🧭 Summary

Meinecke was a major German water‑meter manufacturer founded in Breslau in the late 19th century founded by Carl Meinecke.

It became known for high‑quality Woltman and piston meters, expanded across Europe, and was later absorbed into Bopp & Reuther.

The Meinecke name survives today mainly on industrial meters and legacy installations. Origins (Late 1800s) — Breslau, German Empire

Meinecke began in Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland) in the late 19th century as H. Meinecke & Co. – Fabrik für Wasserzähler und Messinstrumente (Factory for water meters and measuring instruments). In connection with the construction of numerous waterworks in Germany, the production of water meters had been started in 1873, which over time became the most important product of the company, which was converted into a public limited company in 1897. In 1897/98, a new large plant was built in Carlowitz on the outskirts of Wroclaw.

From 1906 onwards production was focused exclusively on water meters.

Meinecke specialised in inferential meters (turbine/Woltman) and positive‑displacement meters.

Post‑WWII — Relocation and Reorganisation

After 1945, Breslau became Wrocław (Poland).

German companies in Silesia were displaced, and Meinecke’s German operations were re‑established in Western Germany.

The brand continued manufacturing industrial water meters and flow‑measurement devices.

Late 20th Century — Merger into Bopp & Reuther

In the 1980s–1990s, Meinecke was absorbed into Bopp & Reuther Messtechnik GmbH (Mannheim).

Meinecke’s designs and product lines became part of the Bopp & Reuther catalogue.

5. 2000s–Present — Brand Legacy

Today, the Meinecke name still appears on industrial Woltman meters, bulk flow meters and OEM meters produced under the Meinecke label.

🏭 ORIGINAL MEINECKE FACTORY 1843 began as locksmith’s shop in Breslau (pre‑1897) Garvestraße 24/30. 1897 Carlowitz, Breslau (Wrocław), German Empire, the site covered 70,000 m², with foundries, machine halls, a waterworks, and worker housing.

After losing the Breslau works in 1945, Meinecke restarted in West Germany.

Temporary relocation (1946) Saal (Saale), Germany.

Permanent relocation (1947 onward) at Hannover, Germany — new headquarters.

New modern factory at Rethen (Leine), near Hannover — this became the centre of large‑diameter water‑meter production. 🏭 CORPORATE TRANSFORMATIONS AND LATER OWNERSHIP

1898: Converted into Breslauer Wassermesser- und Eisenbau-Werke AG vorm. H. Meinecke.

1937: Acquired stake in Dreyer, Rosenkranz & Droop AG, Hannover.

1997: Acquired by BTR plc (UK).

1998: BTR merged with Siebe to form Invensys.

2002: Renamed Invensys Metering Systems AG Hannover.

Today, Meinecke’s legacy survives mainly through Bopp & Reuther / Invensys lineage.