The Company

IBAK Helmut Hunger GmbH & Co. KG is a world-wide operating manufacturer and supplier of sewer inspection and rehabilitation systems. The oldest company in the industry was founded by Helmut Hunger under the name of Ingenieur Büro Atlas Kiel in 1945.

At that time, the emphasis was on the repair of electrical equipment but IBAK soon began making electrical medical devices themselves. The scope of engineering and production was widened and later included the manufacture of marine searchlights and heaters, switchboards and underwater TV systems.

The first TV system was designed by IBAK engineers in 1955 for marine research; for this, commercially available cameras were installed in a watertight housing. So know-how and experience with watertight cameras were already available when soon after this the idea for the TV inspection of sewers was born. With increasing know-how, the products became smaller and smaller and more and more functional until it also became possible to deploy them in sewers too small for human access. The first sewer TV system was introduced in 1957. The economic benefits of this inspection method quickly became evident to the market so that sewer TV technology could then be further developed and improved. In 1968 the first completely remote-controlled sewer inspection system was launched on the market; in the 1980s the portfolio was extended to include computer technology, computer-aided assessment of inspection data and inspection software . In the 1990s, vehicle outfitting played an increasingly more important role.

The subsidiary IBAK Robotics GmbH which manufactures completely electrically driven sewer cutting and grinding robots was acquired in 2012. Extending the portfolio with cutting and grinding robots was another logical step towards offering customers an as complete as possible product range for the sewer inspection and rehabilitation industry. The technical competence of the young, innovative company IBAK Robotics and IBAK's know-how as the market leader of the sewer industry complement one another to provide a coherent and comprehensive product concept from a single source, to the benefit of the customers of both IBAK and IBAK Robotics.

Even after 75 years, IBAK is still the innovative pioneer of the sewer industry: IBAK shows high competence in providing solutions and readiness for innovations with high quality standards. One in six of IBAK's staff of over 400 is engaged in research and development so that IBAK can react rapidly to market requirements. The outstanding quality of IBAK products results from the high vertical range of manufacture – IBAK products are made on site in Kiel.

Rapid, nationwide service is available to customers in Germany at seven locations . Experienced staff at the head offices in Kiel and the IBAK branch offices in Georgsmarienhütte, Moers, Durmersheim, Illerrieden, Freigericht and Leipzig take care of the servicing, maintenance and repair of IBAK and IBAK Robotics equipment. Some 40 distributors and service partners worldwide are at the service of customers with advice and support.

What began in Kiel has now become familiar all over the world. The innovative sewer inspection and rehabilitation systems are in successful operation in more than 40 countries. Whenever municipalities and service contractors opt for IBAK products, they choose user-oriented, cost-effective solutions and reliable, durable and forward-looking technology.