Various Hailo adverts from the 50s and 60s

Our history

Ideas that make life at home comfortable, safe and easier - that's what everything at HAILO has been about since the company was founded. In 1947, the then 33-year-old mechanical engineer Rudolf Loh founded the Metallwarenfabrik Rudolf Loh GmbH. In the period of reconstruction after the 2nd World War, he initially produced medical furniture, metal beds and hot-water bottles. Soon the product range was extended by watering cans and waste bins. In 1954 the safety ladder for households followed. Only a few years later, HAILO launched a revolution on the market, which, with its lightweight material, was to simplify everyday life for many households: the aluminium household ladder.

The origin of the "red dot"

At the beginning of the 1960s, shapes and elements developed by HAILO were increasingly copied by other manufacturers. In order to clearly identify HAILO products and set them apart from the competition, Rudolf Loh developed the significant "red dot" in 1963 in collaboration with the Munich industrial designer Ernest Igl, which from then on was used to mark all new HAILO ladders at the joint. This eventually developed into the company's world-famous trademark.

After Rudolf Loh's death in 1971, his son Joachim took over the company and consistently pushed the internationalisation of HAILO. At the beginning of 2009, the family business passed into the 3rd generation of owners: Joachim Loh handed over to his son Sebastian. Under his leadership, HAILO repeatedly underlined its own innovative strength with new products such as the stairs platform TP1 or the HAILO Fresh, which is equipped with a plasma module for odour neutralisation.

Over 75 years of HAILO

1947

Company founded by mechanical engineer, Rudolf Loh

1953

Launch of the first built-in waste bin for fitted kitchens

1960

Launch of the first aluminium household ladder

1971

Joachim Loh takes over the company

1983

Launch of the first ironing board with built-in electric socket, flex holder and iron rest

1985

Launch of the first waste separation system for built-in kitchens

1998

Launch of the first waste organisation and separation system for corner sink units

2001

HAILO takes over Eisenwerk Sauerland steelworks in Drolshagen

2003

All sign gantries at road toll points in Germany and Austria are fitted with HAILO ladders and the first aluminium ladder scaffold system for the DIY sector is introduced

2004

The HAILO brand enters the "German Standards - Brands of the Century" encyclopaedia

2009

Joachim Loh hands down the leadership of the company to his son, Sebastian Loh (3rd generation)

2009

HAILO takes over the ladder and stepladder production division of Leifheit, while the HAILO Steam Iron Systems Division transfers to Leifheit

2013

The Wind Business Unit is spun off as a new company: Hailo Wind Systems GmbH & Co. KG (www.hailo-windsystems.com)

2017

70th company anniversary and opening of the Hailo Welt with outlet and museum

2017

Market launch of the innovative TP1 staircase solution

2018

Hailo Digital Hub GmbH & Co. KG was founded as a spin off to HAILO with the aim to develop and distribute technology based Smart Waste Solutions (www.hailodigitalhub.de)

2020

First waste bin with plasma module for odour neutralisation

2022

The "red dot" celebrates: HAILO turns 75