History

1872

On 7th of March the Böhler brothers bought the Bruckbach cottage from the Austrian weapons manufacturing company.

1878

Agencies are established in Hamburg, Copenhagen and

1879

in Moskau, Petersburg, Kiew and Gleiwitz.

1882

In Paris the "Boehler Freres & Cie" and in Sheffield the "Böhler Brothers & Co" are founded.

1886

Agencies are established in Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, Leipzig, Düsseldorf and Stuttgart. In Boston the first overseas agency is put into operation.

1889

Böhler steel is delivered to Japan for the first time. The name Böhler is getting famous - Böhler steel is achiving a good reputation. The production facilities are advanced.

1890

Construction of the Sophienhütte in Böhlerwerk, a hammer mill was built.

1891

Purchase of the K.u.K. priv. Freilen & Gußstahlfactory from Georg Fischer in Hainfeld.

1892

Construction of a tool and file fabrication in connection with the Sophien cottage in Böhlerwerk. File makers together with their families where settled from Hainfeld to Böhlerwerk. In Remscheid a production facility for filings is built. (Customs duty avoidance) 

1893

Construction of a steel bearing and an administration building in Böhlerwerk. Sales difficulties for files in Europe. About this a report of the lower Austrian Board of trade in the following: The Sophien cottage, files- and steel mill factory in Böhlerwerk and the steel-, rolling- and hammer mill Rosenau am Sonntagberg (Bruckbach cottage) are primarily occupied with the production of extruded metal, files and tools based on the products of the cast steel mill Kapfenberg. Due to their excellent quality, the products are sold successfully. 

1894

Misunderstandings with Kapfenberg led to considerations of building an own cast steel mill in Waidhofen. However, the opportunity appeared to purchase the Kapfenberg factory. On 24^th of January an agreement was achieved concerning this deal. Purchasing price: 800.00,- guilder.

1895

Construction of a high quality steel mill in Ratibor Upper Silesia, in order to ensure a better supply in the East European market and to reduce the incidence of customs duties.

1896

The Bruckbach cottage is enlarged by an annealing shop and a mechanical workshop.

In July, an affiliate is opened in Budapest and in December a subsidiary in Prague.

1898

Building of a 120 PS steam line in today's wing of the anealing shop in the Bruckbach factory. (4 and 5 frameworks) In the nineties the company Böhler develops from a commercial enterprise to a large industrial enterprise. 

1899

Foundation of the Gebr. Böhler & Co. AG with its headquarters in Berlin. On 18^th of October Albert Böhler died at the age of 54 years. With the death of him the last of the three founders of the commercial firm Gebr. Böhler u. Co leaves the company.

1900

The Company Böhler bought the crisp steel factory in Kleinreifling from the Austrian Alpine Mining company. This factory has been of great importance for the other companies in Waidhofen since the establishement of a railroad connection. The stove crisp steel, which is made out of pure characoal pig iron, was the most important initial weight material for the production of crucible steel. 

1904

Purchase of the St. Ägyder iron- and steel company.

1907

The railway station Sonntagberg becomes operational. The rail connection as well as the inclined elevator below the federal road are ready for use. The factory transport which was realized up to now by horses was stopped. Establishment of a warehouse in Sidney.

1909

Agencies in Buenos Aires and Mexico were completed.

1911

The annual output of Bruckbach and Böhlerwerk amounts to 6,582 t, staff to 635 workers and 54 employees.

1914

Construction of the steel factory in Düsseldorf.

1916

"Friedrich und Anna Böhlerstiftung" is implemented.

1917

With 698 workers and 94 employees 14,490 t were produced. (war production)

1919

Reduction of staff in Bruckbach to 150, because of employment reasons.

1920

Again full employment in Bruckbach. Delivery takes place within 13 months.

1922

Shutdown and removal of the 120 PS steam line in Bruckbach.

1923

Staff amounts to 604 workers and 91 employees, the production to 4,650 t.

1926

Nationalization of the Thurn's steel mill Streitleben (Gustanj Ravne) Yugoslavia.

1927

Purchase of the Weny factory in Waidhofen / Ybbs.

1932

High unemployment. The roll activity falls down to 99 t rolled steel and 23 t billets per month. Working days are partially reduced to 3 days per week.

1936

It is getting better again. To the already existing turbine drive an additional 160 KW induction motor is bought to enhance the driving power of the middle and fast line.

1938

Purchase of the Enzersfelder Metallwerke AG and of the "Wertich Eisen- und Stahlwerke Aktiengesellschaft" (Gerstl).

1940

Construction of a training workshop for about 100 apprentices in Böhlerwerk.

1942

Centralization of the municipality Sonntagberg and Böhlerwerk to the large municipality Sonntagberg.

1946

In January the factories are handed over to the workforce by the Red Army. In August they are confiscated again, put under administration of the USIA and managed by a Russian chief executive. In Bruckbach a factory with 140 workers and 8 employees is kept up.

About 70 industrial concerns are nationalized amongst them the complete primary industry, as well as the largest credit institutions and all Böhler factories.

1955

End of the Russian occupation.

1961

Development of the middle line for the rolling on the hot strip mill - an 800 KW drive motor, an edger, a loop framework and a crop shear were invested. Conversion of the ovens to natural gas and renovation of the office building

1963

In the fast line a new 250 PS Francis turbine is built in.

1968

Closure of the hot strip mill factory in the old Gerstl factory. The remaining hot strip mill rollings are realized by Bruckbach. Rebuilding of the so far wood gulley to a concrete building. Moreover, rebuilding of the social building.

1974

Relocation of the raw material preparation. Stopping of the brake incline and switching over to trucking.

1975

Extension of the finishing hall and relocation of the pickling plant.

1978

Start of rebuilding the rolling mill hall.

1980

Start of construction of the new Adjustage-hall.

1989

Heightening of the office building and takeover of the whole Sales Department by Bruckbach. Mechanization of the block furnace via manipulator.

1990

Recreation of the factory entrance and use of rolling mill manipulators.

1991

The finished goods warehouse is rebuilt to a high-bay warehouse with side loader access. The drawing plant hall is built and the production of drawn steel bars starts. 

1995

The Bruckbach factory becomes an independent company - the "Böhler Profil GmbH". The so far centrally managed departments like Purchasing Department, Technical Department, General Administration, Accounting Department, Logistics Department, IT Department and Staff department are operated in own responsibility in the company. In co-operation with a business consultancy, arrangements and investment points were defined according to economic and commercial considerations, written down in a "TOP-Programm" and realized. These drastic changes were essential and guaranteed staff a fix job.