25 years of QUNDIS

The story up to 1990

The contrast couldn't be greater! The history of QUNDIS goes back to a Black Forest manufacturer of clocks and a state-owned GDR enterprise. Did people know in the 1950s what a heat cost allocated does?

At all events the clockmakers at KUNDO in St. Georgen knew the meaning of innovation: they invented the world's first quartz-operated, battery-powered digital clock and the first radio clock with analogue time display.

Because they operated in a planned economy the more than 2000 employees at the firm of Wilhelm Pieck in Mühlhäusen were in their day less in a position to produce global technical innovations, but when it came to improvisation they were unbeatable. Among other devices they produced pocket calculators and mini computers for the Eastern Bloc countries.

The early years – 1990 to 1994

With the fall of the Iron Curtain, the consumption-related billing of utility costs also came into force in Germany's new federal states. At the same time increased environmental awareness stimulated the markets for energy saving solutions throughout Europe. This was a unique opportunity for the owners of the QUNDIS predecessor companies, which responded by founding new companies – in 1990 SaMeCo electronic GmbH was created, followed in 1992 by KUNDO SystemTechnik GmbH. The two producers of metering equipment would soon be in direct competition with each other.

Founding of SaMeCo
In its first year the company, which was established as a joint-venture between West Berlin's SaMeCo and VEB Mikroelektronik Wilhelm Pieck Mühlhausen, employed a workforce of 67. Only one year later the predecessor of QUNDIS in the east - true to its principle of overtaking the competition - produced the 'deltatron'. This was the first electronic water meter which recorded temperature in addition to the volume consumed - a highly advanced feature which highlighted the motivation of our colleagues in the eastern federal states to match what was being achieved in the West.

The founding of KUNDO SystemTechnik
The family firm of KUNDO – Kieninger & Obergfell entered heat metering technology as long ago as the early 80s. What initiated this extension of the company's business operations was the introduction of the heating cost directive, which made the building of heating and water heating costs mandatory. With the establishment of its KUNDO SystemTechnik GmbH subsidiary, KUNDO grouped together its expertise in this field because – in line with company traditions – the aim was to play a pioneering role in this field, too.

Innovations and market success (1994 – 2000)

The following years were a time of intense activity: thanks to its integration into worldwide sales structures SaMeCo electronic GmbH was able to build up a customer base in Holland, France, Italy, Sweden and Denmark, too. In 1998 the company became part of the Siemens Group, while KUNDO SystemTechnik continued to expand its pioneering position in radio technology. The important foundations were created for the data transmission on which every AMR installation to the present day is based.

In spite of its international successes, the Mühlhäusen firm of SaMeCo had to struggle with prejudices against its East German origins. Many German housing companies didn't trust products from the former GDR, even though their quality was excellent, which sooner or later even the most sceptical critics were no longer able to deny. The Mühlhäusen firm gradually and successfully established a good reputation throughout Germany and beyond.

Competition stimulates business (2016 – 2006)

Under the umbrella of the SIEMENS Group, Landis & Staefa electronic made enormous technical progress in AMR technology. Mühlhausen and St. Georgen were in hot competition when it came to providing the best devices and solutions. A highly positive development was that by 2005 SIEMENS in Mühlhausen had increased the workforce to 134 (+ 40 %).

In St. Georgen the business operations of KUNDO SystemTechnik GmbH were placed under the newly formed family holding company of OTG Obergfell Technology Group AG in 2001.

One company – two locations (2007 – 2012)

The market dominance of the full-service suppliers increasingly makes life difficult for the two mid-sized companies. The underdogs are confident of their technological leadership, but they want a bigger share of the cake. As a result competitors become friends, and on 14^th March 2008 QVEDIS and KUNDO decide to merge – QUNDIS is born.

Before it merged in 2008 with KUNDO SystemTechnik, the Mühlhäusen plant of Siemens Building Technologies GmbH was acquired by Capcellence Mittelstandspartner GmbH. The reason for the sale was restructuring within the SIEMENS Group.

Relocation to Erfurt, internationalisation (2013 to present-day)

In the summer of 2013 QUNDIS merges its two locations of Mühlhausen and St. Georgen to form a new company HQ at the Thüringen goods distribution centre in Erfurt. The reason for the relocation is the necessity to combine all major divisions of the company on a single site.

The members of the workforce say goodbye to their former places of work in Mühlhausen and St. Georgen with heavy hearts. Unfortunately not all personnel take part in the move to the new location, which means that gaps in the workforce have to be filled. Thanks to the support of the workforce and its customers QUNDIS is able to complete the move successfully in 2014, and the company is now able to drive forward its internationalisation with new dynamism. An interesting fact is that between 2012 and 2014 a total of seven managers are responsible for the company's fortunes.