In fact, our logo exists since the 1960s. Briefing: To be as memorable as the Mercedes star.

Company founder Adolf Messer was born on 6 April 1878. He was so fascinated by a drive motor in his parents', see picture, butcher’s shop that he decided to embark on a technical career.

In 1898, Adolf Messer, while still a student, started production of acetylene lighting installations and acetylene generators.

Satisfied customers from the start: In 1898, a bicycle dealer from Ilbesheim (Palatinate) praised Adolf Messer’s acetylene lighting installation in the highest terms.

Safety first: Adolf Messer developed safety precautions for acetylene generators to ensure that customers could handle the explosive gas safely. He filed his first patent applications in 1902 and 1903. One of his original Acetylene lamps can be seen at MesserGroup

It is the start of the 20th century, and electric light and gas lighting are replacing acetylene gas lamps. In 1906, Adolf Messer starts to produce equipment for oxyfuel welding and cutting. The name of the company is now Messer & Cie.

Business is booming. In 1908, under the “Original Messer” brand, Adolf Messer introduces a full range of equipment for oxyfuel welding and relocates to a larger production facility.

Pioneering work in Spain. In 1910, Adolf Messer commissions the first air separation unit for his customer Rodrigo de Rodrigo in Madrid. He built the oxygen production unit on site and puts it into operation.

A good deal. In 1912, Adolf Messer establishes the Messer Company in Philadelphia. The $5000 seed capital comes from ten oxyfuel units complete with accessories, which he sold shortly after arriving in New York City.

Adolf Messer's son Hans is born on February 1, 1925. As a child, the future successor experiences the effects of the global economic crisis of 1929. During the crisis, the company invests in advertising and offers training courses to clients and the unemployed.

1926, Messer moves to new premises in Frankfurt. and sees the arrival of the high-powered, blow-back proof, variable-head torch on the market. The new technology prevents flame blow-back into the torch and facilitates the processing of a variety of material strengths

Oxygen is the beginning of logistic chains: 1927 Messer introduces the constant pressure process. This permits savings in oxygen and acetylene consumption and thus cuts costs.

Messer expands its business operations. As the first manufacturer of oxyacetylene equipment, the company commences with the manufacturing of  electricweldingmachinery in 1931. 1932 sees the arrival of extruded covered electrodes for arc welding.

Adolf Messer maneuvers his company through the Third Empire. On the one hand, he employs forced laborers during the war, on the other hand, he is said to have protected employees from persecution.   

The National Socialists' armaments policy meant full order books for many companies, including Messer. On 18 March 1944, a 30-minute bombing raid destroyed large parts of the factory premises in Frankfurt.

After the end of the Second World War, the US army's engineers stationed in Germany needed #oxygen in steel cylinders. In the summer of 1945, Messer received permission to build an air separation unit.

Adolf Messer's son Hans, 20 years old chemistry student, lent a hand clearing away the rubble from the factory site. From 1 August 1945, he took charge of rebuilding the arc welding electrode department, which had been outsourced during the Second World War.

Hans Messer inherited his father's entrepreneurial spirit. At just 21 years of age, he founded Messer Schweißtechnik GmbH in Büdingen, in the state of Hesse, and became the company's managing director.

Adolf Messer is given an honorary doctorate by Darmstadt Technical University in 1949. He receives further distinctions from Karlsruhe and Hannover Technical Universities as well as the Association of German Engineers.

Adolf Messer founds the American Messer Corporation in 1952 in New York. The starting capital is raised from the sale of two crystal chandeliers and a camera that he brought with him from Germany.

Hans Messer's second son, Stefan, is born on 20 January 1955. Even while still at school, he shows an interest in his father's company and volunteers to work at Messer firms during school holidays.

Company founder Adolf Messer dies on 13 May 1954 at the age of 76 following a serious illness. The funeral service is held on 18 May in the machine-making workshop in Frankfurt. 

From 1956, Adolf Messer GmbH moves into the shipbuilding industry and the shipyards with the fully automatic Sicomat 1:1 flame cutting machines. The Double Sicomat (1960) even allows two metal plates to be cut at the same time.

On 27 May 1964, Senator Edward Kennedy visits Adolf Messer GmbH on Hanauer Landstraße. The year before, his brother John F. Kennedy had taken the same route past the factory site in the presidential limousine.

Hans Messer and Karl Winnacker, CEO of Hoechst AG, come to a quick agreement. On 29 September 1964, after just three weeks of negotiations, they both sign the basic agreement on a merger.

On 1 January 1965, Adolf Messer GmbH merges with Knapsack-Griesheim GmbH to form Messer Griesheim GmbH. Messer family holds a one-third stake in the company. Hans Messer becomes Chairman of the Executive Board. The picture shows the well-attended press conference. 

The 1973 oil crisis leads to a global economic crisis. Messer Griesheim GmbH cannot escape the effects of this crisis, only achieving a surplus of 3.5 million deutschmarks compared with around 11 million the year before.

In 1971, the Cryogenics Division is no longer competitive despite prestigious customers such as the European Rocket Centre in French Guiana. The shareholders sell it to Linde along with all the patents. The industrial gases business is further expanded.

1975: By acquiring Burdett Oxygen Company, Messer Griesheim wants to open up the industrial gases market on the East Coast of the United States. Hans Messer has his work cut out to persuade the board of directors of Hoechst to approve the deal.

Messer Griesheim expands international business. In 1977, production of welding electrodes commences in Maracay/Venezuela . In 1978, Nippon Messer Griesheim Ltd. is set up in Tokyo while Messer Griesheim Norsk Teknisk Bureau A/S is founded in Oslo.

On 29 June 1979, Hans and Ria Messer, along with their children Thomas, Stefan and Andrea, sign a voting rights agreement in which they undertake to exercise their voting rights jointly at shareholder meetings.

In 1979, Messer Griesheim Belgium S.A. commences sales of #welding and cutting related products in Belgium. The company successfully sells flameCuttingMachines, oxy-fuelTechnology units and equipment, orbital welders and filler materials.

Management meeting in São Paulo: Messer Griesheim representatives meet in Brazil in 1980 to exchange experience and officially open a new factory site for the Welding division. In the same year, a new air separation unit is commissioned in Pennsylvania.

On 9 December 1980, Hans Messer is unanimously elected president of Frankfurt Chamber of Commerce. He brings about many changes at home and abroad, and in 1992, two years after leaving his post, he is elected honorary president of Frankfurt CC.

Messer Griesheim embarks on the process of developing the Eastern European markets. The Hungarian joint venture MG Hungarogáz GmbH is formed in 1989. Two years later, Messer becomes the first Western industrial gases company to set up a jv in Poland.

In 1990, the year of German reunification, Messer Griesheim purchases 14 industrial premises from former East German state-owned enterprise VEB in Leipzig. In the following year, Messer Griesheim Industriegase GmbH, Leipzig-based, is formed on this basis.

Hans Messer retires from management in 1993. He is succeeded by Herbert Rudolf, a manager from outside the family who acts against the express wishes of the Messer family & puts the company's existence under threat as a result of bad business decisions.

Hans Messer is diagnosed with cancer. To preserve the inheritance of the business, Hans & Ria Messer transfer their shares of Messer Industrie GmbH, to their children, Stefan & Andrea, as well as their children, by signing a gift agreement on 27 May 1996.

On 10 January 1997, in his last will and testament, Hans Messer bequeaths all the shares he still holds in Messer Industrie GmbH to his children prior to his death. He appoints his wife, Ria, as trustee.

On 20 Feb 1998, Stefan Messer is appointed Human Resources Director in Messer Griesheim's senior management team. Following the departure of non-family CEO Herbert Rudolf, the new senior management team sets to work on consolidating the company.

On 20 December 1999, the family holding company, Messer Industrie GmbH, acquires Hoechst's two-thirds majority shareholding in Messer Cutting & Welding AG. This brings the company's first business segment back into family ownership.

In July 2000, Messer Cutting & Welding AG takes over the company Castolin Eutectic. US financial investor Carlyle is brought on board for the transaction. Following the restructuring, Messer Eutectic Castolin (MEC), is almost debt-free at the end of 2003.

Year 2001: The sale of Messer Griesheim to German competitor Linde AG falls through. Financial investors Goldman Sachs and Allianz Capital Partners purchase the two-thirds shareholding in Messer Griesheim from Hoechst successor Aventis.

Messer's executives meet in Potsdam in 2002 to discuss the company's future. The discussions focus on the possibility of a withdrawal by the investors and on improving the working atmosphere, which suffered greatly under the previous management.

As from 7 May 2004, the company is once again owned by the family. In order to buy out the investors, Messer has to sell its national subsidiaries in Germany, Britain and USA to Air Liquide. The proceeds also allow Messer to pay off almost all its debts.

In 2005, the Messer family acquires a majority stake in the restructured MEC Holding GmbH. Prior to this, the planned sale of MEC via a bid process fell through by the investor Carlyle Group. In 2006, the family purchases the remaining shares in MEC GmbH.

On 15 October 2005, all the company's executives sign the Commitment of Dubrovnik. As a result, the company's new mission statement, with its focus on values such as customer & employee orientation, comes into effect. A new communication culture emerges.

On 16 July 2008, Messer launches "GaseWiki", a manufacturer-independent online encyclopedia, at www.gase.de. Based on the model of Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia is intended to inform the public about gases and generate interest in chemistry and chemical engineering.

On 6 May 2010, Messer commissions its largest carbon dioxide recovery plant in Belgium. The gas is produced as a waste product in ethylene oxide production at British manufacturer Ineos Oxide's plant. The CO² liquefaction plant has an annual capacity of 150,000 tonnes.

On 6 October 2010, Messer opens the largest air separation unit in Vietnam. The industrial gases produced at the US$20m facility are not only supposed to meet the requirements of a major steel plant but also to supply other sectors in northern Vietnam.

In 2011, Messer generates sales of over 1 billion euros for the first time. The China and Western Europe regions each account for 30 per cent. The investment in the Middle Kingdom is now bearing fruit. Vietnam and Peru also see above-average sales.

On 16 and 17 September 2011, Messer celebrates the official opening of its new company head office in Bad Soden near Frankfurt on the Main. The building complex comprises a five-storey administration building, an event centre and a historic train station building.