Our story begins in 1946
Every beginning is difficult.
This was also true for the early years of ZUWA.
The founders, Herta and Erich Zumpe, originally came from Dresden and fled the Soviet occupation zone during the occupation with the help of an American lieutenant, arriving in Laufen in 1946.
At first, they traded in bicycle parts and tools of all kinds, which were stored in their one-room apartment. Since basic foodstuffs were also in short supply, goods were often exchanged for food such as grain, eggs, butter, or similar items.
With their economic success, they were finally able to rent a building for storage and a workshop in 1950. By 1959, the first sprayers had been developed and custom-made products for agriculture were being manufactured. In 1960, the Zumpe couple purchased a plot of land in Laufen at auction and began construction of the company building. This location is still the headquarters of ZUWA today.
Petra Wimmer, née Zumpe, took over the company together with her husband Helmut Wimmer in 1998. Direct communication with customers—a principle that remains one of ZUWA's most important tenets to this day—and their valuable feedback inspired the development of the Solarcheck Mobilcenter in 2003, which made ZUWA the global market leader. This led to the creation of many other products based on the ZUWA impeller pump.
With the arrival of daughter Jessica Mangelberger and her husband Simon Mangelberger, the third generation is now leading the family business into the future.
1946
The first steps of ZUWA: The founding!
Herta and Erich Zumpe establish the company Zumpe Waren in Laufen.
1959
A small step for agriculture, a big step for ZUWA:
Production of the first pump and manufacturing of our own sprayers for agriculture.
1969
Production of the first impeller pump:
Still one of ZUWA's most important products today. The product range was expanded in the following years to include plant protection equipment, diesel pumps, and oil pumps.
1998
Takeover of management: By Petra Wimmer, née Zumpe, and Helmut Wimmer.
This marks the transfer of the family-run mechanical engineering company to the next generation.
2003
The Solarcheck Mobile Center conquers the market:
The filling station for solar systems becomes a bestseller—and remains so to this day. Similar devices for heating systems follow, such as the Antikalk Mobile Center and the Spülprofi Mobile Center.
2006
Expansion of the company building
To mark the company's 60th anniversary, a warehouse was added to the company building. ZUWA remains a family-run business with no external shareholders.
2015
ACOSTAR 2000-A – the chemical pump
With increasing demand from the chemical industry, a pump made of chemically resistant PTFE was developed for use in extreme environments.
2018
NIROSTAR 2000-C PLUS – Impeller pump redesigned
With a new pump design, it is possible to service the pump with just one screw connection and without tools.
2019
NIROSTAR 2000-A ATEX
The world's first fully ATEX-certified impeller pump was developed as a mobile unit for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
2023
Handover to the third generation:
After more than 24 years of successful business, Petra and Helmut Wimmer stepped down as managing directors and handed over full responsibility for the business to their daughter Jessica Mangelberger and her husband Simon Mangelberger.
2026
80th Anniversary
ZUWA has earned itself a leading global position through innovation, technical expertise, and customer focus, and now supplies customers in more than 40 countries.