The roots of RWTÜV extend back to the year 1872, with the establishment of the steam boiler inspection association named "Dampfkesselüberwachungsverein (DÜV) Lenne, Sieg und Dill". In 1938, following mergers with other steam boiler inspection associations in the Rhine and Ruhr regions, TÜV Essen e.V. was formed. Its name changed to Rhenish-Westphalian Technical Inspection Association - in short RWTÜV e.V. in 1969. The purpose of the association was and still is to protect natural and legal persons, property and the environment from the detrimental impacts of technology. 

Due to the liberalization of the technical inspection and certification market in Germany RWTÜV gradually transformed into an innovative, market-oriented and international service company. In the 1990s, as this transformation took place, RWTÜV acquired a group structure in line with industries’ standard. Thus, in 1993 the operating business was split into independent group companies managed by a holding company, the present-day RWTÜV GmbH. Today, RWTÜV e.V. is the main shareholder in RWTÜV GmbH, via Aktaios Verwaltungs-GmbH. Further shareholders are RWTÜV-Stiftung (foundation) and TÜV Thüringen e.V.

In 2004, due to the challenges of full market liberalization, the strategic decision was taken to divide RWTÜV into two separate company groups, i.e. RWTÜV group and TÜV NORD AG group.

TÜV NORD AG group formed by merger of the traditional RWTÜV testing and inspection business with the respective businesses of TÜV NORD e.V. and TÜV Hannover/Sachsen-Anhalt e.V.

RWTÜV GmbH group continued to develop its own portfolio of non-traditional business in the area of new technologies. These continued operations evolved into three separate business units: Insurance Services, Information & Telecommunications Technology and Energy & Environment. In addition, RWTÜV GmbH kept an equity interest in TÜV NORD AG. 

The strategic decision to form two independent and more focused company groups was successful and exceeded expectations. It enabled RWTÜV to master the challenges of liberalization and more importantly paved the way for future growth and profitability.

In 2007, RWTÜV e.V. established the foundation RWTÜV-Stiftung. Its purpose, "to promote science and research in the fields of technology, safety and the environment", is complementary to the purpose of its founder. The foundation supports scientific projects at universities in Germany. The foundation holds shares in Aktaios Verwaltungs-GmbH and is therefore indirectly a shareholder in RWTÜV GmbH. 

Today, RWTÜV e.V. and RWTÜV-Stiftung form the structural umbrella of the RWTÜV Group. They firmly uphold the Group's core values, namely: neutrality, independence and reliability. At the same time, RWTÜV e.V. and RWTÜV-Stiftung guarantee the sustainable development of the RWTÜV Group, which is free from the influences of the capital market. 

Thus, RWTÜV group has positioned itself as a successful, independent group of companies with a multiple brand strategy.

Established in Siegen as "Dampfkesselüberwachungsverein Lenne, Sieg und Dill"

Merger with other monitoring associations to form TÜV Essen e.V.

Renamed to Rheinisch-Westfälischer Technischer Überwachungsverein

Gradual transformation to a market-oriented and internationally active service organisation

Renaming to RWTÜV

Structure of the TÜV Thuringia

Development of a group structure

Split into two significantly more focused and efficient corporate groups:

- RWTÜV GmbH combines the business fields of insurance services, information and telecommunications technology and energy & environment.

- The classic TÜV testing and inspection business is spun off and merged with those of TÜV NORD e.V. and TÜV Hannover/Sachsen-Anhalt e.V. to form TÜV NORD AG.

Establishment of the RWTÜV Foundation

Group with multi-brand strategy