VDE, one of the largest technology organizations in Europe, has been regarded as a synonym for innovation and technological progress for more than 125 years. VDE is the only organization in the world that combines science, standardization, testing, certification, and application consulting under one umbrella. The VDE mark has been synonymous with the highest safety standards and consumer protection for 100 years. Our passion is the advancement of technology, the next generation of engineers and technologists, and lifelong learning and career development "on the job". Within the VDE network 2,000 employees at over 60 locations worldwide, more than 100,000 honorary experts, and 1,500 companies are dedicated to ensuring a future worth living. The headquarters of the VDE (Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies) is in Frankfurt am Main.


History

Contact

VDE Association for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies

Merianstraße 28
63069 Offenbach am Main
Germany

Phone +49 69 6308-0
Fax +49 69 6308-9865
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From zero to 36 thousand – in 125 years

VDE's history of origins is as impressive as the triumph of modern technologies. Who were the initiators of the VDE in 1893? How did a group of engineers evolve into this unique worldwide network of experts? Discover milestones on the way to the engineering base Germany...

Year
   

Description
2018   125th anniversary of VDE

The first VDE Tec Summit takes place in Berlin.

VDE receives the German Brand Award.
2017   VDE intoduces its new corporate design and its commitment for the future: VDE – for a worthwhile future

2016
   

VDE and DKE organize the 80th General Meeting of the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) in Frankfurt.

 

The VDE / BMBF (German Federal Ministry of Education and Research) student initiative INVENT a CHIP celebrates its

2015
   

95th anniversary of the VDE mark.

2012
   

The VDE Institute celebrates the opening of its VDE-Testlab Battery and Environment with a ceremony and an industry event on safety in the field of e-mobility.

1996
   

25th anniversary of the DKE German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies.

1995
   

100th anniversary of the first VDE regulation "VDE 0100".

 

75th anniversary of the VDE Testing and Certification Institute.

1993
   

100 years after its founding, VDE has now 34 regional associations. VDE also has 36,000 members – including engineers, technicians and scientists as well as some 1,000 companies, research institutes and public authorities.

 

The association celebrates its 100th anniversary with the congress "Energy – Information – Innovation: Technologies for Society and the Environment" in Berlin.

1973 
   

In Brussels, CENELEC is established as the successor organization of both CENELCOM (for the EC countries) and CENEL (for the EC and EFTA countries). The main task of the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization is to promote the harmonization of national standards.

1972
   

EUREL is founded to support the exchange of experience as well as joint activities of electrical engineers and scientists. 17 organizations from 14 European countries are united in the Convention of National Associations of Electrical Engineers of Western Europe.

1970
   

DIN (German Institute for Standardization) and VDE establish the "DKE German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies" to summarize electrotechnical standardization work. Thus, there is only one authority for electrotechnical standardization in the Federal Republic of Germany: the DKE which is legally supported by the VDE. It also represents German interests in international standardization organizations for electrical engineering.

1920
   

A central VDE testing center is set up at Potsdamer Strasse in Berlin, where the association is located. Its task: Testing of electrical products on their compliance with the existing VDE regulations. This is followed by the first legally protected registration of the "VDE mark" – an offer that only a few manufacturers make use of. Only with the stabilization of the currency – starting from 1924 – the number of testing applications increases. 10 years later, already 3,904 products bear the VDE mark.

1906
   

With the participation of the VDE, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is founded in London and joined by 24 countries.

1904
   

VDE's first "book for standards" is published. It contains 183 pages and 17 provisions.

1895
   

The first VDE regulation "VDE 0100" (for the safe construction of electrical systems) is passed.

1893
   

The foundation conference of the VDE takes place in Berlin from January 21 to 22. 37 delegates of the German electrotechnical associations, the first of which was founded in 1879, adopt the founding protocol and elect the first management board.

The newly founded association holds its first annual meeting from September 28 to 30 in Cologne. Also, the first technical commission of the VDE is established at this meeting. Its task is to develop regulations on electrical systems.

Organizational structure