Partner of the Solingen industry in the 5th generation.

The early industrial heyday of the small iron trade from the 15th to the 18th century led to a dominance of the iron and steel processing industry in the “Bergisches Land” region. Inspired by this time, on 1 July 1880, Emil Engels and his brothers Carl, Ludwig and Ernst founded a factory for conical knife blades with a focus on stamping and hardening. Later, their brother Edmund Engels also joined and continued to run the company. They were located in Nümmen, a part of today's picturesque Gräfrath district in Solingen.

At the turn of the century, the company moved to Eipaßstraße 95 in Solingen-Wald, where it is still located today. After the older Engels brothers were killed in the First World War, their son-in-law Karl Hast joined the company to continue the family business. This is how the present company name Engels+Hast came into being.

The Engels+Hast company survived both World Wars and Karl Hast handed over the reins to his son-in-law Heinz Willi Ladage in 1946.

There has never been a standstill at Engels+Hast. In 1955, 1962, 1972 and 1980, under the leadership of Heinz Willi Ladage, the company built various new buildings and facilities to expand production and areas of influence.

When the family business was passed on to his son, Heinz Ladage became the new Managing Director of Engels+Hast. He followed his father's example and expanded with another production building in the Merscheid district of Solingen.

Just like his father, Vincent Ladage was involved in the family business from an early age. He has been a supporting force and the future of the Engels+Hast family business on his father’s side since 2015.

Following the opening of another new production building, the two previous production sites were merged in 2016. The company headquarters still continue their history at Eipaßstraße 95.

Vincent Ladage joins the management team and runs the company alongside his father Heinz Ladage.