FEIN

EIN, more precisely C. E. Fein Gmbh, is a German company founded in 1867 in Schwäbisch Gmünd, southwest Germany. In that year, Guillaume (Wilhelm) Fein set up his own workshop to manufacture electrotechnical tools. This inventor even proposed a telephone model a few months after Bell, in 1877; but he succeeded in imposing his standard, the horseshoe magnet, which offered better transmission quality. In 1895, he developed the portable electric drill, followed a few years later by pistol-shaped electric drills. Then came the portable electric sander. In 1914, Fein had the idea of combining electricity and air power to transform the rotary motion of the electric motor into straight-line percussive motion: he invented the Fein percussion machine, i.e. the first chipping hammer. In the 50s, another innovation was launched: power tools made of plastic, an insulating material. The Fein catalog continued to grow: angle grinders, nibblers, jigsaws, bolt cutters... all adorned with the brand's orange color. Fein holds over 800 patents and rights. The company continues to manufacture in Germany, where 60% of its employees are based.