Keller was founded in 1894.  At that time, the Laggenbeck mechanic Carl Keller developed the finger car, which represented the beginning of automation in the brick industry. With further groundbreaking inventions, Keller became the global technology leader in the heavy clay industry in the 20th century.  Today, Keller is a division of the French industrial group Groupe Legris Industries. Other divisions of the group are Clextral (France), Schiederwerk (Germany), Laulagun Bearings (Spain) and MEP Group (Italy).