1949: On January 15, 1949, the “Metallwarenfabrik Heinz-Kettler” began operations with six employees. Initially, “Metallwarenfabrik Heinz-Kettler” sold aluminum goods such as cookware and cake plates. Early success came from retail customers such as Karstadt, Kaufhalle, and Woolworth…
1952: And yet: In 1952, Kettler stopped producing household goods. The competition was too fierce, and it was no longer possible to generate reasonable profits. But the truly promising successor product was already in the starting blocks: camping furniture and camping accessories for the tent industry.
1960: “Innovation” was the motto. Existing products were constantly being improved, and the list of new products grew just as steadily. In particular, the product range in the areas of playground equipment, winter sports, and household aids was expanded. At the end of 1960, the first KETTCAR rolled off the assembly line—Heinz Kettler had brought the idea for this four-wheeled children’s vehicle back from the U.S.
1963: The camping and garden furniture line continued to evolve, becoming increasingly sophisticated and luxurious. In the early 1960s, the “Relax” health lounger—with its adjustable headrest and footrest—became a bestseller, and some people even used it as a TV chair.
1968: Another product expanded the KETTLER lineup in the 1960s: the bicycle, whose image was changing for the better at the time. It was no longer just a substitute for those who couldn’t afford a car, but earned a reputation as a fitness and sports tool.
In 1974, the company achieved another global triumph: Heinz Kettler, which had been one of the leading manufacturers of table tennis tables for years, succeeded in developing the first table tennis table that was impervious to the elements.
1980–2005: Until his death in 2005, Heinz Kettler continued to successfully expand the company KETTLER, in part through internationalization and the establishment of sales subsidiaries in the largest markets in Europe and the United States.
Since 2020, the further development of garden furniture, table tennis, home fitness equipment, bicycles, and games & children’s toys has been carried out separately by product category and global geographic region under the leadership of various entrepreneurial families. These families have all maintained close ties with the KETTLER family—in some cases for decades—either as major customers or suppliers, and they view Heinz Kettler’s principles of innovation, quality, and customer focus as their own guiding principles in shaping the future of KETTLER.