History

Those who wish to shape the future should know their own past. For us at LAPP, our roots and the values of our company founders Oskar and Ursula Ida Lapp are inspiration for our actions both today and in the future. Throughout our history, our values have determined who we are: customer-oriented, success-oriented, family-oriented and innovative. These are the values for which the Lapp family stands. These are the values that allowed LAPP to develop from nothing to a global market leader for integrated connection systems.

It is the age of West Germany’s economic miracle, and industry is booming. But in factories, workers still have to manually insert wires individually into sheaths when cabling machinery. This is a complex and time-consuming process. Oskar Lapp has a better idea. He develops the first flexible, industrially manufactured control cable with different coloured cores. Oskar and Ursula Ida Lapp name the oil-resistant and flexible cables ÖLFLEX®. By doing so, they create the first branded product in this sector. In the beginning, the company is based and stores its products in the couple’s house in Stuttgart’s Vaihingen district.

Ursula Ida Lapp registers the company U.I. Lapp KG, named after herself. For Oskar Lapp, it is the realisation of his long-held dream. The company begins operations with a bank loan of 50,000 marks. Oskar Lapp focuses on the technical side, while his wife Ursula Ida takes care of commercial matters.

The Lapps found further companies, including Lapp Kabelwerke GmbH in 1963. Even at this early point in its history, the company produces cables to customer requirements. In 1965, the company headquarters moves from the couple’s house in Vaihingen to its current location just a few kilometres away on Schulze-Delitzsch-Strasse.

The Lapps found Ölflex Inc. in the USA, the company’s first international subsidiary. Back then, this was an unusual step for such family-run businesses. But their courage is rewarded with success, as American customers appreciate the customer orientation and excellent service.

Siegbert Lapp, the son of the founder, sets up S. Glaskabel GmbH. Known today as Lapp Systems GmbH, it offers customised connection systems.

The death of Oskar Lapp marks the end of an era and the start of another. Together with her sons Andreas and Siegbert Lapp, Ursula Ida Lapp continues to run the business in the spirit of its founder.

The Oskar Lapp Foundation is set up to honour the memory of the company founder. It is dedicated to research into heart disease. The Oskar Lapp Research Prize supports young scientists.

The number of international subsidiaries continues to grow. The group is now represented in the main markets in Asia, Europe and America. The Lapp Group employs 2,500 people in 50 businesses and has over 100 national partners around the world.

LAPP becomes one of the first companies in the connection technology sector to offer its customers an online store. The print catalogue continues to be published to this day, however.

An ÖLFLEX® cable drum is sent around the world. On its journey, it visits eleven LAPP sites, travels over 51,000 km and is signed by over 2,500 People.

LAPP sets new benchmarks with its new service and logistics centre in Ludwigsburg near Stuttgart. With over 320,000 square feet of floorspace, it stores up to 90,000 cable drums that can be loaded onto trucks via 30 ramps. The warehouse is fully automated and customers in Germany receive their goods within 24 hours.

LAPP increasingly offers system solutions, including pre-assembled servo cables and power chains. This range of products is bundled under the new name ÖLFLEX® CONNECT.

Matthias Lapp assumes responsibility for the businesses in Europe, South America, Africa and the Middle East. The baton is therefore handed over to the third generation of the Lapp family.

The company is gaining a reputation as a systems supplier with seamless international service, having long ceased to be solely a cable producer. To match this, the company renames itself as simply LAPP. The new name is used around the world for all group companies.