SATA-Chronology
The origins of Sanitaria go back to the firm Gretsch & Cie. GmbH in Stuttgart-Feuerbach, which was established in 1863 by Friedrich Carl Bauer and now operates in Ditzingen under the name of Gretsch-Unitas.
| Year | Company History | Product History | |
| 1906 | Arthur Haeberle and August Drehmann acquire the surgical device manufacturing department of Gretsch and Cie. GmbH by way of a management buyout. Arthur Haeberle had been shareholder and CEO at Gretsch since the beginning of 1904. An employee of this division and future Board Member of Sanitaria AG, Ludwig Waelde, had begun an apprenticeship as a commercial assistant at Gretsch back in 1902. | SATA Record Syringe | |
| 1907 | The newly established company moves to leased premises in Feuerbach. The management comprises Arthur Haeberle and August Drehmann. | Sanitaria GmbH is set up on 25 January 1907 with the aim of producing surgical instruments and supplies. The so-called lever lock, a bottle stopper with spray action for a spray coolant, is featured in the product range and is still supplied to the same customer to this day. | |
| 1910 | Sanitaria relocates from Feuerbach to a new building in Wernerstrasse in Ludwigsburg (company headquarters until 1992). | ||
| 1911 | Eight further partners buy shares of Sanitaria. One of the new shareholders, Adam Teufel, is also appointed Technical Director. | ||
| 1914 | “Sata” is registered as a trademark. | ||
| 1918 | Anton Kreidler becomes a shareholder during recapitalisation at Sanitaria. | ||
| 1921 | The company is converted to a public company. Arthur Haeberle and Adam Teufel are Members of the Board. | ||
| 1925 | Start of production of the first paint spray guns as a “private label” for lacquer factory Christian Lechler in Stuttgart-Feuerbach. | ||
| 1926 | First patent: paint spray gun with two-piece air cap and elliptical air passages. | ||
| 1931 | Commercialisation gets underway for Sanitaria’s own spray gun lines, the SATA LM, MC, MR and P. | ||
| 1932 | Resignation of Adam Teufel (Member of the Board and Technical Director). Arthur Haeberle remains CEO. Friedrich Bäuchle becomes Technical Director. | SATA LM | |
| 1940 | Ludwig Waelde is appointed to join Arthur Haeberle on the Board of Directors. | ||
| 1942 | After the death of Anton Kreidler, his son Alfred Kreidler also acquires the shares inherited by his siblings and those held by other partners, giving him a share of around 40 per cent of the corporate equity. | ||
| 1944 | Arthur Haeberle steps down from the Board of Directors. Ludwig Waelde is appointed CEO. | ||
| 1954 | Sanitaria Versorgung GmbH is set up as the company pension fund. | Market launch of the first SATA GR model. | |
| 1956 | Retirement of Technical Director Friedrich Bäuchle. | ||
| 1957 | Alfred Gänsbauer joins the company as Technical Director. | ||
| 1958 | Belated golden jubilee celebrations. Alfred Kreidler buys out Mrs Haeberle, pushing his share capital up to over 82 per cent. | ||
| 1959 | Ludwig Waelde retires. Otto Peter Klaschus is appointed CEO. | ||
| 1962 | Alfred Kreidler acquires the remaining shares. | ||
| 1964 | Otto Peter Klaschus leaves Sanitaria. Dr. Dieter Freiling is appointed CEO. The public company (AG) is converted to a private limited company (GmbH). | ||
| 1965 | Manfred Liphardt joins the company as the new CEO following the exit of Dr. Dieter Freiling. | ||
| 1968 | The field sales force is installed. | ||
| 1969 | First trade fair presentation at the IAA international motor show in Frankfurt. | ||
| 1970 | SATAjet trademark application (registered in 1971). | ||
| 1975 | Sanitaria celebrates “50 years of SATA paint spray guns”. | ||
| 1980 | Alfred Kreidler dies and his shares pass to his widow, Elisabeth Kreidler, and to his descendants, Eva Kreidler and Axel Kreidler. | ||
| 1981 | Sanitaria GmbH changes its name to SATA Farbspritztechnik GmbH. Richard Beutelschieß joins the company as Technical Director. | Market launch of the legendary SATAjet B paint spray gun. | |
| 1982 | The company celebrates its 75th anniversary. Technical Director Alfred Gänsbauer retires. | ||
| 1986-1990 | The production facilities are gradually relocated to the industrial park of Kornwestheim. | ||
| 1987 | The company changes its name to SATA Farbspritztechnik GmbH and Co. | ||
| 1988 | First replica of a SATA spray gun emerges from Taiwan. | ||
| 1990 | HVLP technology (High Volume Low Pressure). | ||
| 1992 | Company move is concluded with the completion of the administration building in Kornwestheim and relocation of the remaining administrative departments. | ||
| 1995 | SATA is certified for the first time as conforming to DIN EN ISO 9001. | ||
| 1998 | Albrecht Kruse joins the company as the new CEO. After 33 years in management Manfred Liphardt retires. Death of Elisabeth Kreidler. Her shares pass to Eva Kreidler and Axel Kreidler. | ||
| 1999 | Market launch of the SATAjet 2000 HVLP. SATA contends with increasing product piracy. SATA forgery SATEX made by Turkish firm Mersin is presented with the 1999 Plagiarius gnome award, a “negative award” for one of the most brazen forgeries. | ||
| 2000 | Logistics centre is built and delivery times are significantly reduced. | RP technology (Reduced Pressure). | |
| 2001 | TOP 100 Award: SATA is numbered among the 100 most innovative medium-sized companies in Germany. | Digital technology, i.e. explosion-proof digital pressure gauge integrated in the paint spray gun. | |
| 2002 | Another TOP 100 Award. The company changes its name to SATA Farbspritztechnik GmbH and Co KG. | ||
| 2003 | Completion of the so-called Technikum, providing an administration building for Technical Management, R and D, Export departments, testing and training. | ||
| 2004 | Martin Mangold joins the company as Technical Director. Richard Beutelschieß steps down from active service as Technical Director (consultant to the company 2004–2007). | ||
| 2006 | “SATA UK Ltd.” is set up in Newmarket. The company changes its name to SATA GmbH and Co. KG. Neighbouring plot of land purchased from Hermann Kittelberger. Logistics centre is extended. | Market Launch of the SATAjet 3000 | |
| 2007 | The company celebrates its centenary. Extension to Technikum including training area. | SATA Century | |
| 2008 | Market launch of SATAjet 100 B series and SATA filter 100 prep for primer and filler | ||
| 2009 | Completion of an additional manufacturing facility | ||
| 2010 | Market launch of SATAjet 4000 B, special technique to transfer photo-realistic pictures on  | spray gun bodies |
