Volker Trein, Uwe Wiemer, Conny Johannes, Gordon May and Dennis Thom (from left to right). (Photo: © LIFTjournal / Bernd Lorenz)
April 2025
1905 is not just the year of the consecration of the Berlin Cathedral and the decision to build the Mittelland Canal. It was also the year in which Theodor Bongers established his first company in Dusseldorf, the precursor company to today’s Bode Components GmbH.
This year, the company is celebrating its 120th anniversary. From its earliest days, Bode has specialised in the production of speed governors for lifts, which in 2025 remain the main product of Bode Components GmbH.
The speed governor was not really a new product even in the year the company was established, since Charles R Otis had already launched the so-called "fly ball type" speed governor in 1878. The idea was inspired by the speed governors of steam engines.
Hence, the basic idea was already 27 years old but Mr Bongers had found a market niche in Germany. This was because buildings were getting higher, lift companies were being established and there was a great demand for speed governors to make lifts safer. In 1925, Hermann Deimann joined the company but it was only renamed Bongers & Deimann OHG in 1967, which is where the current name comes from: Bode.
Today, Bode is synonymous in many countries for lift speed governors. Production continues to be in Dusseldorf. Managing director Uwe Wiemer and his twelve employees are proud to serve customers around the world from there. Wiemer has been the company’s managing director since 2022.
Of course, reaching this special company anniversary was only possible with motivated employees, the company emphasised. "We’re always glad when we can despatch an urgent order on the same day and contribute to making it possible to repair a lift quickly," revealed Udo Krähe, a long-standing employee at Bode and who, like his colleague Nasim Terzi, has worked in the production for over 30 years. The performance of all employees and the loyalty of many customers are to be honoured this year with a large party.
Even after 120 years, the company was still full of vitality, Volker Trein, technical manager at the safety component manufacturer, was pleased to report. A new ERP system had been introduced, the technical department and purchasing boosted with new employees and sales had also gained fresh impetus.
Managing director Uwe Wiemer sees the future as challenging but not troubling. He expected that electronics in lifts, to be precise, positioning and speed measurement, would become increasingly important. "And Bode will also face this challenge, like all the others that have arisen in the last 120 years."
More information: bode-components.com
Digitalpaper
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