Harring describes the company managers’ foresight: “The WILD management recognized very early the importance of the US NAVSTAR GPS Program for surveying. While, from the end of the seventies onwards, GPS was limited to use by the United States military, WILD understood the potential of satellite surveying. Harring on why this innovation was significant: “This first close-range distance meter revolutionized surveying technology, and it marked the beginning of optoelectronics, which became one of the core competencies in Heerbrugg.” The first infrared distance meter, the DISTOMAT DI10, was a joint development with the French company Sercel. This led to the development of microwave and infrared/optoelectronic distance meters. Until then, the main focus had been on optics and precision mechanics. In the sixties, electronics were introduced in Heerbrugg. The picture shows a DI50 being used in Mexico. To measure a distance between 100 m and 50 km, a DI50 was set up atĮach end-point and the distance calculated by measuring the transit time of Some high-profile users were seen on widely distributed press photos: Sir Edmund Hillary, Sir William Appleton and surveyor J Holmes Miller – famous for their Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1955-1958) – were photographed holding a WILD T2 theodolite. Geodetic networkĪlready in the early fifties, a ballistic camera was developed that found its way to scientists who used it to assist the measurement of satellite orbits and the creation of a worldwide geodetic network. Back then, no one could have predicted how important mapping would become to society. Aerial photography started around the same time. His focus on a highly trained workforce paid off: By 1930, WILD was already working with customers in 27 countries. So in 1924, he created a dedicated apprentice-training school which created jobs and prosperity in the region. Wild had some of the same challenges that our industry faces today: the shortage of experienced workers. He began work in Heerbrugg in 1928 as the first ETH graduate engineer. The T4 astronomical Theodolite (1941-1981) was designed by the talented constructor Edwin Berchtold. Wild heerbugg reisszeug driver#In a 1930 letter from the archive Heinrich Wild describes the powerful urge to innovate: “ The greatest incentive and at the same time the greatest encouragement is competition from oneself’.” That mindset has been a driver of technological advancement throughout the company’s history, says Harring: “Our chronicles summarised in the book ‘100 Years Innovation Heerbrugg’ trace this pursuit of new solutions for surveyors and related customer groups all over the world since the foundation of our company.” Start up challenges During their search through the company’s archives, they unearthed lots of exciting finds from the past. Especially for this anniversary, Hexagon’s Geosystems division went back in time and produced a concise illustrated history of the company. Wild heerbugg reisszeug software#In 2021, Hexagon proudly builds on the continuous change and persistence that brought the world a great number of innovative sensor and software technologies. While the factory itself is positioned in the center of the industrialized “Alpine Rhine Valley,” we would rather say that it’s the other way around: first there was WILD, then the area started growing and evolving. Of course, over time a lot has changed in Heerbrugg. In this article, we are going back a bit and highlight some of the remarkable feats in the history of the company. In the past innovation was important, today innovation is essential.“ We’ll continue to pioneer technology that’s easy to use, precise and enabling sustainable development. Our culture is steeped deeply in the tradition of innovation and social responsibility. Thomas Harring, President of Hexagon’s Geosystems division says: “We’re proud to celebrate 100 years of innovation in Heerbrugg this year and we honour the thousands of committed men and women who have driven innovations worldwide for a century. Since 2005 the innovation factory is part of Hexagon and more powerful than ever. This is what we later came to know as WILD, WILD-LEITZ and Leica Geosystems. In 1921 the “Heinrich Wild, Werkstätte für Feinmechanik und Optik” was founded in Heerbrugg, Switzerland. A 1978 commercial photograph of the the Wild Heerbrugg TC1 total station In this article, Thomas Harring, the current President of Geosystems, takes us back in time. It’s the home of WILD, Leitz, and Hexagon Geosystems. In 2021, the Heerbrugg innovation factory in Switzerland celebrates its 100 year anniversary.
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