About Us

The TÜV Rheinland Group is a leading provider of technical services worldwide. Founded in 1872 and headquartered in Cologne, the Group employs more than 12.500 people in over 360 locations in 62 countries and generates annual revenues of over € 980 million. The Group’s mission and guiding principle is to achieve sustained development of safety and quality in order to meet the challenges arising from the interaction between man, technology and the environment.

The employees of the TÜV Rheinland Group are driven by the conviction that social and industrial development can only be achieved through technological progress and the safe deployment of technical innovations, products and facilities. To put it another way, TÜV Rheinland believes that the concepts of growth and accountability are inextricably linked. For this reason, the company became a member of the United Nations Global Compact initiative in 2006.

From DÃœV to TUV

Over time, the TÜV Rheinland Group has grown from a regional inspection organization into an international corporate group. The group is now active in 32 business fields, operating under the umbrella of five business sectors - a long way since the days of assisting the German authorities to inspect technical equipment and automobiles. The Group got its start back in the latter half of the 1900th. Back then, visionary entrepreneurs founded the Dampkessel-Überwachungs-Vereine (DÜV) or Steam Boiler Inspection Organization. It was an independent organization providing self-help for technical safety. Today, rendering "third party" inspection services plays an even greater role as we accompany the sustainable development of safety and quality, harmonizing man with his innovations and his environment. 

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 foreign 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. 

2000
TUV International UK formed in Birmingham UK, is established to provide services in the UK and Ireland.

2003
Merger with TÜV Pfalz e.V. to form TÜV Rheinland Berlin Brandenburg Pfalz e.V., which ultimately becomes the TÜV Rheinland Group.

2004
Restructuring of the corporate group, centralizing operations under the umbrella of TÜV Rheinland Holding AG.

2005
Integration of LGA Beteiligungs GmbH along with two leading Hungarian testing institutes.

2006
Entry into the United Nations Global Compact initiative.
The new Business Stream, “Life Care” is established.
Integration of Brazil’s two leading testing institutes into TÜV Rheinland do Brasil.

2007
The founding of a subsidiary in Australia sees the TÜV Rheinland Group establish a presence in 60 countries and on every continent through its own offices and subsidiaries. 

2007
TUV International UK renamed TUV Rheinland UK to reflect the Group image. Moved to new premises in Dudley UK to allow ongoing expansion of services.

2007 The TÜV Rheinland Group became a member of the International Federation of Inspection Agencies (IFIA).