KARL STORZ

Since its beginnings in 1945, the KARL STORZ family company has grown into a global manufacturer and distributor of endoscopes, medical instruments, and devices. We are no giant on an international scale but a leader in the things that matter: creativity, flexibility, and expertise.

Our range of endoscopic instruments for human medicine, veterinary medicine, and industrial endoscopy now includes more than 15,000 products. The most recent KARL STORZ developments are in digital documentation systems and comprehensive operating room concepts. As a system supplier, the company combines its expertise in endoscopy with software solutions to achieve integration in the operating room and to support clinical process and resource management.

The future has tradition – and tradition has a future
This guiding statement of company management is well known to each and every KARL STORZ staff member. It stands for the characteristics that are at the root of the company’s success: Visionary ideas that are grounded by traditional, precise workmanship and are integrated into a concept of sustainable entrepreneurship. With this recipe for success, the company confidently faces future challenges. Long-term, sustainable development is always our primary concern. Our family-run company plans in terms of generations rather than quarters.

It is only consistent that employees play a key role in this managerial paradigm. Any company’s success is the result of its people, who contribute their skills and thereby advance ideas. Consequently, our company strives to create long-term relationships with our employees, support them through advanced training, and thereby pool experience. Many years and often decades of employment with the company is the rule at KARL STORZ and ensures reliability and stability for the company and employees alike.

Karl Storz founded his company for the production of ENT instruments, headlamps and binocular loupes in 1945. This interest in medical vision, illumination, and thus physics consequently led him to specialize in endoscopes. He became fascinated with the idea of developing instruments that would enable the physician to look inside the body. However, the technology available at the time was still very limited. The area under examination in the interior of the human body was illuminated with miniature electric lamps. Alternatively, attempts were made to reflect light from an external source into the body through an endoscopic tube.

Karl Storz quickly realized that this method would not provide adequate illumination and so he resolved to find an alternative. In realizing this dream, Karl Storz benefited from two rather contradictory character traits: The unerring meticulousness of the craftsman and the imaginative power of the artist and inventor. The solution he found still holds true today: Very bright light generated by an external light source is introduced into the body through a flexible fiber optic light cable. The principle of "cold light illumination" paved the way for modern endoscopy and laid the foundation for the future success of the company KARL STORZ. With more than 400 patents and utility models, Karl Storz has played a crucial role in the development of modern endoscopy.

Working at KARL STORZ during COVID-19

KARL STORZ will continue to maintain a safe work environment for our employees. During the interview process, we encourage you to ask how COVID-19 may impact the role you are seeking. The impact and/or company-issued personal protection equipment may vary based on the nature and location of the role.

CORONAVIRUS Pandemic – Our Contribution to the Health Care System

In these turbulent times, we need safety, stability, and particularly the flexibility to quickly adapt to this exceptional situation. The current pandemic presents the health care system, physicians, medical and non-medical staff, patients, and companies with an unprecedented challenge, which can be met only with coordination, communication, and innovation. 

In this situation, our focus remains on supporting our partners in health care by providing the necessary products, consultation, and service.

Health Care Partner – Employee Protection – Ensuring Patient Care

With a great sense of responsibility and commitment, our staff members are working to ensure that you can continue to treat your patients with quality products from KARL STORZ – whether you are treating Covid-19 patients, or performing planned endoscopic procedures.

Flexible work – protecting our employees

To ensure that we can continue to serve you, we have taken important steps to protect the safety and health of our employees. We have rigorously implemented social distancing by putting in place the following in-house safeguards throughout the global KARL STORZ Group:

- Staggered work schedules in Production, Logistics, and other areas
- Telecommuting and IT infrastructure expansion to facilitate robust digital collaboration
- Team splitting in critical business areas
- Stricter hygiene and cleaning measures
- A transparent information policy and enhanced employee training

Through these safeguards, we aim to secure our role as your preferred supplier in the health care system so we can continue to make a strong contribution to critical patient care without any disruptions.

Delivery capacity – staying focused

Currently, our Production, Logistics, Service, and all other support functions are fully operational. This is true at our Tuttlingen headquarters and production site as well as at our production sites in Switzerland, Estonia, and the USA. In addition, we are staying in very close contact with our suppliers to ensure our supply of materials. So far, we have not had any critical supply interruptions. We will continue to focus on securing our production capacities to maintain our ability to act in support of patient care. Naturally, the current situation does not lend itself to more detailed forecasts, but thanks to the outstanding commitment of all parties involved, we aim to provide a focused supply at all times. Unfortunately, delays in delivery may already be experienced with certain product groups. In such cases, we remain in close contact with our customers and partners so that they may plan accordingly. 

Your contribution is essential

It is very important to us to thank you, as well as the medical and non-medical health care professionals at all health facilities. You work tirelessly to provide the best possible patient care, every day, during this difficult situation. Your commitment serves not only the health of individual patients, but the health of our society as a whole. In this situation, we will do everything in our power to optimally support you in providing patient care. Together, we can make a difference.

Employee Benefits Program Overview for U.S. Locations

- Medical / Dental / Vision including a state of the art wellness program and pet insurance, too!*
- 3 weeks’ vacation, 10 holidays plus paid sick time*
- 401K retirement savings plan providing a match of 60% of the employee’s first 6% contribution
- Section 125 Flexible Spending Accounts
- Life, STD, LTD & LTC Insurance
- Tuition reimbursement of up to $5,250 per year
- Fitness reimbursement up to $200 annually
- Employee referral program of up to $2,000 per hire
- And much more!