As early as 2004 EHEIM, mp and JÄGER, the three big European brands in aquatics, were amalgamated into EHEIM Aquatics Group. Each one a leader in its field and a byword for quality, made in Germany. Since 2012 all products and services are managed under only under the brand EHEIM. EHEIM, founded in 1949 by the engineer Gunther Eheim, began by manufacturing technical toys. In the 1960s EHEIM invented the world's first aquarium suction filter and gave the ornamental fish aquarium worldwide a breakthrough.