His specially developed surgical methods made him world-famous – Professor Ferdinand Sauerbruch. As a surgeon, he had very clear ideas about the characteristics and quality of his surgical instruments. And in this respect, it was far from easy to always meet Sauerbruch’s high standards.

The famous surgeon turned to the instrument maker Zepf in Seitingen, still in its infancy back then, to realise his desired surgical instruments and special prototypes for arm and leg prostheses. Isidor Zepf, who founded the company in 1921, and his daughter Rosa (probably one of the first female surgical instrument makers) were able to manufacture these products according to the wishes and ideas of the Berlin professor. The cooperation, which was really quite unusual at that time, formed the basis for the successful development of Zepf in Seitingen. And it proves what is still a matter of course for Zepf today: to be able to implement innovations in the field of medical instruments at short notice and and to develop them into exemplary solutions in cooperation with renowned doctors. From its humble beginnings, the cottage industry began to grow to meet an ever-increasing demand for medical instruments.

Over the decades to come, Helmut Zepf senior and Helmut Zepf junior shaped the company into a leading manufacturer of dental instruments in Germany.

Today in the fourth generation and headed by Patrick Zepf we are still a family business. Our decisions are still based on strict adherence with the basic standards of Zepf’s quality criteria and a profound readiness to innovate. A family needs a home. For Zepf it is clearly Seitingen-Oberflacht, which has been home since 1921.

Here we can build on the technical expertise of our employees many of whom have remained loyal to the company for decades, because it is precisely this part of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany that is known to be the home of a proverbial spirit of inventors and problem solvers. Tuttlingen and the surrounding region has asserted itself as the world center of medical technology to the very day, not least because of the high qualification of well-trained specialists. Companies like Helmut Zepf have typified this distinction for over one century.

We remain true to our mission and see ourselves as a driver of innovation. We can’t overtake in other’s footsteps. We consciously accept that a development can sometimes fail.

Our reward comes from loyal customers who appreciate our innovations.

We would like to express our sincerest thanks for the trust that has been placed in us.