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01 / About ZECK

Since 1918.

Three generations of family leadership – in our own plant in Burgellern since 1993. 108 years of special machine building – overhead lines since 1966, rail since 1996.

Archive photos: ZECK anniversary chronicle 1918–2023

1st generation

1918 Founded in Scheßlitz

In the late autumn of 1918, Michael Zeck went into business for himself, opened a locksmith’s workshop and specialised in mechanical engineering. His workshop: a half-timbered house with three garage doors at Altenbach 19.

Altenbach 19 – first operating location in Scheßlitz until 1928

Transitions between the photos: AI-generated

1st generation

1927/28 Head office in the Oberend

From 1924, Michael Zeck traded in agricultural machinery, and on 10 November 1927 he was granted the concession for a filling station. At the turn of the year 1927/28, the business moved to the Oberend – its head office for 65 years.

65 years of head office: Oberend 21, Scheßlitz

Transitions between the photos: AI-generated

2nd generation

1947–1953 The second generation

Fritz Zeck joined his parents’ company in 1947 and received his master craftsman’s certificate on 22 May 1953. In the time of the economic miracle, father and son began to manufacture their own machines and equipment.

The workforce in the Oberend

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2nd generation

1973 Into overhead line construction

In the early 1960s came the kick-off for overhead line construction: the first machines were built at ZECK. Around 1973 followed the mobile puller-tensioner WB 1500 with drum stand and drum drive – one of the world’s first.

ZECK puller-tensioner WB 1500 in operation

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2nd generation

1978–1984 Around the world with SIEMENS

Within a few years the machines were in use worldwide, for example in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. In 1978 on the Elbe crossing near Stade with the largest overhead line towers in the world at that time, in 1983 across the Bosporus from Europe to Asia.

Technical highlight 1984: the synchronisation system developed by ZECK for SIEMENS, demonstrated in Vienna

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3rd generation

1992/93 Passing the torch

In 1992, Michael Zeck took over in the third generation. In 1992/93 the new building was realised, and the entire company moved with almost 30 employees from the head office in the town centre to the district of Burgellern.

The first production hall in Burgellern, 1993

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3rd generation

since 2008 Across fjords and continents

Since 2008, ZECK has been involved in fjord crossings in Norway with spans of up to 4,200 m. ZECK Thailand was founded in Bangkok in 2010.

Fjord crossing in Norway

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3rd generation

2013/14 On the rails

ZECK entered the railway business in 1996; the first major project was the TGV line from Seoul to Busan. In 2013/14, the 57 km St. Gotthard Tunnel, one of the longest rail tunnels in the world, was electrified with machines from ZECK.

Electrification of the St. Gotthard Tunnel

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3rd generation

2018 A hundred years of ZECK

In October 2018, ZECK celebrated its first century. In October 2022, the ZECK Training Academy started operations, and the fourth generation is already waiting in the wings.

The ZECK team, Scheßlitz 2018

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Scheßlitz-Burgellern

Today At home in Burgellern

Head office and plant in Scheßlitz-Burgellern: development, manufacturing and service under one roof. A family business in its third generation, its machines in use worldwide.

Scheßlitz-Burgellern plant

02 / Generations

Four generations.
One family.

Three generations of entrepreneurs have shaped ZECK in their own way. The fourth is already waiting in the wings.

  1. Michael Zeck, founder

    1st generation

    Michael Zeck

    1891–1967

    Founded the locksmith’s workshop in Scheßlitz in 1918 and laid the foundation for the company.

  2. Fritz Zeck

    2nd generation

    Fritz Zeck

    1929–2021

    Joined in 1947, earned his master craftsman’s certificate in 1953 and led ZECK into overhead line construction.

  3. Michael Zeck, managing director

    3rd generation

    Michael Zeck

    *1966

    Took over in 1992, built the plant in Burgellern and has led the company ever since.

  4. From left: Nikolas Zeck, Amelie Zeck, Moritz Zeck, 2018

    4th generation

    Moritz Zeck, Nikolas Zeck, Amelie Zeck

    Nikolas Zeck has represented the fourth generation in the company since 2016; together with Moritz and Amelie Zeck it is waiting in the wings.

Manifesto

Four sentences
that have not changed
since 1918.

Three generations, one understanding of work. The principles are not corporate values; they explain why we build what we build today.

01

Continuity

Three generations of family leadership since 1918. We stay for the long run where we understand what infrastructure needs — and what it does not.

02

Field use over marketing

We only sell machines we have seen on the route ourselves. Development starts at the project site, not in the presentation.

03

Precision from tradition

Craft precision, extended with mechatronics. Every component dimensioned, nothing left to guesswork. Welding to EN ISO 3834-2 and EN 15085-2 CL1 (TÜV SÜD).

04

In-house build over sourcing

Design, production, test stand and service in-house. Whoever builds the machine must know its limits.

03 / Awards

Recognition
instead of marketing.

A selection of our awards and certifications.

  • 2024BUSINESS

    Bavarian SME Award

  • 2024CERTIFICATE

    ISO 9001:2015

    TÜV Rheinland · Reg. no. 01 100 2300975 · valid until 4 June 2027

  • 2023BUSINESS

    Bavaria’s Best 50

    Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs · also 2012 and 2010

  • 2021INNOVATION

    TOP 100 Innovator

    compamedia · Innovation-promoting top management

  • 2013QUALITY

    Bavarian Quality Award

    Crafts category

  • 2010BUSINESS

    Europe’s 500

  • 2005INNOVATION

    Bavarian State Prize

    Special technical achievement in the crafts · line trolley LF 923

Aerial view of the ZECK plant in Scheßlitz-Burgellern
49°59′N · 11°03′EScheßlitz plant · 2026
04 / Today

One plant.
Five subsidiaries.
One signature.

Headquarters and plant in Scheßlitz-Burgellern, with machines operating worldwide.

13,000+
machines

built since 1966

40+
service employees

24-hour emergency hotline +49 9542 9494-99

End of statistics
Connection

Talk to the
third generation.

Open roles, apprenticeships, factory visits or a specific machine enquiry: the route into the workshop is short.

CareersWork at ZECK.Open roles →ContactRequest a machine.Switchboard Scheßlitz →