Orgelbau Vleugels

Pipe organ manufacturing in Hardheim has existed since 1855, when organ-builder Ignaz Dörr started his own workshop.

While following traditional south German models, the company initially built instruments incorporationg modern technologies such as electric stop action.

in 1988 the company moved into a large, open, and modern shop; that same year, Hans-Georg Vleugels (born in Stuttgart in 1958) became director of the firm.

The construction of large instruments in a late-nineteenth-century style was also completed at Aschaffenburg, Herz-Jesu Kirche (1995; 4/63); Munich, Bürgersaalkirche (1994; 3/50); Kitzingen, Stadtpfarrkirche St. Johannes (1996; 3/54); and Jülich, Probsteikirche (1998; 3/45).

Vleugels also built new organs in the South German style in historic cases at Würzburg, Käppele (1991; 2/31) and Schäftlarn Benediktinerabtei (1996; 2/31).

[1] Initially, the majority of Hans Theodor Vleugels Organs were produced for the Southern German and Swedish markets.

The positioning of a free-hanging organ in a steel frame, the use of Plexiglas for a swell box (expansion chamber), roller boards, and a transparent console were only a few of the features that often caused surprised and sometimes shocked reactions.

In the fight against timber worm and other natural enemies more environmental friendly and material safe techniques, such as gassing, were being used.