Messer is one of the "brands of the century" ”

"Made in Germany" – this mark of quality applies to Messer, the privately run industrial gases specialist, and its products. The company may now be a global player, but it all began in Germany in 1898. And it is for this reason that Messer – along with 280 other brands – has now been designated one of the "brands of the century" and included in the new edition of the identically named standard work on German economic history.

The 16th edition of this classic work from the "Deutsche Standards" publishing house provides a portrait of the best-known and biggest German brands. By virtue of their productive capacity, these companies make a special contribution to the German economy while at the same time setting a benchmark for foreign competitors.

The brands listed in the book were selected by an eight-person committee of brand experts chaired by Bernd Michael, President of the German Marketing Association (DMV). The fact that the Messer brand has been included in the top group of German manufacturers for the first time underlines the company's successful return to the German gas market in 2008.

The book presentation took place in Frankfurt am Main on 15 October as part of the 2009 Frankfurt Book Fair. To mark this occasion, all the brands listed in the book were presented with the Deutsche Standards brand award by book publisher Dr. Florian Langenscheidt.

Messer in the "Encyclopaedia of German Family Companies"

Tradition, sustainability, responsible thinking and doing business – all are typical characteristics of a family company such as Messer, the industrial gas specialist. Family companies are the backbone of German society, especially in economically difficult times, because they generate two-thirds of gross domestic product and also provide the majority of jobs and training opportunities. The "Lexikon der deutschen Familienunternehmen" (Encyclopaedia of German Family Companies) demonstrates the major social significance of German family companies. It is published by Dr. Florian Langenscheidt and Prof. Dr. Peter May, founder of the INTES Academy for Family Companies, at the "Deutsche Standards" (German Standards) publishing house. This new reference book, a sequel to the successful "Aus bester Familie" (From a Good Family) publication, presents a portrait of the 1000 most important family companies in Germany from the fields of consumer and investment goods, services and manufacture.

The book is structured according to encyclopaedic principles and provides useful information on a range of topics about each company, including Messer. Interesting insights into the 111-year Messer history are provided over several pages. Attention is also given to the social involvement of the globally active industrial gas company.

Family companies are a particularly interesting subject because they make up approximately 95 percent of all companies in Germany and reflect a positive image of the social market economy as an alternative to large corporations. The aim of the publication is to recognise the involvement of family companies in the success and history of the German economy over generations and to bring this more into the public focus.

The book was formally presented to the public on 7 May 2009 on Petersberg near Bonn at a function attended by around 400 businesspeople from family companies.