Merten
Germany

The Merten brothers founded the eponymous family company in 1906 in Wiehl, Germany, where it is still located today and employs about 600 staff at four facilities. The company owns seven sales outlets and has international representation. As part of the internationally successful Schneider Electric Group Merten has been a co-partner in all projects regarding intelligent buildings since June 2006.

Design is an important facet in Merten's product development. From the very beginning, the company has cooperated with renowned designers like Sir Nicholas Grimshaw. In 2006 Merten participated in the Light+Building exhibition with a distinct focus on design. The exhibition booth of Milan designer Martino Berghinz (Studio Urquiola) provided an insight into different spatial situations and intelligent buildings. The "Switch - Intuition im Raum" exhibition - presented by the Frankfurt Museum of Applied Arts as part of "Luminale" - showcased some visionary designs: Konstantin Grcic, Jürgen Mayer H., Reed Kram, Max Ratjen, Antonia Henschel and Marc Krusin/Merten presented their ideas of tomorrow's switches. As a result of the Luminale workshop the "Round Switch" by Konstantin Grcic is now part of Merten's product catalogue.

This year, Merten presents different living spaces that demonstrate BUS technology in individual interior scenarios: for instance the interfacing of lighting, heating and appliance control. Their "Switch Magazine", which from now on will commence regular publication, will have its premiere with an edition on the culture of switches.