C. & E. FEIN GmbH: Over 140 years of inventions

C. & E. FEIN GmbH, the manufacturer of professional and extremely reliable power tools, has a proud history going back over 140 years. The company's story is characterised throughout by pioneering inventions. This richly inventive spirit has provided the momentum for the company's success and lays the foundations for the ideas of the future: the Company holds more than 800 active industrial property rights, including around 500 patents and patent applications. FEIN was founded in 1867, in Karlsruhe, by brothers Wilhelm Emil and Carl Fein as a 'workshop for the manufacture of physical and electrical apparatus'.

Three years later, the business moved to Stuttgart. The use of electrical energy in numerous inventions was a hallmark of the Company from the beginning. Diverse electrical innovations like the electric fire alarm, the first portable telephone and the first automatic coffee machine reveal the inventive genius of the company founders. Their aim was to manufacture equipment and develop ideas with practical value and importance in many different areas of life – in dayto- day living, in industry and technology, and in physics.

Even in those early days, the Company focused on developing tools with real practical benefits for the user. In 1895 the world's first electric hand drill left the FEIN development workshop, a tool that would revolutionise manual working. It can still be seen today at the Deutsches Museum in Munich. This was followed in 1906 by a hand held grinder. FEIN was not slow to recognise the potential of the new hand-operated power tool. In 1908, FEIN became a 'specialised factory for power tools'. In 1914 FEIN launched the first hammer drill with electropneumatic hammer action on the market. FEIN also developed and filed a patent for the first ever jigsaw. In 1967 FEIN invented an oscillating power tool, a new oscillating plaster cast saw. The plaster cast saw formed the basis of FEIN's range of sophisticated oscillating power tools. In recent decades the Company has produced numerous other inventions and innovations.

The forerunner of today's FEIN MultiMaster, the first oscillating delta sander, was developed and patented in 1986. This universal grinder suddenly allowed users to grind work pieces that previously could only be machined by hand. The grinding disc, in the shape of a spherical triangle, and the oscillating motion achieved optimum grinding results even in previously inaccessible areas. Versatility, robust construction and above all safety have always been at the forefront of development, and these characteristics are specifically deployed to make work safer, faster and more convenient for users in manual trades and industry. In 1987 FEIN built the first safety angle grinder with brake and QuickIN tool clamping system. This keyless tool-changing system was then adapted for FEIN core drills and later transferred to other FEIN products. For dry wall screw guns FEIN developed a special clutch for precise, silent cut-off when the set screw depth is reached. FEIN angle grinders with TipStart technology offer the convenience of switch-free operation and safety for the user.

In January 2007 FEIN launched the latest generation of the FEIN MultiMaster with the
QuickIN tool clamping system. This system significantly reduces the time required to
change tools – a particular benefit in applications and renovation jobs where frequent tool
changes are required. This universal system for interior construction and renovation is the
result of over 110 years of experience in power tools and over 40 years' experience in
oscillation technology. Today, FEIN continues to develop new ideas on a daily basis - ideas
that will make the applications of tomorrow easier to handle.

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The company:
The world's first power tool was invented by C. & E. FEIN GmbH. Wilhelm Emil Fein
founded the Company in 1867. In 1895, FEIN invented the electric hand drill, the first ever
power tool. Today this long-standing Company is a world-renowned power tool
manufacturer with 840 employees, 570 of whom work in Germany. The German
manufacturer of premium products develops and produces application solutions for the
metal, interior work and automotive sectors - professional and extremely reliable power
tools for industry and manual trades. FEIN holds more than 800 active industrial property
rights, including around 500 patents and patent applications. FEIN markets its products
through 16 international subsidiaries and representations in 61 countries. For over 140
years, FEIN has been synonymous with application solutions and premium quality.
www.fein.com

Further information:
Rabea Mangold
C. & E. FEIN GmbH
Hans-Fein-Straße 81
D-73529 Schwäbisch Gmünd-Bargau
Phone +49 7173 183-407
E-mail rabea.mangold@fein.de