1947-1959
1947: Founding of Richard Wolf GmbH in Knittlingen
1948: Start of production of endoscopes in Knittlingen
1949: The trademark is born!

The trademark with the famous wolf head is created. The living prototype for the wolf head was "Wölfchen", the magnificent German shepherd of Richard and Annemarie Wolf

1950: Cystoscope with Albarran deflector and distal illumination
1954: Rektoscope Typ 782 with pistol handle 360° rotatable
1958: Annemarie Wolf takes over the company.

After Richard Wolf's untimely death in 1958, his widow Annemarie takes up his position as a partner. She continues the business on her own.

1959: Company continues to grow

In 1958, the company already has 126 employees. In late 1959, the company moves into a new building that combines production facilities and offices.

1963 - 1979
1963: Launch of "cold light" lighting for endoscopes
1968

Founding:

  • Richard and Annemarie Wolf Foundation is established.

 

Lumina rod lens optics:

  • development of the modern Iumina rod lens optics
from 1971: Richard Wolf GmbH expands and establishes its first subsidiaries in Germany and abroad

Between 1971 and 1979 the company expands and is founded various subsidiaries. The Foundation of Richard Wolf subsidiary in Vernon Hills, USA an important and first big step beyond the borders of Europe.

  • Heynemann GmbH, Munich, Germany
  • Kurt Semrau GmbH, Tuttlingen, Germany
  • Richard Wolf Medical Instruments Corp., Vernon Hills, Illinois, USA
  • Endoscopie Richard Wolf Belgium N.V., Gent-Drongen, Belgium
  • Richard Wolf France S.A.R.L., Reims,
  • France Richard Wolf U.K. Ltd., Wimbledon, England
1975: Magnifying Laryngo-Pharyngoscope with magnification
1979: Percutaneous Nephroscope for ultrasound litholapaxy
1983 - 2000
1983: Instruments for Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEM)
1984: The company grows

Several new buildings on site are built in Knittlingen

1986: Piezolith 2300

The world's first anesthesia-free Shock wave therapy device (ESWL) with inline ultrasound localization

1990: Piezolith 2500

First extracorporeal shock wave lithotriptor (ESWL) with X-ray and ultrasound localization in situ

1994

Founding:

Richard Wolf Austria Ges.m.b.H., Vienna, Austria

 

RIWO-ART:

trocar sleeves with magnetic-ball-valve

1998: Piezoson 300

First piezoelectric shock wave therapy device for orthopedics with ultrasound localization

2000: Piezoson 100

Launch of the first desktop device for extracorporeal shock wave therapy of (ESWT) in orthopaedics; world's smallest ESWT device.

2001-2010
2001: PiezoLith 3000

World's first ESWL system with DLT (RW patented double layer technology) and DSR Localization (Dual simultaneous real-time live image display)

2002: DAFE

Diagnostic Auto-Fluorescence Endoscopy in the Bronchial Airways

2003: Power Control

Universal motor system for adapting shaver handles with shaver blades and burrs

2004: CORE - Complete Operating Room Endoscopy

The intelligent OR ‒ digital, networked, centrally controlled

2005

eyeMAX:

  • eyeMAX chip-on-the-tip technology sets new standards in laparoscopy with the latest generation CCD endoscopes.

 

Founding:

  • Richard Wolf India Private Ltd., Gurgaon, Indien
  • Richard Wolf Middle East, Dubai, UAE
2006: High Speed ENDOCAM

High speed camera system for laryngoscopic diagnosis and therapy

2007: RESECTION MASTER

System with automatic chip aspiration during resection intracavitary myoma

2008

ERAGONbipolar

  • Bipolar Instrument System for laparoscopy
    Modular – Ergonomic - Safe

 

Bioact IF Osteotrans

  • Bioactive and Bioresorbable Interference Screws

 

WellWave

  • System for trigger point shock wave therapy (TPST) and myofascial pain syndrome treatment in physiotherapy
2009

ESWT therapy device FBL10X5G2

  • World's first linear and RW patented therapy device. Except for orthopedic applications also ideal for erectile dysfunction in urology

 

The COBRA

  • First flexible dual-channel laser ureterorenoscope
2010: GreenLEP-Instruments

for laser prostate enucleation with PIRANHA tissue morcellator

2011 - 2024
2011

KeyPort

  • The reusable Single Port solution for laparoscopic surgery

 

PiezoLith 3000plus

  • Multidisciplinary ESWL system with automatic patient positioning and innovative in-image-navigation

 

ERAGONmodular

  • Laparoscopic instrument system for multidisciplinary use
2012

Founding:

  • Richard Wolf do Brasil Equipamentos Medicinais Ltda, São Paulo, Brazil
  • Richard Wolf K.K., Tokyo, Japan

 

Princess resectoscope:

  • Slim 7 mm resectoscope ensures minimal dilation effort

 

RiWo-Button:

  • cruciate ligament implant

 

PiezoWave 2:

  • Further development of the PiezoWave for the application with the even more powerful Power therapy sources with RW patented double layer technology (DLT)

 

ENDOCAM Logic HD:

  • The new camera platform combines flexibility and versatility
2013

Founding:

  • Richard Wolf HK Ltd., Hongkong, China

 

Secufix Uterus Manipulator

  • for total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH)

 

core nova:

  • The worlds' first complete network-based, integrated operating room
2014

ENDOCAM Epic 3DHD

  • Maximum endoscopic Full HD image quality with three-dimensional depth

 

COBRA vision und BOA vision

  • Flexible sensor ureterorenoscope (URS)

 

Gründung:

  • Richard Wolf Service Center (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
2015: Opening of the new building Logistics and service center

Festive opening of the new logistics and service center with a usable area of 10,000 square meter and an investment of approx. 16 million euros at the company location Knittlingen.

2016

ENDOCAM Logic 4K:

  • Excellent endoscopic image quality for a better differentiation of superfine structures

 

ENDOCAM Flex HD:

  • The innovative camera concept

 

System blue:

  • The "blue" Standard for Photodynamic Diagnostics (PDD)

 

MegaPulse 70+:

  • Holmium:YAG Laser System

 

Founding:

  • RIWOspine GmbH, Knittlingen
2017

MAMBA vision

  • Flexible sensor cystoscope

 

DICOM and ESWL database:

  • Further development of the Piezolith 3000plus for digital communication of treatment data with the HIS (Hospital Information System)

 

Awards:

  • Richard Wolf wins M&K AWARD 2017 in the category "IT and Communication"
  • Richard Wolf wins the German Brand Award 2017 in the "Industry Excellence in Branding" category
  • Richard Wolf GmbH wins the GERMAN MEDICAL AWARD in the "Medical Communication Award" category
2018

Founding:

  • Richard Wolf Singapore Pte. Ltd., Singapore
  • Richard Wolf Korea Ltd., South Korea

 

Development:

  • French subsidiary Richard Wolf France S.A.R.L. opens cutting-edge building.
  • The new Richard Wolf website and the Richard Wolf "Home" app are online.

 

Award:

  • Riichard Wolf is the "Digital Champion" in the renowned Deutschland-Test 2018 by Focus Money.

 

ESWT therapy sources F10G10:

  • The new therapy source with extremely dynamic penetration depths from 0 to 100 mm expands the treatment spectrum to include further indications.
2019

50th anniversary:

  • of the Richard and Annemarie Wolf Foundation

 

System green:

  • Real-time fluorescence imaging with the ENDOCAM Logic 4K camera platform

 

ERAGONstitch:

  • The three-part modular generation of needle holders for laparoscopy

 

Fluid Control 2225:

  • The interdisciplinary suction and irrigation pump for gynecology, urology and general surgery

 

PowerSpeed AS1:

  • The universal motor system

 

Awards:

  • Richard Wolf receives "Global Market Leader 2018" award.
  • Richard Wolf Awarded "Digital Brand of the Year" at the German Brand Award 2019.
2020: Award

Richard Wolf receives award as one of the: "Most Desired Medical Technology Companies 2020"

2021

RIWO D-URS:

  • The first disposable sensor ureterorenoscope in the company history

 

PiezoWave 2T:

  • Currently the most modern ESWT device with touch panel and T-mode

 

Founding:

  • Richard Wolf Endoscopia Ibérica S.L., Madrid, Spain
  • Richard Wolf Vietnam Company Limited, Vietnam
  • Richard Wolf RUS OOO, St. Petersburg, Russia

 

Award:

  • Richard Wolf GmbH honored as a volunteer-friendly employer for civil protection.
2022: Richard Wolf GmbH celebrates its 75th anniversary

with the motto "Passion for change"

2023

Pulvis 60+

  • Thulium fibre laser (TFL), for lithotripsy and precise soft tissue surgery

 

Founding:

  • RIWOlink GmbH, Karlsruhe, Germany
2024

Opening of training centre:

  • Richard Wolf opens the 1,100 square metre training centre at its headquarters in Knittlingen

 

Founding: 

  • Richard Wolf SRL, production site in Craiova, Romania
  • Richard Wolf India Private Limited, production site in Gurgaon, India
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Richard Wolf GmbH