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GESTRA's history

More than 100 Years of steam experience

When Gustav Friedrich Gerdts founded his enterprise on the 29th October 1902, the industrial age had only just begun. While he was young and unknown with few financial resources, he had many new ideas that would influence countless industrial applications. His aim for this new company was to optimise steam and energy usage in factories, which would increase operational reliability and process efficiency.

Steam from the industrial age to the digital age

Gerdts's aim for this new company was to optimise steam and energy usage in factories, which would increase operational reliability and process efficiency. This is an aim that GESTRA have carried through into the 21st century. 

Sepia image of an old factory worker

Rising to the challenge ahead

More now than ever, our customers are striving to achieve sustainable operations. The challenges faced can be tackled in the boilerhouse, beginning with the technical expertise GESTRA holds for steam and condensate solutions. By working with our customers, we have designed world-class products that are manufactured to the highest standards so our customers can be assured their systems are reliable and durable.

Our customers can trust our market leading services to ensure their future sustainability. In order to continue to meet their steam and condensate challenges, we must hire and train our colleagues to be the best.

A Timeline of GESTRA's History

  • 1900s

    1900s

    The company was founded in Bremen in 1902 and then renamed Gustav F. Gerdts KG after its founder in 1907.

  • 1950s

    1950s

    In 1956, GESTRA founded its first subsidiary in France, before quickly opening a second subsidiary in Spain in 1957.

  • 1960s

    1960s

    GESTRA continued its expansion with further subsidiaries in England, Italy and Brazil opening. In 1962, the company converted to Gustav F. Gerdts GmbH & Co. KG and then to GESTRA KSB Vertriebsgesellschaft in 1968.

  • 1970s

    1970s

    In 1976, GESTRA founded GESTRA Inc. in the USA.

  • 1980s

    1980s

    In 1983, as the company grew, it then converted to GESTRA Aktiengesellschaft.

  • 1990s

    1990s

    The company converted to GESTRA GmbH in 1997.

  • 2010s

    2010s

    The company was incorporated into Spirax Sarco Engineering PLC in 2017 with further regional offices in South East Asia, India and Latin America established. China was announced as a further subsidiary in 2019.

  • 2020s

    2020s

    GESTRA celebrated 120 years of steam performance with celebrations at their headquarters in Bremen.

1900s

The company was founded in Bremen in 1902 and then renamed Gustav F. Gerdts KG after its founder in 1907.