100 years of starmix - Swabian cult company celebrates anniversary

"Inventive spirit, perseverance and the courage to take risks have laid the foundation for us to celebrate our 100th anniversary today," says Robert Schöttle Junior, Chairman of the Advisory Board of ELECTROSTAR/starmix.

Innovative strength has always been part of the corporate DNA of the Swabian family-owned company. In 1925, Robert Schöttle Senior developed the world's first hot-air hand dryer, "ELECTROSTAR", from which today's company name is derived. This was followed just under 20 years later by "Der Starmix", the first high-speed kitchen machine, which became a worldwide bestseller in the 1950s and a symbol of the German economic miracle, establishing the brand name "starmix".

"Since Electrostar was acquired by the Algo Group in 2007, Electrostar has continued its success story. Thanks to numerous competitive products and continuous increase in our competitiveness, we were able to increase our sales from almost 20 million euros in 2017 to over 45 million euros in the current year. For the future, we plan to continue to develop new innovative products and keep our finger on the pulse with an extensive digitalization offensive," says Roman Gorovoy, Managing Director of ELECTROSTAR/starmix.

This year, the iconic company already had more than one reason to celebrate: the recommendation issued by the government in the wake of the Corona pandemic not to use warm air hand dryers was lifted after intense opposition from starmix and the electric Hand Dryer Association (eHA). In 2021, the company also launched a real product firework: in February, starmix launched the cordless battery wet/dry vacuum cleaner ISC BATRIX, a real world first, followed three months later by CordlessControl, the first cordless automatic switch-on system for vacuums and cordless tools. The Swabian company also opened up a completely new market segment with the "puredico" disinfectant dispenser.

Selected milestones at a glance:

1921: Robert Schöttle Senior founds the "Electronic Special Factory for Vacuum Cleaners and Blowers".

1925: The world's first warm-air hand dryer is developed

1948: "The starmix" is launched on the market as the first high-speed food processor

1953: The multi-purpose appliance "Piccolo" becomes a hit in the millions

1959: Company founder Robert Schöttle passes away, Hans Schöttle and Peter Kotthaus take over the management of the company

1977: Robert Schöttle Jr. joins the company as the third generation and becomes a member of the company management in 1981.

1985: The warm air dryer program is expanded to the widest range of products in the industry.

1994: The ISB leaf and suction blower "Pick up" becomes a worldwide success

1997: starmix founds a joint venture in Beijing

2003: A strategic partner in Eastern Europe is found in the Gorovoy family (Algo Group).

2007: In three stages Algo takes over all shares of the founding family Schöttle until 2007

2008: The company is renamed ELECTROSTAR GmbH, Roman Gorovoy becomes operational managing director and Robert Schöttle chairman of the advisory board.

2019: After 90 years at the Reichenbach site, ELECTROSTAR moves to Ebersbach an der Fils together with its sister company

2020: ELECTROSTAR/starmix and Haaga sweeping systems merge