Key Events and Distinctions in the Life of Dr.-Ing. Rudolf Hell

1901
Rudolf Hell is born in Eggmühl, Bavaria on December 19

1919
Studies of electrical engineering at Munich Technical University

1923
Assistant to Prof. Dr. Max Dieckmann in Munich (until 1929)

1925
Invention of the "photoelectric scanning tube" for television

1927
- Presentation of a television reception and transmission station (together with Prof. Dr. Dieckmann) at the Trade Exposition in Munich
- Doctoral dissertation on a "directly indicating radio position-finding device for aviation"

1929
- Founding of his own company in Neubabelsberg near Berlin
- "Device for electrically transmitting written characters" (Hell Recorder)
- Patenting of the Hell Recorder

1931
- Development of new Morse code devices
- The Hell Recorder is mass-produced by Siemens
- The company moves to Berlin-Dahlem

1934
- Use of the Hell Recorder by news media
- The company is completely destroyed in the Second World War

1947
Fresh start in Kiel-Dietrichsdorf

1949
Start of work to develop image transmission systems

1950
Development and manufacture of image transmission devices for the post office, press, police, and weather services

1951
The first trials of the "Klischograph" printing block and engraving machine usher in a reorientation of the graphic arts industry

1954
- Introduction of the Klischograph to newspaper publishing houses
- Development of the Vario-Klischograph

1956
Hell launches the small KF 108 fax machine on the market

1958
- The Vario-Klischograph is unveiled at drupa 1958
- Colorgraph

1960
Image transfer equipment is used at the Olympic Games in Rome

1961
- Hell invents the Helio-Klischograph (scanning and electromechanical engraving machine for gravure cylinders)
- The Hell Factory II is established in Kiel-Gaarden

1962
Gold medal of the Vienna Photographic Society

1963
Chromagraph (scanner)

1964
The first TM 830 remote image receiver with automatic development of pictures received

1965
- The public is acquainted for the first time with the electronic photocomposition systems with digital storage. This initiates a new era of typesetting technology.
- Start of typeface development at Hell

1966
In July 1965 Hell presents the Digiset - a typesetting machine that works with digitally assembled typefaces

1967
- Receipt of the grand cross for distinguished service of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Gold Medal of the Society for Printing of the CSSR
- Hell takes over the Siemens production plant in Kiel-Suchsdorf

1968
Hell receives the Ullstein Ring and the Culture Award of the city of Kiel

1969
Segnatura AIGEC from the Union Italienne des Exports et Conseilleurs Graphiques

1971
- The company of Dr.-Ing. Rudolf Hell KG is converted into Dr.-Ing. Rudolf Hell GmbH with Siemens AG owning a majority stake
- The launch of the DC 300 marks a global breakthrough in scanner technology

1972
Dr. Hell withdraws from actively managing his company and becomes chairman of the supervisory board

1973
Bestowal of an honorary doctorate by Munich Technical University on February 9, 1973

1977
Presentation of the Gutenberg award by Mainz, the capital of Rhineland-Palatinate, and the international Gutenberg Society on June 25, 1977 in recognition of his outstanding achievements for advancing Gutenberg's art.

1978
Receipt of the Werner-von-Siemens Ring in recognition of his achievements in the natural sciences and technology on January 13, 1978

1979
- Presentation of the ChromaCom electronic image-processing system
- On the 50th anniversary of his company's founding, Dr. Hell is made an honorary citizen by the University of Kiel

1980
Hell receives the Grand Cross for Distinguished Service with Star of the Federal Republic of Germany

1981
- Hell GmbH becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens AG. Dr. Rudolf Hell is now honorary chairman of the supervisory board.
- Receipt of the FDI Medal "for contributions to the graphic arts industry"
- Dr. Hell is made an honorary citizen of Kiel, the capital of Schleswig-Holstein

1987
Admission to the Inventors' Gallery of the German Patent Office in Munich. A total of 133 patents are associated with the name of Rudolf Hell.

1989
- Rudolf Hell retires
- Linotype AG acquires Hell GmbH from Siemens, giving rise to Linotype-Hell AG. Factory I is closed. Later, Factory III becomes the headquarters and, in 1996, the present site of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG in Kiel

1996
Acquisition of Linotype-Hell AG by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG

1997
Since 1997 the Kiel site has belonged to Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, the world's leading supplier to the entire print media industry. Kiel is where prepress technology is developed and produced and digital printing systems are assembled.

2001
- The old "Siemenswall" in Kiel becomes "Dr.-Hell-Straße"
- December 19, 2001: Dr. Rudolf Hell celebrates his 100th birthday.