ORIGINS
The family business Trotter Industrial Ltda., Is a Chilean metallurgical factory whose origins date back to 1923. The company develops and markets domestic hot water and other fluid heating products for the national market.
TIMELINE
1688 - 2020
1688
The available historical records of the Trotter family date back to 1688 in the town of Oberndorf, district of Stuttgart, Germany. Stuttgart, the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg, is known as the cradle of technological inventions, including the gasoline engine of Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach (Mercedes Benz). It is where the Porsche company was founded, the steam plow of Max Eyth, Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin's aircraft, among other technological developments.
Ignaz Trotter owned "The Bären", a legendary inn in the center of Oberndorf.
1892
Eugen Trotter, mechanic, artistic locksmith by profession and founder of the company in Chile, was born in 1892 in Boll, a town next to Oberndorf, in the state of Baden-Württemberg.
House where Eugen Trotter and his brothers lived.
1913
Eugen Trotter showed his restless and adventurous spirit from an early age. This is how in 1913 he traveled to the United States of America, where he lived for about a year until, as a result of the outbreak of the First World War, he was called as a volunteer to the German front. Along with his brothers Franz and Paul, he enlisted in the German army.
Infantry Regiment No. 121, 3rd Company where Eugen Trotter participated and was part of the Battle of the Somme, France.
1915
Sadly, Paul died in combat at the young age of 25. In the image you can see Franz Trotter (serving from the pot), with his comrades in the trench.
Franz Trotter in the trench of war and Franz Trotter's Master's Diploma in locksmithing.
1918
Suffering serious injury, Eugen spends the rest of the war working at the MAUSER arms factory in Oberndorf (Image from the Wehrmacht Register).
Wehrmacht Report - "War volunteer. Eugen Trotter - Boll, Sulz - seriously wounded."
1919
Both Franz and Eugen trained in locksmithing (Schlosserei) and Eugen, for his part, learned the trade of mechanics. In this period of uncertainty in Germany, he married Maria Elizabeth Schifko in 1916, in the town of Bad Canstatt, Stuttgart. That same year Ursus was born and Albin was born in 1919.
Franz Trotter welding with oxygen; the Schlosserei at Charlottenstrasse 3, Böbligen..
1920
The trauma of the war and the unstable political-economic situation in Germany, encouraged Eugen Trotter to travel to South America bound for Blumenau, Brazil. However, on the way there, a war comrade convinces him to settle in the city of Valdivia, in Chile, where there was a sizable German colony.
SS Oropesa; Eugen Trotter's passport, issued on January 22, 1920.
1923
Once consolidated, Eugen brings his family to be with him in Chile. His wife, and both children, then arrive in Valdivia in 1923. That same year, Eugen established the Fundición y Maestranza la República (‘La Republica’ metalworks and foundry) which marks the beginning of the family company. Even now, we can find Eugen Trotter’s creations edifying Valdivia, including the lamps and railings of the Cervantes Theater.
Trotter family in Valdivia.
1930
In 1930, the world crisis and the opening of the Panama Canal greatly affected and effectively paralyzed Valdivia, forcing Eugen to move to Santiago to seek new job opportunities. In the capital, Eugen establishes his company and creates the "Instituto Médico Mecánico Eugen Trotter" (Eugen Trotter Mechanical Medical Institute).
Company sheets and drawing of a milk jar manufactured by Trotter.
1935
With the business prospering, his children join: first Ursus and then Albin, who had previously trained as a technician in Electromechanics at the State Technical University in School of Skills and Trades (today known as University of Santiago, Chile, USACH). In the image Albin Trotter participates in the creation of ASIMET.
Portrait of Albin Trotter.
1938
The family business expands and creates a new factory called Elaboración de Metales (Metalworks), which manufactures metallic elements to order such as milk jars, furniture, and other items of the like. It is at this stage of the company that the concept of "Trotter Quality" was born, when Eugen Trotter coined the phrase in his quotes:
"Für erstklassige solide Arbeit und tadelloses funktionieren wird garantiert" ("Ensuring solid, first-class work and flawless operation")
Transitional corporate logo of Trotter company.
1940
Unfortunately, Eugen passed away at an early age (1939), and the responsibility for the company and the family fell to his children. They decided to re-found the company as Trotter Bros, emphasizing the surname laying a firm foundation for the future. In 1940. Albin, developed the first water heater made in Chile, employing electric resistance and a thermostat of his own design.
Trotter fridge advertising poster.
1946
In 1946, they begin manufacturing the first iceboxes and initiate the construction of their first factory at 3801 San Pablo street in the municipality of Quinta Normal in Santiago, where today they manufacture electrical heating elements and operate their research and development laboratory. It is at this time that the brothers decided to transform this small factory into a corporate and industrialized company, distinguishing their products with their surname, and incorporating elements from their country of origin.
Thermo-electric for heating water, Trotter Special (1946).
1950
In the 1950s, they begin to experiment with making their first refrigerators. Next come their ovens, all innovative products of extraordinary quality and the TROTTER water heater becomes an essential appliance both in Chilean homes and industrial works. In the picture, Albin Trotter testing a gas-powered vacuum machine.
"Trotter 1961" electric fridge.
1959
The increased demand motivates Albin to take a trip to Europe to learn new techniques as well as to buy state-of-the-art equipment for production. In the final days of December 1959, he travels to Germany to attend the Frankfurt Fair, then the Cologne Fair. Continuing the trip, he travels to the DANFOSS factory located in Sønderborg, Denmark, in order to specialize with the latest advances in refrigeration and arrive at a commercial agreement with DANFOSS to equip TROTTER refrigerators.
Berta Cruz, Albin's wife at the Danfoss Factory (Denmark); note from "El Mercurio" to Albin.
1960
On May 22, 1960, he travels to the KANTHAL factory located in Halstahammar, Sweden, to specialize in the manufacture of electric heating elements. Here, he also purchases a complete workstation with all the machines and equipment necessary to produce this vital element for the manufacture of water heaters of all capacities according to the highest standards of quality.
Eugen visiting the KANTHAL factory, Hallstahammar, Sweden (1960).
1970
During the 1970s, company continues its flourishing growth, increasing their family of products to include dishwashers, modular metal kitchen cabinets, and paraffin heater. Albin personally leads multiple trips, necessary for the manufacture of all these new products, to the US, Germany and Switzerland with the purpose of selecting and investing in new machinery.
Trotter electric stove from 1970; Trotter appliance posters.
1974
The creation of the TROTTER thermostatic water heater in the 1970s marks a special milestone. This appliance becomes the pride of its creator, Albin Trotter, with more than 30 years of innovation and several invention patents. His creation develops into highly-refined artifact, which combines the efficiency due to its minimum consumption of water and gas, the efficacy of providing hot water at the precise temperature, and trustworthiness because of its long life and durability.
New Trotter corporate logo; Trotter electric stove (1974).
1982
In 1982, with the arrival of the new generations, the founders of the Trotter company decide to divide the company but continue to share the Trotter brand. They therefore incorporate their respective names, Albin and Ursus.
Trotter valve; Albin Trotter in his Santiago office.
2002
In 2002, Klaus Trotter, the son of Albin Trotter, together with his father, redirect the factory's strategy while staying true to its origins by maintaining the core principles including the manufacture of quality domestic products according to ISO 9001 standards, technological innovation, and reliability over time. They expand the factory's strategy to incorporate the production of sanitary hot-water appliances for the industrial market and commercial use. They manage to position the company in the mining industry, the armed forces, various industrial sectors, gyms, and supermarket chains as a supplier and serious partner who delivers specialized technical service and factory-direct spare parts. It is the beginning of a new era.
Building the office in San Pablo 3800
2013
In 2013, the shareholders of the parent company of TROTTER INDUSTRIAL LTDA. separate the property, and create an independent company, unrelated to the line of household appliances, that dedicates itself to the manufacture of innovative, solid, and quality appliances while remaining faithful to the values and philosophy of work typical of the German people which Eugen Trotter bequeathed to subsequent generations and which has been the key to success.
New Intelligent product line for the industry
2015
Since 2010, TROTTER INDUSTRIAL LTDA, has held ISO 9001 certification and this was renewed in 2017 to the current version, ISO 9001: 2015. This stands as a demonstration of our excellence in changing environments where administration, definition, and objectives are the task of everyone.
Certificación ISO9001:2015; Certificado AENOR.
2019
The heart of TROTTER INDUSTRIAL LTDA is its innovations and new developments. In 2019, we successfully complete the process of patenting and certifying our new INTELLIGENT line of high-recovery gas-powered water heaters. Designed for industry and commercial facilities looking for an alternative-energy source such as natural gas. Our water heater is the first gas-powered water heater in the Chilean market with a tank of up to 1000 liters.
New company logo.
2020
Our 2020 was a year of change and resilience. The pandemic urged us to change from the way we relate to each other at work as well as in our personal lives. However, this period was crucial to demonstrate the quality of our service and products, guaranteeing our support and reliability to the Chilean industry as well as not forgetting the safety and health of our employees.
New image for company products and creation of the new FTI brand.
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