Over 135 years ago...
Foundation of the company „Jakob Schlenker Grusen Uhrenfabrik Schwenningen“: the company founder Jakob Schlenker Grusen (because of his curly hair he was given the nickname “Grusen”) starts his company with 2 employees and 2 apprentices building watchmen control clocks and suspension springs.
The first patent
Patent application for watchman patrol clocks for the registration of the time between two locations on a paper disc. The founder’s son Alfred Eugen Schlenker joins the firm as an apprentice.
Diploma for Pigeon Timers
Pigeon sport is very popular, especially in the Ruhr area. The carrier pigeon is known to be the "average Joe’s" racehorse. At many of the competitions, the flight time of the carrier pigeons has to be recorded by days, hours and minutes. The German Federation for Letter Pigeons awards ISGUS the first price in the competition of all manufacturers and a silver State Medal.
Health insurance funds
Foundation of the health insurance funds „Krankenkasse für die Fabrik der Firma J. Schlenker-Grusen“ - at an early stage the company is aware of its responsibility. The approval of the company’s health insurance as well as its regulations is granted by the royal office “Königliches Oberamt Rottweil”.
Print shop
ISGUS opens its own in-house printing department for clock cards. The department produces up to 15.000.000 cards per year.
Time Clock
The fully automatic working time recorder PERFECT in a space-saving, stable metal housing becomes the founding father for a whole product range. The first time recorder with a mechanical programming device mounted in the front, providing comfortable parameter setting. Numerous patents emphasise the brilliancy of this construction principle.
Beginning of the electronic age
TIME-ON-LINE 400, the first electronic Time and Information System worldwide is presented at the trade fair in Hanover. The system is based on a magnetic core memory for which ISGUS develops software and time recording terminals enabling employees to book their attendances by means of gold-contact cards. The year 1974 is a milestone in the company history.
ISGUS – The pioneer spirit
With TIME-ON-LINE 100 ISGUS launches the first microprocessor controlled Time Management and Information System. Thanks to the rapid development of microelectronics, smaller, inexpensive and more effective systems can be developed within a short period of time. TIME-ON-LINE 100 is based on an industrial processor. Evaluations are generated by means of an integrated thermal printer. Shortly thereafter monitors, matrix printers and floppy disc stations are offered as peripheral devices.
ZEUS®-PC/P – The first software solution for PCs
ISGUS is the first company across Europe developing marketable software for personal computers under the operating system MS-DOS. While other providers keep using their interactive systems (comparable with Time-on-line 100) consisting of central units and data collection devices for many years, ISGUS presents the first pure software solution under MS-DOS. ISGUS is on the way to becoming a software house.
The ISGUS Company Group
ISGUS is expanding the Sales and Service Centres under the ISGUS Company Group logo to a nationwide and efficient Sales and Service Network.
ZEUS® for Windows
The 2nd generation of ZEUS® software is presented at the CeBIT exhibition in 1994. Customers having ZEUS® PC/P in use can easily upgrade to the new generation, therefore benefiting from the new features and the modern Windows user interface. The solution is gradually extended by modules for Access Control, Staff Scheduling, Plant Data Collection and ERP Communication. Along with the new software generation, the “IT robot” is born and becomes the symbol of the ISGUS solutions.
First „International Sales Convention“:
24 ISGUS partners from 15 different countries attended the International Sales Convention. The new design of the Terminal IT800 series is presented at the convention and later on successfully sold as recording terminals for ZEUS® and third party software.
The 5th generation
Following the retirement of the former Managing Directors Jürgen Beetz and Herrmann Würthner, Stefan Beetz is taking over the long-established company in Schwenningen and becomes the sole Managing Director.
ZEUS® Software as a Service
For the first time ZEUS® is made available as an SaaS (software as a service) solution. The data centre at the headquarters in Villingen-Schwenningen is being expanded gradually.
Winter Olympics in Vancouver
ISGUS becomes partner of the German House and is responsible for the security during the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. In cooperation with “IVS Zeit und Sicherheit”, ISGUS is responsible for the installation and support for two Access Control systems and a solution for web based visitors’ accreditation in Vancouver and in Whistler.
Terminal series IT 4000
ISGUS presents the new terminal series IT4000 for Access Control in an up-to-date smartphone look. ZEUS® mobile: the ISGUS app for mobile time and data recording via smartphones is now available.
125th anniversary of ISGUS
The ISGUS Sales and Service Centre North, “Imhülsen-Zeit” in Hanover, is celebrating their 100th anniversary. ISGUS in Vienna is looking back on 30 years of business activities. The ISGUS Sales and Service Centre in Warngau / Southern Bavaria is celebrating their 20th anniversary. The ISGUS Sales and Service Centre in Erlangen / Northern Bavaria, is celebrating their 20th anniversary.
2 design awards
Terminal IT 8200 receives 2 of the most prestigious design awards. Both awards – iF Design Award and Red Dot 2015 – certify the high level of design quality and innovation strength of ISGUS.
New software generation
ISGUS presents the new generation of ZEUS®. The completely web-based software can optionally be used as Software as a Service in the ISGUS Cloud. The company's data center is located at its headquarter in Villingen-Schwenningen.
ISGUS Germany merges
In 2021, the "ISGUS Vertriebs GmbHs" throughout Germany merged completely with our headquarters in Villingen-Schwenningen.
135 years ISGUS
From a family business to a major player in digital personnel and time management.
ZEUS® grows
Expansion of our ZEUS® software with the HR Management module for a comprehensive solution in the area of personnel management and time recording.