The Schmidt Group was founded in 1896 by Paul Schmidt in Tokyo, Japan. Our first company, then known as Schmidt Shoten, was a key importer of German medical and laboratory products in Japan and China. After the initial geographic expansion to Osaka and Beijing, the company began exporting renowned precision optics, scientific and medical appliances to the Far East during the mid-20th Century. The electronics and computer fields became part of the company’s core business during the second half of the 20th Century. Along with it came the geographical expansion across East and South-East Asia. 

The Schmidt Group reorganised into three individual Groups in 2001: Schmidt Electronics Group, Schmidt BioMedTech/ Healthcare Group and Schmidt Marketing Group. While maintaining its position in the market as leading distributors in the electronics and healthcare fields, the company has since expanded its operations to distributing and marketing lifestyle and consumer goods across Asia under the Schmidt Marketing Group. 

Since 1953 the Group has been headquartered in Hong Kong. Current Group Chairman, Mr. Ulrich Buchholtz, assumed leadership of the company in 1992.