HILTI - History of Innovations

1941

Founding of 'Maschinenbau Hilti OHG' in Schaan, Principality of Liechtenstein, as
a five-man company by the brothers Martin (1915 – 1997) and Eugen Hilti
(1911 - 1964).

Manufacturing turned mechanical components, production of commissioned parts
and supplies for various industries.

1948 - 1960

Start of development of an independent product line with the launching of a
powder-actuated fastening system.

First foreign representation in Italy.

Start of construction on today's parent plant at Schaan, Principality of
Liechtenstein.

Step-by-step build-up of an international sales network with independent sales
companies and local representatives in Finland, Norway, Germany, Denmark, the
Netherlands, Canada, Portugal, Austria, France, Australia, the United States,
South Africa, Sweden, Ireland, Peru, Great Britain and Switzerland.

1960 - 1980

Renaming of 'Maschinenbau Hilti OHG' to Hilti Corporation.

Diversification into drilling & anchoring systems.

Setting up of the technical centre at Schaan.

First plant in a foreign country at Thüringen, Vorarlberg, Austria.

Start of production at Kaufering, Germany.

Start of production in the USA (first at Minneapolis then, from 1979 at Tulsa).

Inauguration of head office for North and Latin America at Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Expansion of sales and marketing to Argentina, Greece, Japan, Mexico, Chile,
Ecuador, Spain, Yugoslavia, Singapore, Hungary, Poland and Saudi Arabia.

1980 - 1990

Establishment of a family trust and depositing of shares of the Hilti family in this
trust to safeguard the Corporation in the long term.

Entry into the diamond coring market and launch of a breaker.

Entry into the construction chemicals market.

Hilti goes public with the emission of PC certificates.

Development and implementation of Strategy 2000.

Expansion of sales and marketing to Algeria, Korea and Hungary.

1990 - 2002

Michael Hilti became Chairman of the Executive Board.

Expansion of marketing organisations and start of sales and marketing in
Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Venezuela, Slovenia, Russia, Slovak Republic,
Estonia, the Philippines, India, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia and Turkey.

Michael Hilti became Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Assignment of operational management outside the Hilti family.

Expansion of business in East Asia.

Inauguration of a production plant at Zhanjiang, People’s Republic of China.

Expansion of business in Central and South America by setting up new or
integrating existing agencies / representatives in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru
and Venezuela.

Development and implementation of the new corporate strategy Champion 3 C.

Launch of laser positioning systems and entry into the market for cutting and
sanding tools.

Integration of existing agencies in Thailand, Indonesia and New Zealand.

All voting shares of the Hilti Corporation are held in the Martin Hilti family trust.

Novel approaches to expand services: e-business and shop-in-shop models.

2003

The Board of Directors decides to concentrate the Group’s activities on its core
industrial business and to separate the financial investment business. The Martin
Hilti Family Trust purchases the publicly held participation certificates and takes
Hilti private.

2004

Inauguration of the expanded segment of Hilti's manufacturing plant in Zhanjiang,
China. In addition to Zhanjiang, Hilti has operated a second plant in China since
September 2004.

2005

Hilti introduces standardized processes and a new information management
system on a worldwide basis.

Production of small power tools and the corresponding motors is relocated to the
Hilti plant at Shanghai, China.

2006

Sales exceed the 4 billion Swiss franc mark. The Hilti Group continues to develop
its position in the market.

The production area in Hilti’s Shanghai plant is almost trebled in size.

Hilti signs the UN Global Compact. The ten principles of this agreement apply to
human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption.

“Hilti Lifetime Service” is launched worldwide. To the customer, this means no
repair costs whatsoever within the first 1 or 2 years from date of purchase. After
that, a clear repair cost limit and manufacturer’s warranty continue to apply – for
the entire life of the Hilti product.

2007

Previous Chief Executive Officer Pius Baschera becomes Chairman of the Board
of Directors as successor to Michael Hilti who remains Member of the Board of
Directors. Bo Risberg, Member of the Executive Board, is appointed new CEO.

The new Hilti Logistics Center at Nendeln in Liechtenstein goes into operation.

Hilti and Hilti users worldwide celebrate 40 years of electropneumatic hammering
technology. The electropneumatic principle gives Hilti rotary hammers, breakers
and combihammers superior performance and new a level of user friendliness.
Hilti continues to develop this invention – for even higher efficiency, more comfort
and greater safety.

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Hilti supplies the worldwide construction industry with technologically leading products,
systems and services that provide construction professionals with innovative solutions and
superior added value. The Group employs more than 18,000 persons in over 120 countries
who passionately create enthusiastic customers and build a better future. Hilti generates
annual sales of more than CHF 4.1 billion. Hilti corporate culture is based on integrity,
teamwork, commitment and the courage to embrace change. The headquarters of the Hilti
Group are located in Schaan, Principality of Liechtenstein.

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