BESSEY History


Today, two business divisions make BESSEY unique: The positioning of BESSEY as precision steel and tool manufacturer ensures decisive quality advantages. This year, the company is celebrating its 130th anniversary.

1889

Max Bessey founds a bright steel drawing plant in Stuttgart.

1912

Continuation of the firm by his nephew Karl Bessey.

1926

The company is taken over by Dr. Ing. Eugen Mayer. Under his leadership, the range of products produced is significantly expanded, both in terms of dimensions and grades of steel offered.

1928

Marriage Dr.-Ing. Eugen Mayer with Erna Bessey, widow of Karl Bessey.

1936


Patents are granted for a new type of malleable cast iron screw clamp, thus marking the beginning of the production of clamping tools by BESSEY.

1944

Founding of a subsidiary in Bietigheim for producing clamping tools.

1961

Expansion of the Bietigheim works and beginning of bright steel production.

1966

Transition of the firm to the daughter and the son Dr. Theodor Mayer as managing partner.


Start of a dynamic phase of corporate development:

  • Production of bright steel is doubled and complemented by the manufacture of stainless steels.
  • New patents and developments, combined with modern marketing, make BESSEY into the market leader in the global clamping tools sector.

1971

A further increase in bright steel production is achieved at the Stuttgart works thanks to the purchase of the neighbouring Aldinger engineering works.

1979

Purchase of the Diener shears factory in Esslingen, with a satellite factory in Solingen.

1983

Consolidation of bright steel production in new mill buildings at the Bietigheim works. Sale of the Stuttgart site.

1985

Purchase of additional land in Bietigheim, including the area of the former worsted spinning mill, which has protected status. After proper restoration, tool production begins at this facility.

1989

The company celebrates its 100 year jubilee.

1998

Certification to DIN EN 9001.

2001

Modernisation of Schumag drawing line 3B.

2002

Modernisation of Schumag drawing line 1B9.

2003

Modernisation of Schumag drawing line 2B.

2004

Founding of BESSEY Präzisionsstahl GmbH: Switch from being purely a producer/supplier to a service partner, thanks to investments in testing technology and logistics.

2005

Extension of storage area by 2,000 m².

2006

Installation and commissioning of an ultrasound testing system using the latest phased-array technology.

2011

  • Installation and commissioning of one of the latest eddy-current testing systems
  • Klaus Fuchs becomes Managing Partner: After 11 years, the BESSEY Group is once again owner-managed 

2012

Investment in a Remagraph for detecting magnetic properties

2019

  • Founding of BESSEY Präzisionsstahl Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH.
  • BESSEY Group celebrates its 130 year jubilee.