Böhler-Werke

Böhler-Werke, one of the oldest manufacturers of stainless steel in Central Europe; the history of the production sites goes back to the 15^th century. In 1894, the four Böhler brothers, who had immigrated from Germany, took over the Oesterreichisch-Alpine Montangesellschaft, the crucible-steel works at Kapfenberg (Styria) including the hammer mills; after the death of the last brother, the company continued to exist as a company limited by shares. From the very start, the company had focused on exports and had held branches all over the world before World War I. In 1914, a subsidiary company was set up in Düsseldorf (Germany) and in 1926, the company acquired a share of a steelmill at Ravne (Slovenia). During World War I and World War II, production sites in Styria were considerably expanded. In 1945, a considerable part of the company's productive plant was dismantled, and the company was nationalised in 1946 (Nationalised Industry) and later steadily expanded and modernised. In 1975, when the company was merged with Schoeller-Bleckmann and the Styrian crucible steel mills (Steirische Gußstahlwerke) to form the Vereinigte Edelstahlwerke AG (VEW), it employed approx. 8,000 people.

In 1980, stainless steel production worldwide went through a crisis; the VEW was dissolved in 1988 and the Böhler-Werke were made part of Austrian Industries AG as Böhler Ges.m.b.H. In 1991, the company merged with the Swedish Uddeholm AB to form Böhler-Uddeholm AG.