Gogolin, Poland.
2018
The sustainable alternative to the "Blue.on" spin-on oil filter developed by Hengst wins the Innovation Award of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
2017
Hengst continues its global strategy and changes its legal form to Hengst SE.
2016
Acquisition of the Danish process air filtration specialist Nordic Air Filtration with around 100 employees at three locations.
2015
Foundation of Hengst Poland Sp. z o.o. and opening of the first Polish location in Gostyń.
2015
Foundation of the joint venture Hengst Luman Pvt. Ltd. in Delhi/India.
2014
Foundation of the sales company Hengst Asia Pacific Pte. based in Singapore.
2013
Change of legal form to Hengst SE & Co. KG.
2013
Foundation of the Hengst Automotive India site in Bangalore, India.
2011
Opening of the new plant in Nordwalde.

2000s

2009:
Hengst Filter Systems (Kunshan) Co, Ltd. opens its new company building in Kunshan, China.
2009:
Completion of a new plant in Münster and establishment of the Competence Center Energetic (CCE).
2008:
Opening of the company's own daycare center "Hengst Kinderland".
2006:
Hengst Indústria de Filtros Ltda. opens its new company building in Joinville, Brazil.
2005:
Foundation of the subsidiary Hengst of North America, Inc. in Camden, South Carolina.
2005:
Foundation of the subsidiary Hengst Filter Systems (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. in Kunshan, China.
2004:
Acquisition of all shares in the joint venture Hengst-Wetzel Ltda. in Brazil and renaming as Hengst Indústria de Filtros Ltda.
2002:
Business graduate Jens Röttgering is the third generation grandson of company founder Walter Hengst to join the family business.
2001:
Opening of a logistics center in Nordwalde.
2000:
Foundation of the Nordwalde site with its own aluminum foundry and expansion of Energetic production.

1990s

1999
Foundation of a joint venture in Joinville, Brazil, under the name Hengst-Wetzel Ltda.
1998
The biggest fire in Münster's post-war history destroys a third of the Hengst filter works.
1995
Establishment of our own plastics production facility in Münster.
1993
A world first: Hengst successfully launches the environmentally friendly ENERGETIC® filter system, the first metal-free filter insert.
1992
Foundation of the Herzenswünsche e.V. association for seriously ill children and young people by Wera Röttgering.
1990
Takeover of the VEB-Filter und Vergaserwerk in Berlin under the name Hengst Filterwerke Berlin GmbH & Co. KG.

1980s

1987
Completion and inauguration of Plant 2 in Münster.

1970s

1979
Foundation of the first foreign company in Vöcklabruck, Austria. A production plant for spin-on filters is built here.
1978
Company founder Walter Hengst dies at the age of 86.
1977
Laying of the foundation stone for the extension of the main building in Münster.
1977
Günter Röttgering joins the company as the son-in-law of company founder Walter Hengst. At this point, the company changes its name to Ing. Walter Hengst GmbH & Co. KG.

1960s

1962
First exhibition stand at the International Motor Show (IAA).
1958
Engineer Walter Hengst founds the company Ing. Walter Hengst KG in Münster.

Please feel free to contact us:

Hengst SE
Nienkamp 55-85
48147 Münster
GERMANY
© 2024 Hengst SE

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purifying our planet

Our corporate vision
Sustainable

We make the planet cleaner with our products. We also make the journey there as clean as possible.

Innovative

We develop the filtration solutions of the future. For our customers and for society.

Efficient

Our focus is on energy efficiency. This helps the environment and saves costs.