The German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water (DVGW) celebrated its 165th anniversary on May 21 and also unveiled its new brand identity.
Founded in 1859 in Frankfurt am Main, DVGW initially addressed issues related to the supply of so-called town gas. During an era of technological progress and inventions, numerous gasworks were established in Germany, producing gas from coal. This novel technology increasingly illuminated streets and buildings with gas lanterns and lamps, significantly improving everyday life. Representatives of the rapidly evolving gas industry founded DVGW to exchange ideas and jointly test new inventions.
At the same time, the first waterworks were being established in Germany to improve the wholly inadequate water supply in the growing cities. In 1870, the association expanded its scope to include water-related issues. Epidemics were not uncommon in the 19th century, and for good reason, DVGW published its first set of rules in 1893, which dealt with the sand filtration of surface water to prevent the spread of cholera.
Today, the societal goal of carbon neutrality shapes DVGW's technical work, including the decarbonization of the gas supply through the ramp-up of hydrogen. The impacts of climate change on drinking water supply have also become a dominant issue. With around 14,000 members, DVGW today develops the generally accepted technical rules for gases and drinking water. As the institution named in the Energy Industry Act for hydrogen infrastructures, climate-neutral gases and particularly hydrogen as a future energy carrier are of particular importance in DVGW's work.
“Rules and standards are the foundation for every action. Looking back on the successful management of industry upheavals in past eras, we are well-positioned as innovators and rule-setters today with our team of highly qualified colleagues to tackle the challenges of the energy transition and drinking water supply in times of climate change”, says Jörg Höhler, President of DVGW. “Our research expertise stands for credibility and is also a guideline for important decisions in economy, politics, and society. We are grateful for the trust placed in our work over such a long period. It is both an incentive and an obligation for us to shape the fundamental technical transformations with expertise and knowledge, rather than with ideology. As in its long past, DVGW will continue to offer technical-scientific added value for the industry and the public”, adds Höhler.
Modernized Corporate Design
Continuity and change are also reflected in the new corporate design of DVGW, which was extensively modernized on the occasion of the anniversary. “The essential content components of our logo and name, 'Gas' and 'Water,' are increasingly merging against the backdrop of climate change and the resulting challenges. We wanted to do justice to this while not carelessly abandoning what has proven effective, but rather translating our brand image into a modern, dynamic brand appearance”, says Dr. Susanne Hinz, Head of Marketing and Communications.
To maintain this balance, the DVGW logo has received new colors and a new typeface, presenting itself as contemporary and visually appealing for all corporate design demands. The new DVGW logo was introduced during a ceremonial act with 165 invited guests in Bonn. The introduction of the new design will occur in stages over the next few weeks. Also, the number one industry event of the gas and water industry, formerly known as gat | wat, will present itself as the DVGW Congress 2024 in mid-September in the new design.
