Development and manufacturing of endoscopes, surgical instruments and OR integration systems for minimally invasive medicine
KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG
Tuttlingen · Neuhausen ob Eck · Stutensee · Berlin · Schaffhausen (CH) · Laagri (EE) · Charlton (US) · Goleta (US) · Shanghai (CN)New on Amplifa
About KARL STORZ
KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG is a family-owned medical technology company headquartered in Tuttlingen that has been developing, producing and distributing endoscopes, surgical instruments and devices for minimally invasive diagnostics and therapy since 1945. The portfolio comprises more than 7,000 products: rigid and flexible endoscopes with the HOPKINS® rod lens system, surgical instruments, shafts and trocars, shavers and drills, suction-irrigation instruments, electrosurgical devices, light sources, camera systems and integration systems for networked operating rooms (OR1). Manufacturing takes place at the company's own production sites in Tuttlingen and Neuhausen ob Eck, in Schaffhausen (Switzerland), Laagri (Estonia), in the USA (Charlton, Franklin, Goleta, Stafford) and in Shanghai; an RSB laboratory in Tuttlingen-Möhringen handles reprocessing, sterilization and biocompatibility testing, while a prototype construction unit designs equipment and production resources. Every product undergoes automated safety tests at the end of production and is individually documented. The QM system is certified to ISO 13485:2016 (including MDSAP) as well as EU MDR 2017/745; all German sites hold ISO 50001. The company generated revenue of €2.3 billion in 2025 and employs 9,900 people worldwide, represented by more than 70 subsidiaries in over 50 countries.
- Site
- Tuttlingen
- Processes
- Endoscopy and surgical instruments (design, development, production and distribution of, Production of active and non-active reusable and sterile medical devices (endoscopic, Production of components for non-active reusable and sterile medical devices, Production of components for active and non-active reusable and sterile medical devices, Planning, configuration, production and installation of integration systems for visualization, Repair/refurbishment of non-active reusable and sterile medical devices, Individual safety tests with automated test systems at the end of production (every, Reprocessing, Sterilization and Biocompatibility Laboratory (RSB laboratory)
- Materials
- Stainless steel (corrosion-free surgical steel), Optical glass rod lenses (HOPKINS® rod lens system), Fiber-optic light guides, Electronics and software components
- Certificates
- DIN EN ISO 13485:2016, ISO 13485:2016 (MDSAP), ISO 50001:2018, EU MDR 2017/745 QMS (Class IIa/IIb), EU MDR 2017/745 QMS (Class III), DIN EN ISO 9001:2015, EU MDR 2017/745
- Founded
- 1945
- Employees
- 9900
- Industries
- Human medicine (surgery, urology, ENT, gynecology, airway management,, Veterinary medicine, Hospital OR integration
- 01
Research & Development
- 02
Prototype construction and equipment/production resource design (Tuttlingen)
- 03
Machining and component manufacturing (Tuttlingen, Neuhausen ob Eck)
- 04
Assembly of active and non-active medical devices (Tuttlingen,
- 05
Reprocessing, sterilization and biocompatibility (RSB laboratory
- 06
Automated safety tests and individual documentation at end of production
- 07
Sales and distribution (logistics center Neuhausen ob Eck)
- 08
Repair and service management (Neuhausen ob Eck, worldwide service programs)
- 09
Installation of OR integration systems (Stutensee)
Processes & Materials
Stainless steel (corrosion-free surgical steel)
Material used for surgical instruments, rigid and flexible endoscopes, shafts and trocars as well as shavers and drills.
Optical glass rod lenses (HOPKINS® rod lens system)
Rod lens optics for brilliant, high-resolution endoscopic images with high color fidelity.
Fiber-optic light guides
Flexible fiber-optic cables transmit light from external cold light sources into the body.
Electronics and software components
The basis for camera heads, CCUs, electrosurgical generators and OR integration systems.
Sites
Tuttlingen (Headquarters)
DEHeadquarters, research & development, production of active and non-active medical devices, sales
- Materials
- Stainless steel, optical components, electronics
- Production sites Dr.-Karl-Storz-Str. 11, Elsa-Brandström-Weg 9/11/21, Kaiserstr. 10
- Prototype construction Dr.-Karl-Storz-Str. 8
Neuhausen ob Eck
DELogistics center, component production, Technical Center, repair, distribution
- Take-Off Industrial Park 44/45 (component manufacturing)
- Take-Off Industrial Park 89 (Technical Center)
- Take-Off Industrial Park 54 (repair)
- Take-Off Industrial Park 83 (distribution)
Tuttlingen-Möhringen
DEReprocessing, sterilization and biocompatibility laboratory (RSB laboratory)
- Lessingstraße 62-64
Stutensee
DEPlanning, configuration, production and installation of OR integration systems
- Friedrich-List-Str. 6
Berlin
DEVisitor, training and office center
Schaffhausen
CHProduction of medical devices (Storz Endoskop Produktions GmbH)
- Schneckenackerstr. 1
- Ernst-Müller-Strasse 8
Laagri
EEProduction of medical devices (KARL STORZ Video Endoscopy Estonia OÜ)
Charlton / Franklin / Goleta / Stafford
USProduction (KARL STORZ Endovision, Inc., KARL STORZ Imaging, Inc., KARL STORZ Endoscopy-America, Inc.)
Shanghai
CNProduction (KARL STORZ Endoscopy Technology (Shanghai) Limited)
Components & Products
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endoscopy and surgical instruments (design, development, production and distribution ofAssembly | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel (implied for surgical instruments) |
| Production of active and non-active reusable and sterile medical devices (endoscopicAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Production of components for non-active reusable and sterile medical devicesMachining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Production of components for active and non-active reusable and sterile medical devicesMachining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Planning, configuration, production and installation of integration systems for visualizationAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Repair/refurbishment of non-active reusable and sterile medical devicesTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Individual safety tests with automated test systems at the end of production (everyTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Reprocessing, Sterilization and Biocompatibility Laboratory (RSB laboratory)Surface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Prototype construction as well as equipment and production resource designEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Reprocessing/sterilization of Class I medical devices under sterile conditions (e.g.Surface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Repair and exchange program (E-Class® Exchange) for endoscopes with like-new qualityTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Service contracts (PROTECTION1®, Comprehensive Service Agreements, FLEXPack) for repair/exchangeTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Development and production of robotic surgery (Karl Storz VentureOne)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
22 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing site (production of active and non-active medical devices) | KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG | 1 | – | – | Tuttlingen, Dr.-Karl-Storz-Straße 11, Germany |
| Manufacturing site (production of active and non-active medical devices) | KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG | 1 | – | – | Tuttlingen, Elsa-Brandström-Weg 9, Germany |
| Manufacturing site (production of active and non-active medical devices) | KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG | 1 | – | – | Tuttlingen, Elsa-Brandström-Weg 21, Germany |
| Manufacturing site (production of active and non-active medical devices) | KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG | 1 | – | – | Tuttlingen, Kaiserstraße 10, Germany |
| Manufacturing site (production of active and non-active medical devices) | KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG | 1 | – | – | Tuttlingen, Elsa-Brandström-Weg 11, Germany |
| Manufacturing site (production of components for non-active medical devices) | KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG | 1 | – | – | Neuhausen ob Eck, Take-Off Industrial Park 45, Germany |
| Manufacturing site (Technical Center) | KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG | 1 | – | – | Neuhausen ob Eck, Take-Off Industrial Park 89, Germany |
| Manufacturing site (production of components for active and non-active medical devices) | KARL STORZ Take-Off Industrial Park 44 | 1 | – | – | Neuhausen ob Eck, Take-Off Industrial Park 44, Germany |
| Manufacturing site (repair of medical devices) | KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG | 1 | – | – | Neuhausen ob Eck, Take-Off Industrial Park 54, Germany |
| Manufacturing site (distribution of medical devices) | KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG | 1 | – | – | Neuhausen ob Eck, Take-Off Industrial Park 83, Germany |
| Manufacturing site (reprocessing, sterilization and biocompatibility laboratory) | KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG | 1 | – | – | Tuttlingen-Möhringen, Lessingstraße 62-64, Germany |
| Manufacturing site (prototype construction, equipment and production resource design) | KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG | 1 | – | – | Tuttlingen, Dr.-Karl-Storz-Straße 8, Germany |
| Manufacturing site (planning, configuration, production and installation of integration systems) | KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG | 1 | – | – | Stutensee, Friedrich-List-Straße 6, Germany |
| Manufacturing site (production of medical devices) | Storz Endoskop Produktions GmbH | 1 | – | – | Schaffhausen, Schneckenackerstr. 1, Switzerland |
| Manufacturing site (production of medical devices) | Storz Endoskop Produktions GmbH | 1 | – | – | Schaffhausen, Ernst-Müller-Strasse 8, Switzerland |
| Manufacturing site (production of medical devices) | KARL STORZ Video Endoscopy Estonia OÜ | 1 | – | – | Laagri, Pärnu maantee 556b, Estonia |
| Manufacturing site (production of medical devices) | KARL STORZ Endovision, Inc. | 1 | – | – | Charlton, USA |
| Manufacturing site (production of medical devices) | KARL STORZ Endovision, Inc. | 1 | – | – | Franklin, USA |
| Manufacturing site (production of medical devices) | KARL STORZ Imaging, Inc. | 1 | – | – | Goleta, USA |
| Manufacturing site (production of medical devices) | KARL STORZ Endoscopy-America, Inc. | 1 | – | – | Stafford, USA |
| Manufacturing site (production of medical devices) | KARL STORZ Endoscopy Technology (Shanghai) Limited | 1 | – | – | Shanghai, China |
| Logistics center (300 employees, expansion with two new production halls) | KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG | 1 | – | – | Neuhausen ob Eck, Germany |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality & Certification
Every product undergoes automated safety tests at the end of production; the results are individually documented. The QM system complies with ISO 13485:2016 (including MDSAP), DIN EN ISO 9001:2015, EU MDR 2017/745 and ISO 50001:2018 (all German sites).
| Evidence | Tuttlingen | Neuhausen ob Eck | Schaffhausen | Laagri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIN EN ISO 13485:2016 | ||||
| ISO 13485:2016 (MDSAP) | ||||
| EU MDR 2017/745 | ||||
| DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 | ||||
| ISO 50001:2018 |
Company History
- 1945
Karl Storz founds the company in Tuttlingen; initial product range: instruments, head lamps and binocular loupes for ENT.
- 1952
Modernization of the bronchoscopy instrument set; start of endoscopy with the first endoscopes with lens systems.
- 1955
CLAR55 head lamp presented (ENT congress Konstanz).
- 1956
First extracorporeal electronic flash device for endoscopic photography.
- 1960
Development of the cold light source.
- 1965
Introduction of the HOPKINS® rod lens system.
- 1969
Lithotripters and first resectoscopes; first arthroscope with rod lens system.
- 1971
Founding of KARL STORZ Endoscopy-America, Inc. (Los Angeles) and a production company in Schaffhausen.
- 1987
First laparoscopic gallbladder removal – the beginning of minimally invasive surgery.
- 1996
Death of founder Karl Storz; daughter Sybill Storz takes over leadership.
- 1998
Presentation of the networked operating room OR1™ at MEDICA.
- 2007
First FULL HD medical camera in the world (IMAGE 1 HUB™ HD).
- 2011
Opening of the 1,400 m² visitor center in Tuttlingen.
- 2013
New logistics center in Neuhausen ob Eck for 300 employees; Berlin visitor and training center.
- 2017
Conversion of legal form from GmbH to Societas Europaea.
- 2019
Karl-Christian Storz takes over management (3rd family generation).
- 2020
Launch of IMAGE1 S™ Rubina® (3D endoscopy in 4K with fluorescence imaging); CollaboratOR with T1V.
- 2023
Revenue exceeds €2 billion for the first time (FY2022); founding of Karl Storz VentureOne (Singapore/Munich, robotic surgery) and acquisition of AventaMed.
- 2025
Revenue of €2.3 billion, 9,900 employees worldwide.