120 years of know-how and experience. Knorr-Bremse celebrates its anniversary and expresses its gratitude.

120 years of Knorr-Bremse - a success story. Join us on a journey through the company's history and experience all the activities surrounding our anniversary here!

In 2025, Knorr-Bremse AG will be celebrating its 120th anniversary. Since it was first founded in Berlin on January 19, 1905, the company has pursued one central mission: to make travel by road and rail safe, efficient and sustainable. Today, the Knorr-Bremse Group is the global market leader in braking systems and a leading supplier of other systems for rail and commercial vehicles. This makes Knorr-Bremse one of the most successful industrial companies in Germany. More than 32,000 employees working at more than 100 locations in 30 different countries are developing and producing innovative solutions for the latest challenges in a new world of mobility.

Anniversary Greetings from the Management

Knorr-Bremse in a Nutshell

0 years

Georg Knorr founded Knorr-Bremse GmbH in Berlin

> 30,000

employees worldwide across 100+ locations in 30 countries

~ 10,000

patents highlight the company’s innovatory expertise

Management Anniversary Videos

Personal messages from the Executive Board members and the Chairman of the Supervisory Board

The Knorr-Bremse management team has prepared personal video messages to mark the company’s 120th anniversary. The members of the Executive Board and the Chairman of the Supervisory Board share their thoughts on this remarkable milestone while also reflecting on the values that define Knorr-Bremse.

Video Messages of the Management

A Moving Journey through our Company’s History

Knorr-Bremse History

Milestones in the company's history

120 years of know-how and experience: rise to become the global market leader in braking systems for rail and commercial vehicles

After it was set up in 1905, Knorr-Bremse quickly established itself in the marketplace and began to set new technological standards with its freight train air brakes. The Kunze-Knorr brake soon led the field for gradual-release braking systems in Europe by a wide margin. In 1923, Knorr-Bremse moved into a second field – air brakes for commercial vehicles. By the end of the 1930s, some 90 percent of German trucks in the 7-16 metric ton range were equipped with braking systems from Knorr-Bremse.

Knorr-Bremse company history

Pioneers of the Company

Georg Knorr

By founding Knorr-Bremse GmbH in Berlin in 1905, he laid the foundations of the company’s global success.

As a young engineer, he succeeded in revolutionizing rail transportation with his visionary ideas and meticulous development work. A few years later, the company also entered the commercial vehicle market. Safety was always a key consideration when developing braking solutions and other safety-critical components and subsystems: The company’s major breakthrough came after pneumatic brakes developed by Knorr reduced the number of accidents and made vehicles more reliable.

Portrait of Georg Knorr

Heinz Hermann Thiele

His determination, his unwavering will to succeed and absolute dedication to his task characterized him.

In 1985, Heinz Hermann Thiele took over the leadership of the company. Through his entrepreneurial vision, in more than 35 years he built up the Knorr-Bremse Group from a medium-sized company in a difficult economic situation into a profitable, globally successful corporation. In 2021, the majority shareholder, long-standing CEO, and Chairman of the Supervisory Board passed away at the age of 79.

Portrait of Heinz Hermann Thiele

Development of the Knorr-Bremse Logo

Social Commitment

20 Years of Empowering Self-Help

Knorr-Bremse Global Care e.V. is also celebrating an anniversary!

Knorr-Bremse Global Care was founded in 2005 by employees in response to the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia. The initiative was spearheaded by Heinz Hermann Thiele and his daughter, Julia Thiele-Schürhoff. For the past 20 years, the association’s central mission has been to empower people who have fallen into hardship through no fault of their own. Knorr-Bremse Global Care focuses on education and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), aligning its efforts with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Today, this globally active nonprofit organization has reached over one million people worldwide with funding exceeding 30 million euros. Knorr-Bremse supports the association’s work through regular donations.

Knorr-Bremse Global Care Website

Press Release

Kick-off to the anniversary year

Knorr-Bremse celebrates 120 years of forward thinking

Knorr-Bremse’s ascent is characterized by a powerfully entrepreneurial mindset and visionary innovation. Thanks to the ideas of the company’s original founder, Georg Knorr, millions of people around the world now travel safely by road and rail every day. Starting in the mid-1980s, Heinz Hermann Thiele spent almost four decades showing all what could be achieved with courage and determination as he built up the company into a major global player.

Anniversary year kick-off press release