About

Foundation of the company "Ferdinand Bilstein"

 

Europe-wide trade with manufactured goods made of steel, iron and brass. The steel forge primarily produces tools and equipment for the iron industry, including drills, files, chains and hinges.

 

Foundation of the company "Ferdinand Bilstein junior". With the decision to implement in-house production, a strategic realignment of the company takes place. The expansion of the factory goes hand in hand with the purchase of the first steam engine.

The core competence during this time is the production of turned nuts and bolts.

Purchase of the first automatic screw machines, which considerably accelerates the production process.

With the rise of the automotive industry, the strategic reorientation towards the supplier business takes place. The patented "febi spring bolt", which will be presented at the German motor show in Berlin, serves as a reference product.

 

Registration of the trademark "Febi" (today "febi) at the Reichspatentamt.

 

The production focus changes towards automotive spare parts and spring bolts. In addition, the first repair kits for kingpins are developed and sold.

 

The company is classified as "war-important" due to the production of high-quality precision parts. Production has to be restructured according to National Socialist specifications.

 

Shortly after the end of the war, the Allies granted a "permit to reopen", and the reconstruction of the largely destroyed production begins.

 

In addition to the production of precision parts for automobiles and motorcycles, the production range of supplier parts for car and truck manufacturers, including spring bolt sets, axle bolts and wheel bolts, is expanded.

 

The establishment of our own training workshop allows the targeted training of required specialists. These are becoming increasingly rare in times of huge economic growth and development. By the end of the 1950s, the febi brand had established itself as an original equipment manufacturer.

 

Foundation of "Süd-West-Autoteile GmbH" in Dietzenbach and introduction of the "SWAG" product brand. In 2000, Ferdinand Bilstein GmbH + Co. KG took over this company.

 

Constant enrichment of the product range with wear parts from partner manufacturers. Start of internationalisation: The first foreign subsidiary, "febi UK Ltd", is founded in England in 1990. Another 20 will follow by 2017.

 

"febi Präzisionstechnik" enters CNC technology. By using modern control technology, even workpieces with complex shapes can be produced automatically. In addition, a separate programming department is set up and computer-aided quality assurance is introduced.

 

Foundation of the company "Automotive Distributors Ltd" in England. The "Blue Print" product brand is launched in 1994. The company will be taken over by Ferdinand Bilstein GmbH + Co. KG in 2011.

 

febi Präzisionstechnik is a supplier for the automotive industry and its own spare parts segment. In addition, precision parts are manufactured for selected industrial customers. Continuous expansion of production capacities and manufacturing competencies. These include turning, milling, drilling, hardening, grinding and assembly. Introduction of the current febi logo.

 

Introduction of the "bilstein group" umbrella brand as a unifying element for the febi, SWAG and Blue Print product brands.
 

febi Präzisionstechnik becomes "bilstein group Engineering". With the introduction of the divisional brand, the production activities within the bilstein group are grouped together. The newly built production hall with a production area of 10,000 m2 is opened.
 

Introduction of the bilstein group partsfinder, initially with the passenger car ranges of febi, SWAG and Blue Print.
 

Ferdinand Bilstein celebrates its 175th anniversary. The company was founded in 1844.

Start of construction works for the second major logistic centre in Germany.
 

bilstein group takes over German turbocharger specialist Motair. The Cologne-based company specialises in turbochargers and offers products from well-known OE manufacturers as well as remanufactured turbochargers in Germany - in this area Motair is one of the leading European suppliers.
 

After only two years of construction, the new logistics centre in Gelsenkirchen is officially inaugurated.
 

After a successful ramp-up phase, the new logistics center at our Gelsenkirchen site is fully operational.
 

The bilstein group celebrates its 180th anniversary.
 

The bilstein group opens its 23rd subsidiary in India.
 

The Motair brand transitions to febi, and Motair Turbolader GmbH is becoming the Turbo Competence Centre at its own location.
 

The expansion of the logistics center in Gelsenkirchen is completed. This allows additional products to be added to the range, enabling us to serve customers even better.
 

Company founded by Ferdinand Daniel Bilstein (1813-1890)

 

Following the death of Ferdinand Daniel Bilstein (1890), his son Robert Ferdinand also dies one year later. The son's widow, Marie Bilstein (1848 – 1924), takes over the running of the business.

 

Hans Carl Ferdinand Bilstein (1878-1947), the oldest son of Marie Bilstein, joins the company

Paul Julius Bilstein (1886-1950) enters company management

Ferdinand Hermann Bilstein (1913-1967) comes on board

 

Ferdinand Hermann Bilstein is joined by brother-in-law Arnold Siekermann (1917-1987) in running the company

 

Rolf Bilstein (born 1943) comes on board

 

Dieter Siekermann (born 1945) joins the management team

 

Karsten Schüssler-Bilstein (born 1971) becomes a Group Managing Director

 

Jan Siekermann (born 1979) completes the dual leadership of the company.