In 1999, the first handpan was created under the name Hang©. Its creators, Félix Rohner and Sabina Shärer, were inspired by the steel drum of Trinidad and Tobago, which they had been manufacturing for several years.

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In their workshop in Bern, Switzerland, they had developed a nitrided steel alloy called "Pang" with promising properties. This material played an important role in the invention of the Hang, whose intimate and crystalline sound distinctly differs from the festive and noisy steel drum.

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The idea of the Hang is quite simple in itself: why not play the steel drum with hands? After this question, a series of research and prototypes began, leading to the first generations of Hang in the early 2000s.

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It was at this time that handpans began to appear from other manufacturers to respond to the incredible fascination the instrument had created worldwide. Sometimes in the form of imitation, other times as inspiration.

 

PANArt stopped producing the Hang around 2013 for unknown reasons and focused on researching various other instruments using their "Pang" material.

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Today, research, understanding, and innovation in the art of hammering and tuning metal around this instrument continue to evolve. Colored by the hand and personality of many manufacturers, the advancement of this new instrument is only at the beginning of its progress!