Our history

As a family-owned business, Lenze has evolved over a period of 70 years from a local trading company to a global provider of drive and automation technologies.

On November 5, Hans Lenze takes over Stahlkontor GmbH in Hameln - the origin of today's Lenze SE - from the Mannesmann Group.

The Alquist winder, an innovative three-phase AC motor, becomes Lenze's first own product, marking the company's entry into winding technology.

The Hans Lenze KG machine company is founded in Extertal.

Expansion of production, with a new plant being built in Groß Berkel.

The first frequency inverter for controlling three-phase AC motors is launched.

Drive-based automation starts with yet another innovation. Thanks to its integrated technology and control functionality, the 9300 servo inverter is able to carry out complete processes or process parts.

Using the slogan "Drive meets Automation", Lenze positions itself with intelligent drive technology as a provider of integrated automation solutions.

The acquisition of US drive technology manufacturer AC Tech marks the establishment of Lenze's first production and logistics site outside Germany.

Lenze founds software company encoway in Bremen and starts developing configuration software.

L-force, an integrated platform for drive and automation technology, is introduced.

Lenze Drive Systems in Shanghai is founded.

Reflecting its stronger international focus, Lenze AG is converted into an SE.

Lenze simplifies motion engineering - from the mechanical engineer's initial idea to aftersales, and from control system to drive shaft. The claim is: "As easy as that."

The new FAST software components make developing modular machine controls easy.

The first manufacturing site in India is opened. Lenze now maintains ten international production and logistics sites and a global sales network.

The company's first "smart" product is unveiled at HANNOVER MESSE. The Lenze Smart Motor can be integrated easily and quickly into horizontal materials-handling technology. Customers benefit from a drive solution that has been tried and tested a thousand times over.

Lenze acquires a majority stake in cloud and IoT service provider logicline, thus enhancing encoway's solution expertise in cloud and mobile environments.

With our strategy 2020+ we set the cornerstones to continue our growth path - focussing on our fields of competence: mechatronics, systems and digital.