Anthron was a family-owned company in Slovenia founded in 1989. They produced various handleless, handled, and chest eccentric cam ascenders, descenders, pulleys, and similar devices. I do not know when they developed this line of ascenders, but it was well before 2001.
Albrecht von Dewitz founded VuaDe in 1974, naming the company after his initials "V.D." (pronounced fau'de). VauDe sold Anthron ascenders under the VauDe brand. I have handleless, handled, and chest eccentric cam ascenders with VauDe markings that match Anthron handleless, handled, and chest eccentric cam ascenders respectively. They use the same model numbers that Anthron used. Four of the handled ascenders came in Anthron boxes.
The Spanish company Lucky sold Anthron ascenders under their brand name. My Lucky handleless ascenders have "lucKY" stamped onto the rear and Anthron's triangle and double arrow logo stamped onto the front. My Lucky handled ascenders have "lucKY" stamped onto the front strap and Anthron's triangle and double arrow logo stamped onto the front of the rope channel.
Mine Safety Appliances (Now MSA Safety) in the U.S.A. was founded in 1914 in response to the 1912 Jed Mine explosion that claimed 80 lives. Working with Thomas Edison, they introduced the first electric cap lamp for mining, reducing mine explosions by 75% over the next 25 years. They later expanded into other workplace safety markets, including rescue and fall protection.
Bob Thrun´s files had a DMM advertisement that offered essentially the same handled eccentric cam ascender under the DMM brand; however, I do not have their version in my collection. I have an Anthron handleless ascender that was sold as a DMM model AB20 ascender, but it has only Anthron markings.
Skylotec bought Anthron in 2016. I have a pair of their handled ascenders with Skylotec markings.