History

On 01/07/1920 engineer Paul Mozar (PhD) founds the “Fabrik für Elektrotechnik und Feinmechanik” (factory for electricial engineering and precision mechanics) and runs it for 45 years. MENTOR is registered as a trademark.

After the decease of the company founder, the company is converted into a private limited partnership (KG). Ehrhard Weyer (PhD) becomes sole managing partner. He runs the company for 38 years and expands it to become one of the leading German manufacturers of electronic components.

For the 19” modular systems, that gain in importance nationally and internationally, MENTOR presents the system of Front panel elements for circuit board mounting “FEL”.

In Zeramdine in Tunesia MENTOR founds the first subsidiary called MENTOR Tunisie SCS. The core competence of the company still lies in the semi-automated assembly of high-quality electronic components.

With the acquisition of Albert Weidmann Licht-Elektronik GmbH in Pforzheim, MENTOR expands the field of optoelectronics systematically and enters the field of component manufacturing for the automotive industry. Today the core competence of the subsidiary lies in plastic injection moulding and in tool making.

The takeover of the manufacturing site and the sales division of the company Reinhold Opto Electronics in Issum strengthens the leading position in the sector of optoelectronic display elements.

The field OEM System Solutions Automotive becomes a strategic business segment. MENTOR develops into tier 1 supplier over the years.

MENTOR stays abreast of the technological changes in the electronic systems development and gets into SMD technology with a wide product range.

Ms Erika Nesselrath-Sistu, Sales Manager since 1974 and right-hand woman of Erhard Weyer (PhD), is appointed Managing Director.

Introduction of an Integrated Management System according to DIN EN ISO 9001.

MENTOR extends its product range in the field of optoelectronics by light guide systems. Today the MENTOR light guide range is one of the largest worldwide.

After Ehrhard Weyer (PhD) dies, his son Wido Wessel Weyer takes over as managing partner and manages the company together with Erika Nesselrath-Sistu. Together they set the course for the successful international development of the company.

Foundation of the subsidiary MENTOR Electronics & Technology (Shanghai) Ltd. as production site and sales office. From here the growth markets in Asia and Australia/Oceania are serviced.

Strategic investment in the core competence LED light by founding the MENTOR light group. Our own highly-qualified light experts, a light lab and state-of-the-art software and hardware equipment guarantee the high level of our in-house light development.

MENTOR is a member of DIN – Deutsches Institut für Normung e. V. (German Institute for Standardisation)

Foundation of the subsidiary MENTOR Poland Sp. z o.o. as production site and sales office in Poland. The focus is on manufacturing mechanical components and assembling products for the automotive industry.

Strategic investments into the future: After expanding the production, storage and office capacities of the subsidiary Albert Weidmann already in 2012, the building activities for the further expansion of the sites in Erkrath and Poland start in the year 2014.

Under the name M-LEDlight MENTOR presents its own Tunable White System for directed white light control at the trade fair electronica in Munich for the first time.

MENTOR Poland: By building a new factory in Jelz-Laskowice the capacity was expanded for production and administration. The new RGB-Colorlight manufacturing plant starts its serial operation.

Near the MENTOR headquarter in Erkrath, in the beginning of 2016 the new plastic injection molding factory starts its work. It gives space for more than 25 high-performance injection moulding machines.

Change in management: Wido Weyer leads as managing director the company together with proxy holders Wolfgang Mursch (CTO) and Thomas Hackethal (COO). Erika Nesselrath-Sistu exited from the workforce after many commendable years.

To show customers better what light can do in their products, a new showroom arises in the headquarter in Erkrath. With the help of realised projects from different branches like automotive, household, sanitary and building technology ligth in product comes to life and shows how to make products more usefull and beautiful.

At light+building fair 2018 MENTOR shows its new product M-Fibre and opens facinating possibilities for product developers and design engineers for functional and decorative line lighting and indirect ambientlighting.

The quality and environmental management system are again recertified by external institutions and customers of the automotive industry. The certifications occurs for ISO 9001, IATF 16949 ans ISO 14001. For the first time the information security of MENTOR after TISAX is certified.

MENTOR is elected by the German Design Council. The German Design Council is one of the world’s leading competence centers for design. His network consists of well-known companies in different areas of the design-relevant industry.

In order to better serve the markets in Asia in the future, MENTOR founds the subsidiary MENTOR Components Asia Ltd. in Thailand. From here, the customers in Thailand, Japan, South Korea, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Pakistan, Indonesia and the Philippines are cared.

MENTOR receives the TOP100 award and is one of the most innovative small and medium-sized companies in Germany. The TOP 100 seal for special innovative strength and above-average innovation has been awarded to small and medium-sized companies for more than 25 years.

Together with the textile specialist AUNDE, MENTOR founds MUNDA Textile Lichtsysteme GmbH in Erkrath, and expands its technology portfolio. The textile lighting solutions created here opens up new fields of application and further growth opportunities in many industries.

The M-Fiber sidelight fiber system is awarded the Design Plus Award. This is awarded for products from the areas of lighting and building technology that meet the highest demands in terms of design, usability, sustainability and technical quality. For the first time in the company’s 100-year history, a MENTOR product was awarded a renowned German design award.

MENTOR is also one of the companies awarded in the TOP100 competition in 2020. In the independent selection process, MENTOR was particularly convincing in the categories “Innovation Success” and “External Orientation / Open Innovation”

Dennis Weyer was appointed to the management board with effect from 1.1.21, joining the management team headed by his father, Wido Weyer (CEO).