HELBRECHT optics is an owner run family company, which is working in optics for the 2nd generation. Our family was already rooted in this industry in 1966 and established its headquarters in Hilden/Rheinland. Today’s company was founded in 1992 by the oldest of the three Helbrecht brothers (Helly). HELBRECHT company optics operates worldwide and is lead collectively by the three brothers.
Rooted in optics since 1966!
The chronicles and milestones of an entrepreneurial family
Company history: the 1st generation
Company history: the 2nd generation
New bank: With the Wever company in Essen, among other things supplier for over 10,000 gas stations in Germany, Helly entered into a close collaboration. For three years, the respective gas station chain of a famous mineral oil company was supplied with sun glasses via the Wever company.
www: The first humble website, from today’s view, can be seen on the “world wide web”. Currently HELBRECHT optics has a number of online shops and pages, which are exclusively created in house. The company currently has over 160 domains world wide, on which our products can be found.
Advertising in view: With the slogan “advertising in view”, the company successfully expanded into the advertising industry. Europe wide, the sun glasses became advertising media for the most renowned advertising agencies, normally in very high numbers (for advertising actions), supplied especially to France, the Netherlands, and Germany. Fashion sun glasses from the Helbrecht house were individualized and turned into advertising glasses. They had among other things labels from the largest liquor, cigarettes, beer or automotive brands. From this point in time, the Helbrecht house started to calculate the yearly volume of glasses in tons.
The fashion world: The first world wide renowned fashion label was exclusively supplied with high value fashion sunglasses from the Helbrecht house.
First official representation: In Austria (Kettel Agency).
Continually followed in the coming years the expansion with direct state representation or distributors/partners in the following countries: Switzerland, Slovakia, Spain, Belgium, Slovenia, Canada, Katar, Czech Republic & Russia.
“His first time”: After long intense and partially very loud internal confrontations, Helly was finally convinced to have himself depicted on the catalogue cover. The ice was broken. Until today Helly is closely connected with the product “Helly – N°1 Bikereyes”. Even today it’s not easy to get him in front of the camera; this happens with every request for a new photo shoot (from our media department), which has become the standard sentence: “Leave me out of this photo shit.” At the same time it is very important to him that it is clear that here it doesn’t have to do with some thought up brand with a fictitious history (as is the case partially with other glasses companies), but rather the brand name which at bottom is the name of a real person who is responsible and stands behind the development and quality of the product. That is, by the way, the only reason that brings him in front of the camera from time to time.
Video catalogue creation (in house media department)
First spot: The personal contribution was very uncomplicated (on a flash basis) a first advertisement in moving pictures in the Helbrecht house which was created for a video production (Biker lifestyle TV). Helly began on a Friday evening to work on and implement the spot (with a friend / external employee). They worked 72 hours straight on it. Monday was the deadline and the first spot was ready on time. Both of them as well. The spot ran unchanged in the coming years on a number of productions from "Biker Lifestyle TV" Play the spot
Center TV: RheinSPORT
DMAX: “Bikerlifestyle TV” | “Motor”
DSF: Motomagazin
Kabel1: Achtung Kontrolle
MDR: "Hier ab vier"
N24: Reportage | Doku (SEK- / PEK-Berlin)
Pro7: Millionärswahl
RTL: Richter Hold | Guten Abend RTL | SternTV
SKY: MotorvisionTV (Reportagen)
SAT1: Bericht ”Sat1-NRW”
SPORT1: BIKE - Das Polo Motorradmagazin: Motorradtest , Test Naked Bikes ; Motorbike: Fischereihafenrennen ; Motorbike: 1.000km Hockenheimring
VOX: 2x in Mieten Kaufen Wohnen
Weser TV: 51. Fischereihafenrennen
WDR: "Aktuelle Stunde"
ZDF: Wetten dass...? | Hallo Deutschland | Fernsehgarten
Kino: Werner - Eiskalt
While very early on after the founding of the company there was a concentration on extremely high (as good as undestroyable lenses / stone impact resistance), the ever increasing comfort of the glasses (on the road) was a top priority in the previous years. With a couple of models it was already close. However, the big breakthrough took place in the company in 2006 with the Helly - No.1 Bikereyes 4th Generation (moab4). Biker glasses with super flexible and bendable arms for the highest degree of riding comfort while being worn under the helmet. Many additional undestroyable glasses followed in this time (H-Flex® Technology).
DMAX & N24: Once again, they went their own way and even today it is the only manufacturer in the motorcycle industry that advertises with TV spots. While in past years a TV spot would be seen only occasionally, since 2008 Helly advertising spots have become a solid component of German television.
Not only TV spots are created in our media department. A sounds studio was also created in house at Helbrecht. Helly’s friend “Ike” lent the Helly spot his voice. Employees were and are always quickly and painlessly sentenced to speaking for our TV advertisements, as in 2013 when our very own Eric (warehouse management) did so for our COR-TV-spot.
ON THE ROAD: The long term partnership with the keepers of the motorcycle scene (Evy & Lars) found a new high point. The Helbrecht company products, especially the “Helly – N°1 Bikereyes” brand, were presented at every large Harley meeting in all of Europe from now on. With a promotional and professional appearance: The “Helly - Promotion-Truck”. Image: The delivery of the newly branded truck in Hilden.
KAKS: Since 2010 we have been supporting the children’s eye cancer foundation.
PRODUCTION: The long sought after centralization of the manufacturing took place directly after the purchase of the property. First of all, the in house edging department was equipped with the most modern CNC directed edging automation technology. The in house optometrist received the production in the new / old company center. Helly: “Finally the trusted scraping noises can be heard in the hall again ;-)”.
The expansion and modernization of the machine park followed at a breathtaking pace. Among other things through a pneumatic precision press as well as a new high performance pneumatic tampon printing machine. The adjustment of the machines followed in house according to the needs of the production and continued with the process of the house and license brand, as well as for the diverse OEM collections.
FACTORY SALE: With the move into the new and renovated space, the company opened the gates to the end user. There was sufficient space for direct sales on site here. “You are welcome!” With this motto, the factory sales began.
Heavy Metal: Requests from the management of the heavy metal band “ACCEPT” for the purpose of a glasses collection for the cult band. However it didn’t stop there. Already after the first meeting between Wold (band leader), Gaby (manager) and Helly it became clear that Fa. Helbrecht would also offer and ship all of the band’s merchandise in the future. Note: Helly had already passionately listened to ACCEPT when he was 14. He still has their LPs today.
Laboratory: The company sets up a technical test laboratory. The glasses are tested here according to the normal and required norms in Europe, Germany, USA, and Australia. Even according to the demanding military norms such as the MIL-Norm (US Army) & STANAG-Norm (Nato), the house’s products undergo extensive testing.
Military & emergency personnel: This is nothing new for the company. Already for around 15 years, the emergency personnel of the Germany army and the US army (in foreign deployment) have been wearing glasses from Helbrecht. Now under a fitting label as a licensed brand: KHS. Among military personnel and special emergency personnel, etc. the brand is well known. Everywhere in this world where things get intense, or where the extreme implementation of man and material is required, KHS military watches are worn. From now on, also KHS military glasses. These special glasses are manufactured for the most extreme demands according to the Nato STANAG norms of the US military “MIL-norm” and all of the according to individual prescription. The direct glazing in prescription according to the high military standards in one of a kind world wide!
ACCOLADE: Already innumerable tests and reports can be read in the press world wide. Europe’s largest motorcycle newspaper “MOTORRAD” tested in 2014 sunglasses from Alpina, Fielmann, Fospaic, Harley Davidson, Hellfire, Helly - No1 Bikereyes, HSE - SportEyes, Louis, Nike & Uvex. All together the 4 tested glasses (from the Helbrecht house) were recognized as excellent 7X.
4X "VERY GOOD" | 1X "BUYING TIP" | 2X "TEST WINNER"
Among other things, the newspaper “Motorrad & Reisen” reported on the products of the house a number of times extensively. in particular the double sided report in the 05/2014 edition as well as the extensive and also double sided test report in the 10/2014 edition show the evaluation of the products: MADE IN GERMANY. to the tests and reports
"We are building the largest optics business in the world!" The brothers settled on what should be done with the neighboring hall: A factory outlet!
The renovation began in summer and was of course done largely by the brothers themselves, and the oldest brother (Helly) began to develope ideas on the side and to create the first 3D planning for the future factory outlet. Moreover, together with the trusted architects he took also care of the corresponding building permit.
or just work like a madman!
The way to here was hard and stony. If someone puts stones in your way, build something that is solid and big with it, so aptly states. The three "Helly Brothers" have done so far and they are not finished! They continue to build in the truest sense of the word. The work on the future factory sale (neighbors building) is going ahead.
The 50-year history is celebrated with the introduction of a new category "SUPER DEALS" together with all customers and partners. In this category, HELBRECHT optics exclusively offers glasses that are most brutally reduced.
EXPANSION IN PRODUCTION There were many innovations in production alone. A highlight for the production department was the acquisition of a "new" ARBURG injection molding machine. That thing is a real powerhouse. Weight: 3.5 tons / closing force: 60 tons. Thus, there's nothing standing in the way of the company's strategy to further increase the production capacity of "MADE IN GERMANY" glasses.
Blue / White - is not just the sky above Bavaria
Blue / White - these colors are also one of the world's best-known traditional companies, with more than 100 years of company history: BMW.
BMW Motorrad and HELBRECHT optics have launched their cooperation with a motorcycle goggle, which is worldwide distributed directly by BMW in 2017.
We are particularly pleased with the high appreciation of our company, which is reflected in the fact that HELBRECHT optics is controlled by Bayerische Motoren Werke in the category of a so-called "system supplier" (highest supplier status).
In summer 2016, the company launched a joint project with the TV station TLC. In the online store created specifically for this project, branded glasses & branded sunglasses from our company were presented as well as other top brands:
Chiemsee, Disney, Fossil, Genesis, Hello Kitty,
Marc O’Polo, More & More, Pilgrim, s.Oliver,
Selection by s.Oliver, ...
presented.
Up to 15 TV spots were aired daily by TLC in German-speaking countries. Our thanks and best regards go at this point to the Discovery Channel Germany, for this cooperation.
The King is in the House: Another great cooperation was sealed in early September by Helly (himself) & Mr. King Kerosin (Ralf Rossman).
Ralf and his entourage were already convinced of our competence as a manufacturer during their first visit to our factory in the middle of the year.
We are pleased to be able to produce cool glasses of the brand KING KEROSIN under license from next year and distribute them exclusively worldwide. So much is already betrayed: A very unique design will distinguish the King Kerosin glasses.
Whether padded glasses, self-tinting / photochromic lenses at sensational prices (Asia fit - glasses). CHILLOUT RIDER® offers what the biker heart desires and with real price breakers.
Everything revolves around one thing: Pandemic
So unfortunately also with us. The temporary discontinuation of our existing FACTORY SALE (In den Weiden 3 - Hilden) in February 2020, which then applied throughout the year, was already bitter. In view of the also future measures, we have decided to finally close our factory outlet.
However, the most serious decision was the discontinuation of our project "Megalomania" (hall: In den Weiden 5 - Hilden). Already at the beginning of 2020, the store to be opened (largest optical store in the world on more than 1,700 sqm) was as good as completed. Unfortunately, we were forced to make a rational decision here as well - at the end of 2020, we finally said goodbye to this mega project. Currently, the hall serves again as a simple warehouse. <
Wistfully, we nevertheless publish here a few impressions of this gigantic project, which will now unfortunately no longer come to fruition:
No reason to lament - the view goes forward!
hen we just concentrate on constantly expanding our additional offer of top private labels at top prices online, in addition to our brands, which we offer you as a manufacturer. And as if that wasn't enough, we are focusing on offering you an even better online shopping experience in the future - let us surprise you!