DODUCO

DODUCO is a German industrial brand and manufacturer of electrical contacts and precious-metal products, headquartered in Pforzheim, Baden-Württemberg. The company was founded in 1922 by Eugen Dürrwächter (1897–1980), who began with a precious-metal refinery recovering gold and silver for the Pforzheim jewellery industry. In 1930 he built a factory in Pforzheim for the production of contact materials, semi-finished products and contact parts. Over the following decades DODUCO expanded geographically, establishing a presence in Sinsheim from 1941 and a plant in Madrid from 1976. DODUCO's product range covers contact materials and semi-finished products, precision contact parts, aluminium/copper hybrid composites, electromechanical assemblies, components for high- and medium-voltage switchgear, electroplating coatings and products, precious-metal recycling, and silver investment bars. Its customers are primarily in the electrical, electronics and automotive industries. The company also publishes the DODUCO data book for electrical contacts and is a member of the German Federal Association for Jewellery, Watches, Silverware and Related Industries. Ownership has changed several times. In 1971 the corporate group of the Princely House of Thurn & Taxis acquired the majority. On 31 August 1996, following a prior settlement application, insolvency proceedings were opened by the Pforzheim local court, with Jobst Wellensiek appointed as administrator; business operations continued. In 1996 the Technitrol group took over DODUCO and combined it with its North American subsidiary AMI, which had belonged to Technitrol since 1968, in its international "Electrical Contacts" division. From 1998 this division operated under the globally unified name AMI DODUCO. In July 1998 AMI DODUCO acquired the Mexican company Metales y Contactos, S.A., and in November 1999 it acquired Tianjin Electrical Metal Works in China. In September 2010 an investor group comprising Tinicum Capital Partners II of New York and JP Asia Partners of Singapore acquired AMI DODUCO's European and Asian operations, and the company returned to its traditional name DODUCO. In June 2020 Saxonia Edelmetalle took over DODUCO. Today DODUCO operates as part of the SAXONIA Group, whose companies cover the full range of product fields around the use of precious metals. Group entities include SAXONIA Holding GmbH (Dresden), SAXONIA Edelmetalle GmbH (Halsbrücke), SAXONIA Technical Materials GmbH (Hanau), Brazetec GmbH (Alzenau), DODUCO Contacts and Refining GmbH (Pforzheim), DODUCO Technical Solutions GmbH (Sinsheim), WIELAND Edelmetalle GmbH (Pforzheim), WIELAND GALVANIK GmbH (Pforzheim), WIELAND PHARMA GmbH (Pforzheim), Italbras S.p.A. (Vicenza), SAXONIA España S.L. (Madrid) and DODUCO China Co. Ltd. (Tianjin). According to the company, DODUCO Contacts and Refining GmbH has almost 100 years of experience in precious-metal processing and recycling, and DODUCO is a renowned partner of companies in the electrical, electronics and automotive industries thanks to its comprehensive know-how in electrically conductive connections. In 2019 the DODUCO group reported revenue of €205.9 million and 1,030 employees worldwide. Its German sites in Pforzheim and Sinsheim accounted for €124.2 million and about 664 employees; DODUCO Spain in Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid) for €29.7 million and about 103 employees; and DODUCO China in Tianjin for €26.0 million and about 157 employees. Managing directors have included Andreas Koffler and Rudi Hartmann. In the first half of 2020 IG Metall concluded a restructuring and site-securing collective agreement with DODUCO including employment protection, which ran until 31 December 2022. DODUCO was named Silver Bar Manufacturer of the Year 2013 and is recognized as a 1A training company by the IHK Nordschwarzwald.

DODUCO was founded in 1922 by Eugen Dürrwächter (1897–1980) in Pforzheim. The founder began with a precious-metal refinery recovering gold and silver for the Pforzheim jewellery industry. In 1930 he established a factory in Pforzheim for the production of contact materials, semi-finished products and contact parts. Since 1941 DODUCO has also been present at the Sinsheim site, and since 1976 it has operated a plant in Madrid. In 1971 the corporate group of the Princely House of Thurn & Taxis acquired the majority of the company. On 31 August 1996, following a prior settlement application, insolvency proceedings were opened by the Pforzheim local court, with Jobst Wellensiek appointed as administrator; business operations continued. In 1996 the Technitrol group took over the Pforzheim-based traditional company DODUCO. Technitrol combined the German company with AMI, which had belonged to Technitrol since 1968, in its internationally operating "Electrical Contacts" division. From 1998 this new division of Technitrol operated under the globally unified name AMI DODUCO. In July 1998 AMI DODUCO acquired the Mexican company Metales y Contactos, S.A. In November 1999 the company Tianjin Electrical Metal Works in China was acquired. In September 2010 the investor group Tinicum Capital Partners II from New York and JP Asia Partners from Singapore acquired AMI DODUCO's European and Asian operations. The company then reverted to its traditional name DODUCO. In the first half of 2020 IG Metall concluded a restructuring and site-securing collective agreement with DODUCO including employment protection, which ended on 31 December 2022. In June 2020 Saxonia Edelmetalle took over DODUCO. Today DODUCO is part of the SAXONIA Group, whose companies cover all product fields related to the use of precious metals. The group includes SAXONIA Holding GmbH (Dresden), SAXONIA Edelmetalle GmbH (Halsbrücke), SAXONIA Technical Materials GmbH (Hanau), Brazetec GmbH (Alzenau), DODUCO Contacts and Refining GmbH (Pforzheim), DODUCO Technical Solutions GmbH (Sinsheim), WIELAND Edelmetalle GmbH (Pforzheim), WIELAND GALVANIK GmbH (Pforzheim), WIELAND PHARMA GmbH (Pforzheim), Italbras S.p.A. (Vicenza), SAXONIA España S.L. (Madrid) and DODUCO China Co. Ltd. (Tianjin). According to the company, DODUCO Contacts and Refining GmbH has almost 100 years of experience in precious-metal processing and recycling, and DODUCO is a renowned partner of many companies in the electrical, electronics and automotive industries thanks to its comprehensive know-how in electrically conductive connections. In 2019 the DODUCO group reported revenue of €205.9 million and 1,030 employees worldwide. Its German sites in Pforzheim and Sinsheim accounted for €124.2 million and about 664 employees; DODUCO Spain in Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid) for €29.7 million and about 103 employees; and DODUCO China in Tianjin for €26.0 million and about 157 employees. Managing directors have included Andreas Koffler and Rudi Hartmann. DODUCO was named Silver Bar Manufacturer of the Year 2013 and is recognized as a 1A training company by the IHK Nordschwarzwald.

• 2020

  In the first half, IG Metall concludes a restructuring and site-securing collective agreement with DODUCO. In June, Saxonia Edelmetalle takes over DODUCO.

• 2013

  DODUCO is named Silver Bar Manufacturer of the Year.

• 2010

  In September, Tinicum Capital Partners II and JP Asia Partners acquire AMI DODUCO's European and Asian operations; the company reverts to the name DODUCO.

• 1999

  In November, Tianjin Electrical Metal Works in China is acquired.

• 1998

  Technitrol's Electrical Contacts division operates under the globally unified name AMI DODUCO. In July, AMI DODUCO acquires Metales y Contactos, S.A. in Mexico.

• 1996

  On 31 August, following a prior settlement application, insolvency proceedings are opened by the Pforzheim local court; business operations continue. Technitrol group takes over DODUCO.

• 1976

  DODUCO opens a plant in Madrid.

• 1971

  The corporate group of the Princely House of Thurn & Taxis acquires the majority.

• 1941

  DODUCO establishes a presence at the Sinsheim site.

• 1930

  Factory established in Pforzheim for the production of contact materials, semi-finished products and contact parts.

• 1922

  Founded by Eugen Dürrwächter in Pforzheim as a precious-metal refinery recovering gold and silver for the jewellery industry.

Renowned partner for the electrical, electronics and automotive industries, with almost 100 years of experience in precious-metal processing and recycling.

• Contact materials and semi-finished products

• Precision contact parts

• Aluminium/copper hybrid composites

• Electromechanical assemblies

• Components for high- and medium-voltage switchgear (e.g. high-voltage switches)

• Electroplating coatings and electroplating products

• Precious-metal recycling

• Silver investment bars

1. 1DODUCO official websitedoduco.net
2. 2Doduco – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Doduco – Wikidatawikidata.org