1968
Impulse Radiation Drying was developed in 1968 in the development department of the Hildebrand company in Oberboihingen. Gerhard Metz was the Technical Director of the development department and constructed and commissioned the first UV laboratory systems.
1977
A new company was established from the development department of Hildebrand, with a shareholding taken by Werner & Pfleiderer in Stuttgart. The company name at this time was Werner & Pfleiderer - Hildebrand Strahlentechnik GmbH.
1982
In 1982, a private company was established. The new company started work as IST Strahlentechnik Metz GmbH under the leadership of Gerhard Metz as Chairman.
1983
The first subsidiary was established in France: IST France S.A. in Evry, close to Paris. Today the subsidiary is located in Viry-Chatillon.
1985
The headquarters building was constructed in Nürtingen-Zizishausen in 1985. The company's philosophy - Clarity - Precision - Progress - is exemplified by the modern architecture of the new building.
1988
From its early days IST METZ had its own philosophy about the construction and performance of UV lamps. The lamps form the heart of every system and only the highest quality can guarantee optimal performance and long-life. Eta plus electronic gmbh & co kg was created in 1988 in order to develop and produce the highest quality lamp units.
In addition to developing and testing lamps, eta also develops all of the electronic components for all IST systems.
The English subsidiary, IST (UK) Limited, was also set up in 1988 in Skipton, North Yorkshire.
1989
IST METZ's success in the market lead to continued increase in turnover and employees. As a result of this expansion a new building for production and offices was constructed in 1989.
1990
IST METZ agreed to take over a supplier and this company is renamed gerhard metz metallbau gmbh (gmm).
1992
An American subsidiary is established, IST America Corp. which. is now located in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
1996
Due to the growing UV market in Italy, a further subsidiary was established in 1996: IST Italia S.r.l., now in Canonica di Triuggio.
1997
Seven years after the previous expansion, a further extension is required. The building constructed in 1989 is enlarged.
The company was restructured in 1997 and the various IST METZ companies were brought into the Gerhard & Renate Metz Foundation. METZ HOLDING reports to this foundation, which includes nine companies with an annual turnover of approximately DM 75 million.
2000
The group now has 300 employees and a turnover of DM 86 million. It was only a matter of time before the extension built in 1997 would need to be enlarged. In order to be able to expand further, a new building was constructed with 5,200 m2. The offices and production areas of this new building were opened in April 2000.
A subsidiary was also established in October 2000 in the Netherlands: IST Benelux B.V., now in Apeldoorn.
2002
IST METZ emphasises the new philosophy "more than UV" with the establishment of the UV Transfer Center in a newly built 400 m2 facility. The first printing press world-wide of a manufacturer of UV units is available for customers as well as for partners of the whole UV printing branch for tests and training.
UV Days
The IST METZ group of companies celebrated it is 25th anniversary with the very first UV Days in Nuertingen. As well as technical lectures and an in-house fair with important partners in the sector there were also demonstrations of the 6-colour offset press in the UV Technology Center.
2003
IST METZ establishes it is very first representative office, situated in China. The full name is IST METZ China, Shanghai Representative Office.
November 2003: the METZ Holding GmbH takes over 94 % of the shares of VTD Vakuumtechnik Dresden GmbH. Herewith both companies realize Synergic effects in surface coating.
VTD has a staff of 65 employees and deals with the development, production and export of vacuum-coating units. Owing to the takeover, in future they will have a high-performance partner with IST METZ at their side. The two companies aim at expanding their positive business development. Especially by using the world-wide sales and distribution network of the IST METZ group market potentials are to be opened up.
2004
One region that has experienced growth in the past and is expected to continue to grow in the future is the Spanish market. IST METZ has therefore decided to open UV-IST Iberica SL in Barcelona in July 2004 to serve this region. The IST METZ group now consists of eleven companies.
2005
January: The IST METZ group expands further with two subsidiaries.
To serve the customers in the north european region, IST METZ opens the IST Nordic AB in Trosa, Sweden.
At the same time S1 Optics GmbH is established in Nuertingen, Germany. The company designs and produces individual coating solutions for optical components.
2007
Following successful events in 2002 and 2005 IST METZ has just held its third “UV Days” at its Group headquarters in Nürtingen . The UV manufacturer welcomed a total of 697 visitors during the five-day event.
2009
Today more than 500 employees are working for IST METZ world-wide.
