AKG

AKG Acoustics, originally Akustische und Kino-Geräte Gesellschaft m.b.H., is an Austrian acoustics engineering and manufacturing company founded in 1947 by Rudolf Görike and Ernst Pless in Vienna. The company began by supplying technical equipment for cinemas, including loudspeakers, film projectors, and light meters, and gradually expanded into car horns, door intercoms, carbon microphone capsules, headsets, and cushion speakers. AKG developed early patents in moving coil technology and mass load membranes, which extended frequency ranges. The introduction of the D12 microphone in 1953 brought international fame, setting a standard for voice transmission and leading to the famous C414 and C12 microphones. By the late 1970s and 1980s, AKG produced magnetic cartridges such as the P25 in 1982. In 1984, AKG became a public company listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange and was considered a blue chip stock. The company was acquired by Harman International Industries in 1994. AKG received a Technical Grammy Award in 2010. In 2016, it was announced that AKG's Vienna facilities would be shut down in 2017, with the brand headquarters moving to California, USA. Most current AKG-branded products are made in Harman's overseas production facilities. In 2017, Samsung Electronics acquired Harman, and a group of former AKG engineers based in Austria formed Austrian Audio. Today, AKG products include microphones, headphones, wireless audio systems, and related accessories for professional and consumer markets.

AKG Acoustics was founded in Vienna, Austria in 1947 by physicist Rudolf Görike and engineer Ernst Pless. Initially, the company provided technical equipment for cinemas, such as loudspeakers, film projectors, and light meters. The business slowly expanded, and AKG started selling car horns, door intercoms, carbon microphone capsules for telephones, headsets, and cushion speakers. Around this time, the company developed its first patents: moving coil technology and the principle of mass load membranes, which allowed its products to have extended frequency ranges. With the creation of the D12 microphone in 1953, AKG achieved international fame, setting the standard for voice transmissions. The D12 possessed excellent sonic qualities for that time, making its way into radio stations and recording studios across the world. The product was improved through subsequent upgrades, spanning the famous C414 and C12 microphones. By the end of the 1970s and into the 1980s, magnetic cartridges were produced, such as the P25 in 1982. In 1984, AKG became a public company, listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange. As a blue chip company, it was one of the most traded stocks. The company was acquired by the American company Harman International Industries in 1994. By this time, AKG's United States subsidiary had been established (in Los Angeles in 1985). AKG Acoustics USA, still headquartered in the San Fernando Valley, also houses regional offices for Crown Audio, another Harman Industries subsidiary. In 2010, the company received the prestigious Technical Grammy Award. In 2016, it was announced that the AKG Vienna facilities (headquarters, manufacturing, and engineering) would be shut down in 2017, with a transfer of brand headquarters to California, USA. Most current AKG-branded products are made in Harman's overseas production facilities. In 2017, Samsung Electronics acquired Harman. In the same year, a group of former AKG engineers based in Austria formed Austrian Audio, competing with AKG.

• 2017

  Harman is bought by Samsung Electronics; headquarters of the AKG brand transferred to California, USA.

• 2016

  Harman decides to shut down all facilities in Vienna in 2017.

• 2012

  Announces partnership with disc jockey Tiësto to manufacture headphones under Tiësto's name.

• 2010

  AKG Acoustics receives a Grammy Award for its work in the recording field.

• 2010

  Announces partnership with Quincy Jones to manufacture a signature line of headphones.

• 2006

  Produces a limited 60th anniversary edition of the celebrated C414 LTD microphone.

• 1994

  Becomes part of Harman International Industries.

• 1991

  Produces its first wireless microphones, the WMS100 and WMS900.

• 1985

  Founds a U.S. subsidiary, based in Northridge, Los Angeles, California.

• 1955

  Founds a German subsidiary.

• 1953

  Introduces the world's first dynamic cardioid microphone (D12).

• 1949

  AKG begins producing headphones, the first model being the K120 DYN.

• 1947

  AKG founded by Görike and Pless as Akustische und Kino-Geräte Gesellschaft m.b.H.

• 1945

  Rudolf Görike and Ernst Pless begin supplying film equipment to theatres in post-war Vienna.

Professional and consumer audio equipment with a heritage of acoustic engineering excellence.

• D12 microphone

  Dynamic cardioid microphone introduced in 1953, setting the standard for voice transmission.

• C12 microphone

  Valve condenser microphone, original version now a collector's item.

• C414 microphone

  Large diaphragm condenser microphone with multiple pickup patterns and filters.

• K120 DYN headphones

  First headphone model produced by AKG.

• P25 magnetic cartridge

  Magnetic cartridge produced in 1982.

• Quincy Jones signature line
• Tiësto headphones

• Unconfirmed

  AESG acquires Australian renewable energy consultancy The Energy Project[2]AESG收购澳大利亚可再生能源咨询公司The Energy Projecttradearabia.com

  AESG, a global engineering, consultancy and advisory firm, has acquired Australian renewable-energy consultancy The Energy Project (TEP). The acquisition will establish TEP as the renewable-energy pillar of AESG's Sustainability practice, expand its capabilities in renewable-energy strategy, solar power, battery storage, microgrids, distributed energy and EV infrastructure, and strengthen AESG's service offering in the Middle East as part of its international expansion strategy.

• Unconfirmed

  AESG appoints Andrew Mather as Managing Director, Australia[2]AESG收购澳大利亚可再生能源咨询公司The Energy Projecttradearabia.com

  As part of its international expansion strategy, AESG appointed Andrew Mather as Managing Director, Australia. Mather will lead AESG's continued development in Australia while supporting collaboration between the Australian business, the Middle East and the company's wider international network.

Read more

1. 1AKG (company) - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2AESG收购澳大利亚可再生能源咨询公司The Energy Projecttradearabia.com