EXPERTISE
IN PRECISION
FOR MORE THAN
160 YEARS

Fuzes and safety and arming devices – as reliable as clockwork

“German workmanship”, “Made in Germany” or “German engineering skill” have been regarded as quality features worldwide for years. In order to meet this quality claim in a sustainable manner, we are constantly developing as an internationally established company, aligning our values to changing framework conditions and consistently aligning ourselves with innovative requirements, challenges and technologies. As a result, we have succeeded in establishing the actual name of JUNGHANS as a quality feature.

There for you internationally – our locations
The JUNGHANS Defence umbrella brand consists of the two companies, JUNGHANS Microtec GmbH in Dunningen-Seedorf, on the edge of the Black Forest, and JUNGHANS T2M SAS, headquartered in La Ferté St. Aubin, a few kilometres south of Orléans. Despite the fact that they are legally separate, the two competence centres are closely interlinked to ensure seamless cooperation and constant exchanges.

You can find more information on the expertise of the individual locations in our skills section.

COMPETENCE CENTRES

From high precision watches to reliable fuzes – our history

The history of JUNGHANS goes back to 1861 and begins with the establishment of a watch factory in Schramberg, Germany on 14 April by Erhard Junghans. After his death in September 1870, his son Arthur took over the company and received the first patent for one of his developments nine years later. From that point in time, more and more patents followed – in the mid-1970s, the number of protected developments had risen to more than 3,000.
The company’s inventive genius was a driving force behind its increasing success, and in 1905 Arthur discovered a new market that was closely linked to watch manufacturing: fuze technology. In order to protect his own soldiers, Arthur came up with the idea of installing small movements in the fuzes, so that they did not ignite until they were far enough away from the soldiers. With the development and production of such fuzes, the second core business segment emerged, which laid the foundation for today’s JUNGHANS Defence brand.

Success story in the international arena

On the French side, fuze activity commenced in support of the light-weight Brandt mortar system. At the end of the 1950s, electronic fuze activities followed as a cooperation between the two companies TRT-Philips and Thomson CSF, which were merged in 1990 as Thomson-CSF and Philips Defence into one company – Thomson-TRT-Defense Munition Electronic. In 1995, as a joint venture with TDA Armements, the central bundling of activities and skills was finally carried out at our current French site in La Ferté Saint Aubin.

Focus on the new core competence

In Germany, JUNGHANS was taken over by the Diehl Group in November 1956, after they acquired the majority of the shares and after the takeover they proceeded to advance the fuze activities in particular. In 1984, the fuze business completely split from the watch industry and in 1999 led to the founding of a new company: JUNGHANS Feinwerktechnik GmbH, which established itself as a recognised global market leader for fuzes. In 2000, Diehl sold the JUNGHANS watch factory to concentrate exclusively on the defence business.

Merger into a large whole

In 2007, the two company groups Diehl in Germany and Thales in France united their fuze activities and set a milestone for the future of fuze technology: JUNGHANS Microtec GmbH as a joint venture with JUNGHANS T2M as a 100% subsidiary.

This strategic move brought together two companies, both of which have many years of experience in the fuze sector. Our customers benefit from the synergy effects created in this way, together with all the advantages of the complementary capabilities from development, technology and manufacturing. The bundling of the competencies of both locations into one company also allows a unique product portfolio that covers all types of fuzes and safety and arming devices.

As a further consequence, in 2015 we introduced the trademark JUNGHANS Defence, which represents the joint venture as a whole, and under which both legal entities have operated together since that time.

Many challenges – one goal

Our guidelines, business principles and corporate culture correspond to the compliance principles of our two parent companies Diehl Stiftung & Co. KG and Thales.
MORE ON THE DIEHL WEBSITE
MORE ON THE THALES WEBSITE

History – Overview

1861

On the German side, the history of the JUNGHANS company began in 1861 with the establishment of a watch factory by Erhard Junghans.

1905

In 1905, a second core business area of the company was created with the development and production of fuzes.

1914

On the French side, fuze activity began during the First World War with the equipment of ammunition for the light Brandt mortar systems with fuzes.

1950

Joint electronic fuze activities began at the end of 1950 between the two companies TRT-Philips and Thomson CSF

1957

The takeover of JUNGHANS by the Diehl Group in 1957 advanced the fuze activities in particular.

1984

In 1984, the fuze business was completely separated from the watch industry.

1990

In 1990, the French fuze activities of Thomson-CSF and Philips Defence were merged into one company. This merger led to the founding of Thomson-TRT-Defense Munition Electronic.

1995

The joint venture with TDA Armements and the central bundling of activities and skills at the site in La Ferté Saint Aubin took place in 1995.

1999

Establishment of a new company, JUNGHANS Feinwerktechnik GmbH, which has established itself as a recognised global market leader for fuzes.

2000

In 2000, Diehl sold the JUNGHANS watch factory and focused exclusively on the defence business.

2007

In preparation for the joint venture with the French fuze business of the Thales Group, JUNGHANS Feinwerktechnik was renamed JUNGHANS Microtec GmbH in 2007.

2008

JUNGHANS Microtec GmbH was founded in 2008 as a joint venture between the Diehl Group (55% of the shares) and Thales (45% of the shares), with JUNGHANS T2M as a 100% subsidiary of JUNGHANS Microtec GmbH.

2015

In 2015, the trademark JUNGHANS Defence, which represents the joint venture as a whole, was introduced.

Network better –
your contact with us

Please contact us directly. We look forward to hearing from you. You can reach us by phone at +49 7402 181-0 or simply send an email to info@junghans-defence.com. Tip: it is best to visit our LinkedIn profile right away to connect directly with us.
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