HOF – the specialist

Welcome to HOF

HOF Sonderanlagenbau GmbH is the leading specialist for manufacturing high-quality, future-proof freeze drying systems, loading and unloading systems and freezing and thawing equipment. Customers come primarily from the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Since its foundation in 1988, the company has consistently expanded its market share. Today, HOF has over 350 employees who provide reliable and flexible services to the national and international customers of HOF.

These services are based on 24-hour availability and an excellent team which has access the company’s own large spare parts stock with over 60,000 articles. This effectively minimises downtimes at customer sites.

Consulting

A team of experienced employees provides individual advice from the outset and accompanies all processes until the system is successfully in use. You can rely on employees who are continuously and specially trained by HOF for this task. They all have well-founded training as engineers, scientists, technicians, service engineers or skilled workers.

Innovation

Future-proof, strong and practical – these are the crucial parameters for HOF systems. HOF is known for creative products which are developed precisely to the customers’ requirements using the latest technologies. With our individual solutions and pioneering design, we successfully support our customers in reaching their objectives.

Technology

At HOF, the product is not determined by the technology, but it is rather the product properties that determine the technology. We rely on state-of-the-art technologies in our systems to achieve the best results for our customers as reliably and effectively as possible. You can rely on that!

Manufacturing

Our leading position is a constant commitment to excellent performance, continuously high quality and foresight for the development of pioneering technologies. All HOF systems are fully manufactured and tested by our employees at our production site. This allows us to ensure maximum quality.

Quality

For all HOF systems, the target is only achieved when the result fully meets your requirements – not to 99 per cent, but to 100 per cent. Following the company philosophy “quality for demanding customers on schedule”, quality is the highest standard for HOF. This applies to all areas, from concept design to customer service – you can rely on us.

Competence

The knowledge, skills and experience of our employees are the foundation for our work. Thorough, comprehensive training and constant transfer of knowledge are an important investment in the future. This contributes to safeguarding our extensive know-how and identifying with our own products while also providing you with the knowledge of making the right choice for your production.

24-hour service – 7 days a week

Comprehensive service is very important to us. That is why we do not let anyone else work on our products: We transport, install and commission your system and we qualify it. This minimises interfaces and excludes problems. HOF systems are an important component in the pharmaceutical production process. Our employees are available 24 hours a day and immediately ready to go in emergencies. Your HOF team from service and production knows every detail of your system and can help without delay.

And spare parts? No problem!

Our own warehouse with over 60,000 items ensures that the essential spare parts for all systems are always available, keeping downtimes as short as possible.

Contact our emergency service at +49 6462 9169-0 for immediate support.

HOF group of companies – specialists in demand as industry partners

The HOF group of companies has been owned by the German entrepreneur Hans-Georg Hof for decades. The company was founded by Hans-Georg Hof and Herrmann Schäfer in 1988 under the name “Schäfer & Hof Vakuum- und Kältetechnik Sonderanlagenbau GmbH”. Both already were proven specialists in their field at the time and had the required know-how and many innovative ideas. This provided the cornerstone for the high technological competence of the group of companies. The ownership situation changed in 1993 and the company was then successfully managed by Hans-Georg Hof alone under the name “HOF Vakuum- und Kältetechnik Sonderanlagenbau GmbH”.

Technological know-how as the key to success

In the following years, the company developed into the technical market leader of freeze drying systems that it is today. The continuous growth is also reflected in the high number of employees: HOF has around 350 employees today. The production area was expanded to a size of around 13,500 m² through additions and purchases.

The HOF group includes the companies HOF Sonderanlagenbau GmbH for freeze drying systems in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries as well as HOF Prüfsysteme GmbH – founded in 2004 – for leak testing systems in the automotive, refrigeration, electronics and space industries. The combination of comprehensive technical knowledge and high technological competence characterises the entire group of companies, turning it into a technical market leader in its field.

Relying on knowledge and experience

With almost more than 30 years of experience, HOF Sonderanlagenbau GmbH has been the leading specialist for manufacturing individual freeze drying systems, loading and unloading systems, and freezing and thawing equipment for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

At the company headquarters in Lohra near Marburg in Germany, highly motivated and qualified employees work in our own production facility with around 13,500 m² of floor space. Our flexible service team looks after the HOF systems and their users, maintaining close contact with customers in Germany and abroad.

Ensuring future success

Quality and reliability are the crucial parameters for the success of a product in the field of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. This is guaranteed by the use of special-purpose systems from HOF – not in the least because the system technology of the company is developed to meet future requirements.

Power of innovation at the core of the company

HOF knows only one answer to the ever changing new requirements from customers: innovations! The company is characterised by its striving for new, better solutions, always from the customers’ perspective. The power of innovation at HOF is crucial to the success of its customers.

HOF was awarded the TOP 100 seal of the most innovative companies in Germany from 2016 to 2022.

Highest quality in all steps

... has characterised the company specialising in individual solutions since its foundation: from concept design and fully developed planning to the conscientious manufacturing of systems that are customised and reliable. HOF systems are always a very good investment in the future.

Service without limitations

We offer service that comprises transport as well as installation, commissioning, qualification and maintenance of your systems. This also includes a 24-hour emergency service. The company’s own spare parts warehouse with over 60,000 available articles keeps downtimes as short as possible.

HOF services

  • Engineering
  • Consulting and applications support
  • Complete installation
  • IQ installation qualification
  • Calibration
  • OQ system qualification
  • PQ assistance for process qualification
  • RQ requalification measures
  • Maintenance and service work
  • Vacuum leak detection
  • Repair and modification of existing systems with GMP-compliant documentation (system retrofit)

HOF products

  • GMP freeze drying systems
  • Pilot freeze drying systems
  • Laboratory freeze drying systems
  • Loading and unloading systems
  • Freezing and thawing equipment
  • System conversion and modernisation
  • Automation/visualisation technology
  • Refrigerant conversions
  • Nitrogen technology
  • Stainless steel pipework construction/orbital technology
  • Process development and optimisation

History

The company for vacuum and refrigeration technology was founded in 1988 and has continuously developed over the more than 30 years of company history. It employs over 350 people today who work on a production area of around 13,500 m2.

1988
The founding year of Schäfer & Hof Vakuum- und Kältetechnik Sonderanlagenbau GmbH in Lohra in the state of Hesse. The two founders, Hans-Georg Hof and Hermann Schäfer, both come from the industry and have the relevant know-how and, most importantly, many new ideas. The buildings acquired at the time on Ludwig-Rinn-Straße are still the company headquarters today.

1990
A new production building is erected adjacent to the main building.

1993
The ownership situation changes. The company now has the name “HOF Vakuum- und Kältetechnik Sonderanlagenbau GmbH”.

1994
The production building is expanded. At the same time, garage spaces are created for the service vehicles.

1996
The current workshop for refrigeration technology is added to the production building.

2000
Hans-Georg Hof becomes the sole managing director after restructuring. Another production and assembly building is erected to meet the continuously increasing demand. At the same time, various offices and meeting rooms are added in a separate building.

2004
The capacities of the production area are once again at the limit. A new, separate warehouse with 1,000 m² floor space is built. The previous warehouse area can now be used as additional production space.

2004
Foundation of the affiliated company HOF Prüfsysteme GmbH with its own production facility. HOF Prüfsysteme primarily supplies customers from the automotive industry with leak testing systems for a variety of different components. Some resources are used jointly by both companies.

2005
A separate building is added to the office and meeting space again.

2006
A new workshop is built especially for commissioning. Two 40-ton cranes with a hook height of 12.5 m provide maximum flexibility.

2007
The growth continues. A second site with an area of 5,700 square metres is established in Gladenbach-Mornshausen for HOF Sonderanlagenbau GmbH. The site offers office and production space with meeting rooms. Some departments relocate completely to the new site.

2010
A new production and warehouse building is erected for HOF Prüfsysteme GmbH. At the same time, a new social building is erected at the headquarters of HOF Sonderanlagenbau GmbH.

2011
After 18 years, the company logo is redesigned and a new corporate design is created.

2013
The corporate design of HOF Prüfsysteme GmbH is adapted accordingly.

2013
HOF has been around for 25 years now. In this year, the company also receives the “Großer Preis des Mittelstands” (Great SME Award) from the Oskar Patzelt Foundation. The division for loading and unloading systems is expanded with its own mechanical design department.

2014
During the celebrations for the 25th company anniversary, the first HOF Specialist Forum for exchange of experiences with customers and interested companies takes place. A family day is organised for employees, their families and the local community.

2016
HOF receives the “TOP100 Innovator” award. This award is presented to German companies which have shown extraordinary power of innovation.

2016
A new building with 1,000 m² of warehouse space is added to the company headquarters in Mornshausen.

2017
HOF again receives the “TOP100” award for the most innovative companies in Germany.

2018
HOF is again awarded the "TOP100", the most innovative companies in Germany, for the third time in a row.

2018
HOF celebrates its 30th company anniversary.

2019
Hof is again awarded the "TOP100", of the most innovative companies in Germany.

2020
Hof is again and for the fifth time in a row awarded with the "TOP100" award of the most innovative companies in Germany.

2021
Hof is again awarded the "TOP100" award of the most innovative companies in Germany.

Please contact us

HOF is always ready to listen. Whether your are looking for equipment, information or contacts, or if you are interested in working for us – we are looking forward to your call, email or fax.

We would love to welcome you

The headquarters and site in Mornshausen are close to the university towns of Marburg and Gießen. Both are easily accessible from the motorway or by train and taxi. Frankfurt am Main airport is around 100 km away.

Where to find us:

Headquarters:

HOF Sonderanlagenbau GmbH
Ludwig-Rinn-Str. 1-3
35102 Lohra
Germany

Phone + 49 6462 9169-0
Fax + 49 6462 9169-199

info(at)hof-sonderanlagen.de
www.hof-sonderanlagen.de

Mornshausen site:

HOF Sonderanlagenbau GmbH
Vor dem Langen Loh 2
35075 Gladenbach-Mornshausen
Germany

Phone + 49 6462 9169-0
Telefax + 49 6462 9169-199

info(at)hof-sonderanlagen.de
www.hof-sonderanlagen.de

How to find us

Respect and loyalty for successful cooperation

Listening and working together to find new solutions. Good, friendly and productive collaboration is very important to us. That applies to our customers and to our employees in equal measure. It is easy to see that we are on the right path: Most of our customers and employees have been relying on us for years and decades. Listening, independent thinking and team-oriented actions – these abilities are the foundation for a cooperation that benefits all sides. Reliability, punctuality and a friendly manner make many things better and some things only possible in the first place.

And the career opportunities? Excellent!

We are always looking for good employees, because HOF is a continuously growing company. Always following our slogan “Quality decides”, we ask a lot of our employees. But we also offer a lot.

Jobs at HOF are secure, varied and based on responsibility. It is always worth applying for jobs in the following areas, even if no positions are specifically advertised:

  • Skilled worker for the service team
  • Skilled worker in the field of instrumentation and control technology
  • Electrical engineer or electrician
  • IT specialist

We are looking forward to receiving your application!

What we expect from our employees:

  • Communication skills
  • Flexibility and ability to work as part of a team
  • Independent thinking and working

What you can expect from us: A whole lot: Ideal general conditions, highly committed colleagues, varied and challenging tasks, a competitive salary and very good prospects for the future.

We are looking forward to receiving your application, by post to the HR department or by email to bewerbung(at)hof-sonderanlagen.de (only as a PDF attachment). Other file formats cannot be accepted for security reasons.

HOF Sonderanlagenbau GmbH
Personnel department
Ludwig-Rinn-Str. 1-3
35102 Lohra
Germany

Phone + 49 6462 9169-0
Fax + 49 6462 9169-199

bewerbung(at)hof-sonderanlagen.de
www.hof-sonderanlagen.com

Any questions?