Steinhauer & Lück

Steinhauer & Lück is a German manufacturer of orders, medals and badges based in Lüdenscheid, North Rhine-Westphalia. Founded in 1889 by August Steinhauer and Gustaf Adolf Lück as a "Vereinsabzeichen-Fabrik" (club badge factory), the company has produced both state orders and decorations — including the Iron Cross — and awards for associations, federations and organisations since its founding. It employs around 30 people. Since 1951 Steinhauer & Lück has been the official supplier to the Ordenskanzlei (Orders Office) of the Bundespräsidialamt, the Office of the Federal President of Germany, and today it is the sole manufacturer of the Bundesverdienstkreuz (Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany). Beyond state decorations, the company produces numerous orders for official awards in Germany and abroad, as well as for sports federations such as the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and the German Equestrian Federation (Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung), and for various other associations and clubs. It also makes promotional items for marksmen, hunters, carnival clubs, athletes and companies. The company describes itself as driven by a "passion for traditions" and offers services ranging from competent advice to on-site production. Its product range spans from badges to orders, all conceived as individual awards. Steinhauer & Lück remains a privately held, family-scale operation in Lüdenscheid, where it has manufactured orders, medals and badges for more than 130 years. In 2023 it supported the "CeU loves Kunst" project and award of the Club of European Women Entrepreneurs, which promotes women artists.

Steinhauer & Lück was founded in 1889 in Lüdenscheid by August Steinhauer and Gustaf Adolf Lück as a "Vereinsabzeichen-Fabrik" (club badge factory). From the outset the company produced not only badges for clubs and associations but also state orders and decorations, including the Iron Cross. Over the decades it built a reputation as a specialist in the design and manufacture of orders, medals and badges. A turning point came in 1951, when the company became the official supplier to the Ordenskanzlei (Orders Office) of the Bundespräsidialamt, the Office of the Federal President of Germany. In this role it produces the Bundesverdienstkreuz (Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany) and is today the sole manufacturer of that decoration. The company also manufactures numerous orders for state awards in Germany and abroad, as well as for sports federations such as the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and the German Equestrian Federation (Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung), and for various other associations and clubs. Its range further includes promotional items for marksmen, hunters, carnival, athletes and companies. In 1940 the company published a commemorative volume, "50 Jahre Orden und Ehrenzeichen 1889–1939" (50 Years of Orders and Decorations 1889–1939), documenting its first half-century. The firm remains based in Lüdenscheid, where it has manufactured orders, medals and badges for more than 130 years, and employs around 30 people. In 2023 it supported the "CeU loves Kunst" project and award of the Club of European Women Entrepreneurs, which promotes women artists. A 2024 Deutschlandfunk company portrait traced its path "from carnival badge to Bundesverdienstkreuz."

• 2024

  Featured in a Deutschlandfunk company portrait on 16 February 2024.

• 2023

  Supported the "CeU loves Kunst" project and award of the Club of European Women Entrepreneurs.

• 1951

  Became official supplier to the Ordenskanzlei of the Bundespräsidialamt (Office of the Federal President).

• 1940

  Published commemorative volume "50 Jahre Orden und Ehrenzeichen 1889–1939".

• 1889

  Founded in Lüdenscheid by August Steinhauer and Gustaf Adolf Lück as a club badge factory.

Traditional German manufacturer of high-quality, individually crafted orders, medals and badges; official supplier to the Federal President's Office and sole maker of the Bundesverdienstkreuz.

• Bundesverdienstkreuz (Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany)

  The sole manufacturer of Germany's highest state decoration for merit.

• State orders and decorations

  Orders for official awards in Germany and abroad, including historically the Iron Cross.

• Sports federation awards

  Orders and medals for the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and the German Equestrian Federation, among others.

• Club and association badges

  Badges for clubs, associations and organisations, the company's original product line.

• Promotional items

  Promotional items for marksmen, hunters, carnival, athletes and companies.

1. 1Startseite - Steinhauer und Lücksteinlueck.de
2. 2Steinhauer & Lück – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Steinhauer & Lück – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org