Karl Storz Endoscope, Tuttlingen
Karl Storz SE & Co. KG
The name of KARL STORZ is bounded with rigid endoscopy, where this company essentially revolutionized the way modern surgery is performed.
In the aftermath of World War II, in 1945 Dr. Karl Storz founded the company in Tuttlingen, Germany—a town known as the "World Center of Medical Technology." Initially, the firm focused on producing instruments, headlights and binocular loupes for Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) medicine. For some time, the company was little different from dozens of other surgical instrument workshops in this small Swabian town. However, in the 1960s, its efforts led to a "Cold Light" breakthrough in the field of endoscopy.
Before KARL STORZ, looking inside the human body was a dark and dangerous procedure (literally hot, because there was an incandescent light bulb at the end of the endoscope, and if it accidentally touched the tissue, it could cause burns.).
Two major innovations changed everything. Cold Light Source: first, Storz separated the light source from the endoscope, allowing bright, cool light to be transmitted into the body by using fiber optics cable. The Hopkins System: In partnership with British physicist Harold Hopkins, Storz introduced a rod-lens system that provided much clearer and wider images than previous technology. This remains the "gold standard" in endoscopic imaging.
From the 1970s onward, the company rapidly expanded globally, starting from the established its first subsidiary in the United States (1971). KARL STORZ moved beyond ENT into minimally-invasive techniques ("keyhole surgery"): laparoscopy, urology, gynaecology, and even veterinary and industrial endoscopy.
In 1996, following the death of the founder, his daughter Dr. h. c. Mult. Sybill Storz took the helm. Under her leadership, the company transitioned from a traditional instrument manufacturer to a global leader in high-tech digital systems. Today, since 2019, the third generation, led by Karl-Christian Storz, continues the family legacy. Interesting to note, despite being a global powerhouse with almost 10.000 employees, the company remains 100% family-owned, which is quite rare for a medical giant of this scale.
KARL STORZ Today
Today, the company is no longer just about "scopes." They are pioneers in:
- Integrated Operating Rooms (OR1): Creating fully networked surgical environments.
- Digital Health: Incorporating AI, 3D imaging, and 4K technology into surgery.
- Global Presence: With over 8,000 employees worldwide, they remain a privately-owned "hidden champion" of German engineering.
Addresses and Important Dates
There are known the following addresses of the company:
1945: The company was founded in 1945 by Dr. Karl Storz, who established the firm at Mittelstraße 8, 78532 Tuttlingen, Germany. The Company Archive is currently located at this address.
1999: After the death of company founder Karl Storz in 1996, Hermann-Schneider-Straße was renamed Dr.-Karl-Storz-Straße. The company's Training center was opened here in 1999.
2011: In February 2011, a Visitor Center and a new part of the headquarters were opened here at Dr.-Karl-Storz-Straße 34 in a building resembling a huge endoscopic lens.
