The founder

Friedrich Schiedel (born September 13, 1913 – † March 28, 2001, in Grünburg) was born in 1913 in Bad Wurzach (former: Baierz) in modest circumstances. After completing his A-levels in 1931, he began studying engineering in civil engineering and road construction. After the end of the war, he founded the Erbacher Bauwaren company in Erbach near Ulm in 1946. This happened, as he always liked to report, “literally with two borrowed shovels and a borrowed wheelbarrow”. In the following years, the small business grew into an economically strong and successful group of companies with a total of 17 plants. From 1951 the Erbacher Bauwaren produced under the name “Schiedel”.

Friedrich Schiedel advocated the transfer of scientific research results and technological innovations into economic practice at an early stage. But not only the innovative strength and the upswing of his company or the progress in production technologies were important to him. As a socially responsible and far-sighted entrepreneur, he always paid attention to adequate social benefits for his employees and their families, which is still the philosophy of the company today.

Through his extensive commitment as an entrepreneur, he has received numerous honors: For his socially committed and entrepreneurial work, he has received numerous awards, including the Cross of Merit on Ribbon of the Federal Republic of Austria (1975), the Great Decoration of Honor for Services to the Republic of Austria (1978) and the Federal Cross of Merit 1st Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1983), as well as the Great Silver Decoration of Honor for Services to the Republic of Austria (1989), the Medal of Merit of the State of Baden-Württemberg (1992) and the Bavarian Order of Merit (1996). He also received honorary citizenship of the cities of Hauerz / Bad Wurzach (1971), Puchschlag / Schwabhausen (1971) and Markt Schöllnach in the Bavarian Forest (1977). In 1971 Friedrich Schiedel was also made an honorary senator of the Technical University (TU) of Munich, with which his company worked closely.

Fire and air, water and earth are the elements that make up all being and to which we feel particularly connected. Because Schiedel, as Europe’s leading manufacturer of chimney and exhaust systems, stands for heating and ventilation and thus for more quality of life and living comfort.

With experience and passion, we create future-proof chimneys, stoves and ventilation solutions to bring cosiness into the home and efficiency in industrial buildings.

INNOVATIVE for 75 years

What our company founder and namesake Friedrich Schiedel built in 1946 with two borrowed shovels and a borrowed wheelbarrow is crowned with success. Far-sighted in his thinking, clear in his imagination, energetic in his actions, this is how one can describe Friedrich Schiedel’s concept and the story shows that his vision comes true. His first factory for pre-fabricated chimneys was built in Erbach near Ulm. In 1967 Friedrich Schiedel then opened the “Schiedel Kaminwerke” in Austria. His entrepreneurial spirit, know-how, perseverance and a competent team of employees have leveled the basis for further success. The company grew, expanded its locations, sales structures and business areas. Today, Schiedel is the undisputed number 1 in Europe for highly energy-efficient chimney systems, integrated stove solutions and ventilation solutions.

Based on the ingenious idea of the founder Friedrich Schiedel in 1946 – to manufacture chimneys no longer just from bricks, but from lightweight concrete blocks – Schiedel created many other developments that were revolutionary in the industry. Our corporate milestones include the round chimney in 1966, the insulating chimney in 1985, the universal ABSOLUT chimney in 1999 and the ABSOLUT thermal draft for the operation of individual fireplaces that are independent of the ambient air.