In the postwar period, Heraeus benefited from the international contacts already forged by the company’s founder before the turn of the century. Dr. Wilhelm Heinrich and Dr. Reinhard Heraeus built on that foundation. Beginning in 1958, the first foreign sales companies were established in France and Italy. Foreign subsidiaries and associated companies followed in the USA, Great Britain and Japan, along with production facilities in Korea and the Philippines. In 1979, foreign sales surpassed domestic sales for the first time.

In 1983, Dr. Jürgen Heraeus took the helm, the fourth generation to lead the family-owned company. Under his guidance, the enterprise became a full-fledged global corporation. After founding Heraeus Holding GmbH in 1985, he reorganized the Group from the ground up. He assigned its core activities to five decentralized, independently operating managing companies: W. C. Heraeus (precious metals), Heraeus Electro-Nite (sensors), Heraeus Kulzer (dental and medical products), Heraeus Quarzglas (quartz glass), and Heraeus Noblelight (specialty lighting sources).

These new management structures prepared Heraeus well for globalization. Dr. Jürgen Heraeus extended the Group’s activities into Asia, and it soon achieved the revenues and operating results of a truly worldwide group of companies.