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A century of innovation

From hammer forging beginning in the middle ages, driven by water power, inventors, ideas, patents and to the establishing of companies in the pioneer age of the European heavy industries. Revolutionary advances, reorganisation, new technology, and continued growth. We are the inheritors of revolutionary inventions and are aware of the responsibility that carries. Steel has a long tradition in the towns in which Böhler is based.
But the real success story began in 1870.  Albert and Emil Böhler purchased steel from a number of different manufacturers and sold it from their company in Vienna. Due to the great success they were able to buy the mill in Kapfenberg, Styria in 1894 and modernised and expanded production impressively.
The outstanding quality of the steel was the measure of success even then. Simultaneously a world-wide sales network was built up, unique at the time. Even then, Böhler recognised the importance of being close to the customer. And so the foundation was laid for Böhler to establish it`s brandname as a synonym for the very best in special steel.

Milestones in a success story spanning over 125 years

1446
FIRST HAMMER FORGE in KAPFENBERG
OWNER: ARNOLD TAUBENPRUNNER
1870
GEBRÜDER BÖHLER & CO IS FOUNDED IN VIENNA
1894
ACQUISITION OF KAPFENBERG’S STEEL MILL
1900
BÖHLER DEVELOPS THE REVOLUTIONARY HIGH SPEED STEEL "BÖHLER RAPID"
1908
FIRST 3t ELECTRIC ARC FURNACE
1910
STEAM-POWERED HAMMER “KONSUL” WITH A HAMMER WEIGHT OF 20t
1916
NEW SIEMENS-MARTIN PLANT, SIX 30t FURNACES, EXTENSION OF THE ROLLING MILL, TRIO
1926
PRODUCTION OF BLANK WELDING WIRE
1927
INVENTION OF CORED WIRE
1938
NEW WORKS ARE BUILT AT DEUCHENDORF
1944
1200t PRESS IN THE FORGING SHOP
1950
AFTER 2 YEARS OF TESTING; THE CONTINOUS CASTING PLANT IN KAPFENBERG STARTS PRODUCTION.
1967
CONSTRUCTION OF THE SPECIAL MELSTING SHOP
DEVELOPMENT AND COMMISSIONING OF THE ESR (ELECTRIC-SLAG-REMELTING) - PLANT
1970
THE 45MN HYDRAULIC PRESS AND THE SX55 ROTARY FORGING MACHINE ARE PUT INTO OPERATION
1975
BÖHLER, SCHOELLER-BLECKMANN and STEIRISCHE GUSSTAHLWERKE AG WERE BROUGHT TOGETHER TO "VEREINIGTE EDELSTAHLWERKE AG" (VEW)
1986
THE VACUUM ARC FURNACE STARTS REMELTING OF HEAVY-DUTY-MATERIALS
1988
VEREINIGE EDELSTAHL WERKE AG (VEW) IS DIVIDED TO FORM BÖHLER GmbH AND SCHOELLER-BLECKMANN GmbH
1988
THE MULTI LINE ROLLING MILL STARTS PRODUCTION OF STEEL BARS
1990
VOEST ALPINE STAHL AG BUYS UDDEHOLM AB
1991
RE-ORGANISATION OF THE BÖHLER GROUP WITHIN BÖHLER-UDDEHOLM AG TO FORM:
· BOHLER EDELSTAHL GMBH & Co KG
· BÖHLER SCHMIEDETECHNIK GMBH
· BÖHLER SCHWEISSTECHNIK AUSTRIA GMBH
· BÖHLER BLECHE GMBH
·1994
100 JAHRE BÖHLER IN KAPFENBERG

1995/96
PRIVATISATION OF BÖHLER UDDEHOLM AG.
1999
START OF PRODUCTION AT OUR NEW PLANT FOR POWDER METALLURGICAL HIGH SPEED AND TOOL STEELS.
2000
THE VACUUM INDUCTION FURNACE (VIM) STARTS MELTING OF HEAVY-DUTY MATERIALS.
2003
COMMISSIONING OF AN AOD-CONVERTER. TO ADD TO CAPACITY, ENSURING THE OPTIMISATION OF AT THE STEEL PRODUCTION.
COMPLETE PRIVATISATION OF THE BOHLER UDDEHOLM AG
2006, 2007
SPECIAL STEEL PLANT  / INVESTMENT ABOUT 21 MIO EURO
2008
BOHLER UDDEHOLM TAKEOVER BY voestalpine AG
2007/2010
NEW FORGING LINE / INVESTMENT ABOUT 130 MIO EURO

 

TODAY BÖHLERIS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT COMPANIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION OF SPECIAL STEELS, AND ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADERS IN THE AREAS OF HIGH SPEED STEELS AND TOOL STEELS.
 

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