History

The history of the TÜV Rheinland Group is the story of its growth from a regional testing organisation into an international provider of technical services. Today, the corporate group is active in 65 countries and in 36 Business Fields. The company can trace its origins back to 1872, when a group of entrepreneurs founded the Dampfkessel-Überwachungs-Vereine (DÜV) or Steam Boiler Inspectorate as their own independent organisation dedicated to ensuring technical safety.

Milestones in development.
1872 Acting on their own initiative, entrepreneurs set up the “Verein zur Überwachung der Dampfkessel” (an organization to inspect steam boilers) in the districts of Elberfeld and Barmen, Germany to ensure the safety of their production facilities - the forerunner of today's TÜV Rheinland Group. Soon afterwards, the organisation was commissioned to carry out mandatory inspections.
1877
 Over 80 operators of steam boilers amalgamate to form the “Rheinischer Dampfkessel-Überwachungsverein (DÜV) Cöln-Düsseldorf”..
1900
 DÜV inspects the first automobiles and administers driving license tests.
1918
 DÜV expands its activities to include mining and energy..
1936
 DÜV becomes TÜV, Technische Überwachungsvereine (Technical Inspections Organizations) and Rheinischer DÜV becomes TÜV Köln.
1962
 TÜV Köln with 600 employees and six offices is renamed TÜV Rheinland e.V.
1967
 First domestic TÜV Rheinland subsidiary is established.
1970
 First domestic TÜV Rheinland subsidiary is established.
1992
 TÜV Rheinland Holding AG (a holding corporation) is formed to oversee the operations of the corporate group.
1997
 TÜV Berlin-Brandenburg e.V. and TÜV Rheinland e.V. merge to form the new TÜV Rheinland Berlin-Brandenburg e.V..
2003
 Merger with TÜV Pfalz e.V. to form TÜV Rheinland Berlin Brandenburg Pfalz e.V., which ultimately becomes the TÜV Rheinland Group.
2005
 Integration of LGA Beteiligungs GmbH along with two leading Hungarian testing institutes.
2006
  • Entry into the United Nations Global Compact initiative.
  • Integration of Brazil’s two leading testing institutes into TÜV Rheinland do Brasil.

2009
 World market leader in testing solar panels with new laboratories in USA, Asia and Germany.