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The journey starts here
1909...the POWER of one IDEA
It all began in 1909 in Ilmenau, Thüringen, when Traugott Bulle (1874-1952) took the decision to establish a production facility of his own for insulated vessels.
The idea of manufacturing vacuum vessels originated with the physicist James Dewar (1843-1923) and the patent registered by the German glass apparatus blower Reinhold Burger (1866-1954) in the year 1903.
More… Less…Time travel
Founding of the company by Traugott Bulle in Ilmenau in Thüringen. 
Expansion phase - Production and product range grows steadily.
Dr. Gerhard Bulle (son of Traugott) joins the Management.
Move from Ilmenau to Wertheim am Main.
Focus on plastic vacuum jugs.
New build of Plant II at the am Kessler address in Wertheim.
Establishment of the company Hekuplast in the Czech Republic.
Internationalisation – Development of new export markets.
Take-over of 100% of Hekuplast.
Launch of the new product line “dishwasher-safe jugs”.
New build of a production facility in the Czech Republic.
Manufacture of sustainable products under the label "Helios - my green".Finds from the treasure chest
Advertising
Curiosities in metal
The illustration shows vacuum jugs from around 1950. Most of the jugs have a cork stopper and an aluminium casing.
Invoice
Glasses from Gera
The invoice dated 26 January, 1923 is receipted to Mr. Paul Schmitt from Jena. He had evidently bought glasses from the glassworks belonging to Helios at the time.
Glassworks
Historical image
A photograph dated 1938 shows the Bulle glassworks in Geraberg. It was taken by Mr. Arthur Wächter from Geraberg.
Letterhead
Notepaper – signs of the times
This picture shows a range of historical notepaper. We see stationery dating from the year 1937 to modern times.
Advertising
Hot coffee at work
Even in the 70s it was important to be able to enjoy a cup of hot coffee or tea in the break. And nothing has changed to this day. The picture shows a cutting from an advertising brochure published around 1946.
Price list
Still in Reichsmark
The document shown is from the year 1940. The currency of the time was still the Reichsmark. The price of a vacuum flask with 0.25 l capacity (illus. extreme left) was RM 1.05.
Photograph
The changing face of our premises
The photo from the 50s shows the old premises in Wertheim - Am Eichamt 10. When we look at the clock near the loading bay, time seems to stand still for a Moment.
Historical logo
Helios - the God of the Sun
Helios – the God of the Sun
The original Helios logo. It shows Helios, the sun god, on his sun chariot. It is drawn by four horses. Helios skilfully guides the chariot with skill and ease across the skies. Even back then, the Greek “h” was used as the identifying feature of the Helios logo.
Glass manufacture
Hard work in silver coating
Well into the 1960s, Helios was still producing its own double-walled, silver-coated flasks in Wertheim. The picture shows a worker silver-coating the glass – a decisive procedure for the heat retention.
Through the years...
... to what we are now...
The power of an idea...and what now?
... with many ideas for our future
Helios is still a family company – currently in the fourth generation. All regions around the world are supplied with our vacuum products. Our focus is on the professional area. Hotels, hospitals and catering companies are all looked after and supplied by us. But the private consumer also constitutes a further important pillar in the global distribution of vacuum jugs. Helios is represented at two locations in Germany. Only in 2017, we expanded our office space in Wertheim. We are particularly proud of our subsidiary "Hekuplast" in the Czech Republic. This allows us 100% flexibility and adaptability to present the best of the best in product quality to our customers.
With its clear focus on the core competences of keeping beverages hot or cold, Helios today is one of the most highly-respected and best-known brands in the vacuum jug business area. In addition, Helios is the oldest manufacturer in Europe. No other European company has been producing comparable products for so long.
We firmly believe that with hard work, rational business management, high-quality products and loyal customers, we can face the challenges of the next years with confidence. We look forward to them with excitement and can barely wait to get going.
Vision, Mission & Values
Helios Logo
Pantone 485 C
Proportionality: 4.5 cm (width) x 2.4 cm (height)
Other logos
Corporate colors
Red
White
Grey
Explore our product variety
