Behringer is an audio equipment company founded by Uli Behringer in 1989, in Willich, Germany. Behringer was listed as the 14th largest manufacturer of music products in 2007.[3] Behringer is a multinational group of companies, with direct marketing presence in 10 countries or territories and a sales network in over 130 countries around the world. Though originally a German manufacturer, the company now makes its products in China.
The company is owned by Music Group, a holding company chaired by Uli Behringer, which also owns other audio companies such as Midas, Klark Teknik and Bugera,[4] as well as Electronic Manufacturing Services company Eurotec. In June 2012, Music Group also acquired Turbosound company, which designs and manufactures professional loudspeaker systems and was formerly owned by Harman.[5][6]
History
1989–2001: Foundation and early development
Uli Behringer, the company's founder, was committed to music and technology from a very early age, and had constructed a synthesizer (the UB-1) by the age of 16.[1]
While studying sound engineering and classical piano at the Robert Schumann conservatory in Düsseldorf, Behringer found the university had limited equipment for student use, so he started to build his own products. His fellow students requested equipment from him too, and soon he was receiving more orders than he could handle himself, leading to the creation of Behringer Inc.[1] In the early days, Behringer focused on studio audio processors such as noise reduction systems and compressors,[1] but the product line soon included guitar amps, PA amplifiers and loudspeakers, mixing boards, stompboxes, recording interfaces, microphones, digital pianos, guitars, lighting equipment, etc. The appeal of Behringer's products was the package of performance and low price.[7]
While Behringer products were manufactured in Willich, Germany, many of the individual components were imported from mainland China. In 1990, to lower production costs, Behringer shifted production from West Germany to mainland China. Initially, subcontractors were engaged to produce the equipment. By 1997, Uli Behringer had relocated to Hong Kong in an effort to supervise manufacturing quality and to better understand Chinese culture.[8][9]
Ear logo
According to Uli Behringer his piano teacher, impressed with his sense of perfect pitch, nicknamed him "The Ear", the inspiration for the Behringer Ear logo. The highlighted "ING" stands for "diploma engineer", or the German academic title "Dipl.-Ing", which he received upon his graduation from the Fachhochschule Düsseldorf.[10][11]
The logo was updated to the current logo on September 2010.[12]
CoolAudio acquisition
In May 2000, Behringer acquired the rights to the entire CoolAudio technology from Intersil Corporation, a US-based semi-conductor manufacturer. CoolAudio is a high-power Class-D amplification technology with power ratings up to 4,000 Watts and efficiencies up to 90%, which has been rated as high audio quality. The acquisition included an extensive intellectual property portfolio and licensees such as Alpine and Rowe, among others.[13]
2002–2007: Behringer City
In 2002, Behringer completed its own factory, Behringer City, in Zhongshan of China's Guangdong province after it consolidated more than ten separate production locations into one vertically integrated plant. Comprising eight buildings that produces electronics, speakers, guitars and digital pianos and also hosts an onsite health clinic.[7] This strategy was different than that taken by other musical instrument companies who used third party manufacturers. Choosing to run a self-contained plant allowed Behringer a greater level of quality control.[7] The 1,200,000-square-foot (110,000 m2) manufacturing complex in Zhongshan ships more than 2.5 million Behringer products per year to markets around the globe. The plant turns out over 50,000 mixers per month with a failure rate that is less than 0.1%.[7]
Behringer University
Inspired by lean manufacturing, and driven by the Kaizen philosophy of continual improvement,[9] Behringer makes efforts to help its employees to improve. "Behringer University" supplies employees with training resources and E-learning courses to hone their career skills within the company. This project includes classes for management, career planning, health, language, and general knowledge.[1][9]
Awards
In 2008, Uli Behringer was one of 60 finalists in "Entrepreneur of the Year" by Ernst & Young of Germany.[14]
In 2016, Uli Behringer received the award "Global Audio Industry Leader in recognition of his visionary leadership in creating and strengthening the International MUSIC" [15]
BEHRINGER products have received industry recognition as well. Products to receive industry recognition include:
- 2001 – Keyboard Magazine, "Key Buy Award": DSP110 Shark[14]
- 2002 – Acoustic Guitar Magazine, "Player's Award": Mixers[17]
- 2003 – "Nominee for Mix Foundation's 18th annual TEC Awards": DDX3216 Digital Mixer[18]
- 2003 – Thomann customer's "Gear of the Year" Award: BX1200 Bass Amp[19]
- 2006 – First Place Winner, "DJMAG.Com" Tech Awards: BCD2000[20]
- 2008 – Guitar World, "Gold Award for Quality and Design": BUGERA 6260 Amp and 412H-BK 4x12 Cabinet[21]
- 2013 – Musikmesse International Press Awards (MIPA), "Best Mixing Desk (Live)": X32[22]
- 2013 – MIPA Award: Musikmesse International Press Award – Category “Mixing Desk- Live”
- 2013 – WFX Award: Category “Best Digital Mixing Console” at Worship Facilities Conference and Expo
- 2013 – Pro Sound Web and Live Sound International: “Readers Choice Award” NAMM 2013
- 2013 – NAMM TEC Award Nominee-Small Format Console - BEHRINGER X32
- 2014 – German magazine Tastenwelt, "Best Mixing Console": X32[23]
- 2014 – NAMM-German magazine Soundcheck "Reader's Choice Award": X32 CORE[23]
- 2014 – Pro Sound Web and Live Sound International: “X32 COMPACT- Best Small Format Console and Mixer
- 2014 – NAMM-Sound on Sound Award: “Best Live Sound Product”
- 2014 – Tastenwalt (German Mag): “ Readers Choice- Best Mixing Console” at MusikMesse
- 2014 – Soundcheck: X32 Core- “Readers Choice- Best in Mixer Category” at Musikmesse
- 2014 – NAMM TEC Award Nominee- Small Format Mixer - BEHRINGER X32 COMPACT
- 2015 – NAMM-Sound on Sound Award: “Best Live Sound Product” category
- 2016 – NAMM-Sound On Sound Award: “Best Audio Mixer” category
