Lohmann X-Ray GmbH has been founded in postwar (West-) Germany as a private enterprise by Dr. Franz Lohmann in 1946 to produce X-Ray tubes for industrial applications.

Franz Lohmann

Since the 1930s Dr. Franz Lohmann has been investigating vacuum technology. On the 1st January 1946, out of the ruins of the Second World War, he built his small X-ray tube factory and in so doing literally laid the foundations for the process that isstill being used today. In 1956 the plant was moved within Leverkusen to its current location. In the first phase of production the company specialized in tubes for medical treatment, rectifier tubes and tubes for NDT (non-destructive testing) that were at first small commissions for customers in Germany and around Europe.

Hermann Lohmann

In 1968 the company was taken over by son, Franz Lohmann passing it on to the second generation. Under his command the NDT side of the business was upgraded, an own line of X-ray equipment was developed and distribution was expanded into the USA and many other countries. In the early 1980s amongst other things the company became leader in the market for baggage inspection machines at airports, as well for specialist medical machines. The quantity of X-ray tubes produced increased steadily resulting in the building of the company’s first extended annex.

Lothar Lohmann

1990 saw Lothar Lohmann as third generation family member commence his work for the company, which he eventually took over from his father in 2001. Optimized processes allowed the production number of tubes to be increased with some additional characteristic improvements on them. Additionally the market was opened into Asia and new applications were introduced, e.g. in the medicine sector and for food inspection. At present a newly built company annex houses the glass technique department. The component themselves are manufactured at a different location.

An early masterpiece: 1946 LOHMANN rectifier valve