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150 years of pioneering spirit in motion

Since 1876, BENTELER has stood for motion. What began as a small hardware store in Bielefeld has become a global company that combines mobility, industry, and sustainability.

Shaping the future. Driving progress.

Across five generations, the people at BENTELER have had one thing in common: the courage to shape the future. Time and again, we have broken new ground, reinvented ourselves, and never lost sight of what matters most.

Our pioneering spirit is reflected in the way we approach challenges: VISIONARY, GLOBALLY MINDED, RESILIENT, and RESPONSIBLE. And it’s been that way for 150 years.

Visionary – The courage to try something new

Since the company was founded by Carl Benteler in 1876, foresight has been the foundation of our success. From trading to manufacturing, from a regional supplier to an international technology leader – BENTELER has always moved ahead while others hesitated.

Originally founded as a trading company, BENTELER made the transition to manufacturing early in the 20th century. The decision to not only trade, but also to develop and manufacture machines in-house reflected a firm belief in the company’s own innovative strength. The move into production was characterized by curiosity, a willingness to take risks, and the determination to actively shape the future – qualities that still define BENTELER today.

Entering the automotive industry was a step into the unknown for BENTELER – driven by the conviction that our precision tubes and components could move more than just machines. With vision and courage, we established our first partnerships with pioneers such as Ford, DKW, and Mercedes as early as the 1930s and have continued to evolve ever since. At one point, our portfolio even included a compact car of our own: the Champion.

In 1956, the first 20-ton electric arc furnace went into operation in Schloß Neuhaus. Just two years later, we became the first German company to operate a continuous casting plant under industrial conditions. Helmut Benteler and his team were breaking new ground. They traveled halfway around the world, studying pilot plants in Canada, France, Sweden, and even Japan, had billets shipped in, and worked day and night. In 1958, the first strand was cast – and soon engineers from around the world were traveling to East Westphalia to see this wonder for themselves. The plant became a flagship facility, setting standards for the future of steel production.

Our first steps towards digitalization began in the 1980s, when CAD systems and computer-controlled machines entered our manufacturing facilities. Suddenly, tools and components were no longer created on the drawing board, but on screens. Digitalization really took off in the mid-1990s, when the internet and precursors of what would later become “Industry 4.0” changed production processes and we began to think and work in a globally networked way.

HOLON is not only the latest example of visionary thinking at BENTELER, it also clearly shows that both the past and the future are characterized by the courage to rethink mobility.

Globally minded – from East Westphalia to the world

What began in Bielefeld now moves the world. East Westphalia is our home and our regional roots still matter deeply – but the world was our goal from the very beginning. We never saw globalization as a risk, but rather as an invitation to learn, grow, and connect. Today, we can be found in more than 20 countries across five continents. Our tubes power harvesting machines in Europe, and our automotive parts move people all over the world.

BENTELER has its beginnings in Bielefeld, Germany, in 1876: In a small hardware store at Gehrenberg 12, right next to the weekly market, the company started out with a diverse product range – from cooking machines and safes to dog muzzles. What drove us back then? The energy of a growing industrial city, a little courage – and the hope that something big might one day emerge from a shop full of everyday items.

As early as the 1950s, we were looking around the world for new inspiration – for example, on extensive study trips to the USA to visit the most advanced factories in the world. In the 1970s and 1980s, the motto was “learn from Japan”. Japanese production systems and their uncompromising approach to quality were considered the benchmark. We drew inspiration from this and adopted principles such as continuous improvement and zero-defect strategies – which helped us make enormous progress as an automotive supplier.

Establishing our first European location outside Germany was a true adventure – and, frankly, also a test of courage. Gaining a foothold in Burgos, Spain, in 1989 meant breaking new ground, overcoming language barriers, and devoting energy to building a team that shared our values.

The global development of BENTELER reads like a journey full of surprises and bold decisions. Today, we are represented at around 90 locations in more than 20 countries across five continents, with around half of our sales generated outside Europe. In China in particular, we have firmly established ourselves with 17 locations; the country has become one of our most important markets – proof of how curious and adaptable we have remained, no matter how far we have traveled.

And we continue to expand our global presence in new markets. Most recently, BENTELER celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony in Kenitra, Morocco – our first location in North Africa.

Resilient – strong in times of change

Crises are part of history – resilience is part of our DNA. There were times when failure seemed just as likely as the success of our company. World wars, economic crises, structural change, new technologies – time and again, we had to reinvent ourselves. Resilience and the consistent courage to change – that was our secret.

In 1922, Eduard Benteler purchased a vast piece of land in Schloß Neuhaus, in the midst of currency devaluation. The price: 7 million marks. Just a few months later, that amount worth little more than the value of a wheelbarrow full of briquettes, such was the speed at which currency lost its value. What mattered was this: those who invested in tangible assets saved their businesses. The crisis became a real turning point. With the new plant in Schloß Neuhaus, we were able to significantly increase tube production – at a time when other companies were going under.

After World War II, many production facilities lay in ruins, machines had been looted or were rusted, and we had hardly any materials. But we had ideas: from leftover cartridge blanks originally intended for ammunition, we make cooking pots – highly sought-after in post-war kitchens. We also produced bicycle parts, field rollers, even sewing machine frames – anything that could be made from scrap metal. That enabled us to retain our workforce and save the company.

Delivering the first subframe for the VW Golf was a real milestone – and proof of our adaptability. We didn't just supply components, we developed entire modules that could be integrated directly into production. This helped us remain a reliable partner for the automotive industry, even in turbulent times.

In mast construction, we reinvented ourselves again and again: from streetlights in Berlin to exports to Saudi Arabia, our masts were installed all over the world. Even as markets changed, we ensured continued demand for our products remained through innovation and new materials.

By entering electric steel production, we were often one technological step ahead of the competition. While others were still relying on traditional blast furnaces, we were quick to help shape the transition to more climate-friendly production methods.

Responsible – progress with commitment

Responsible – progress with commitment

For BENTELER, success always has a human dimension. Helmut Benteler's statement, “People are at the heart of everything we do,” describes more than just a corporate culture – it’s a commitment. The name BENTELER stands for a family-owned company with commitment, where employees are the key to success – both now and in the past.

More about our values

Our promise for the future

A pioneering spirit has carried BENTELER through 150 years of change, repeatedly inspiring us to push boundaries: from continuous casting to global expansion to autonomous mobility.

Our history is not a retrospective; it’s a driving force. It tells the story of people who think ahead, are open-minded, stand firm, and take responsibility – always with the goal of making progress happen.

BENTELER. 150 years of pioneering spirit in motion

Have we sparked your interest? Learn more about the milestones that have shaped our company's history over the past 150 years.

Our History at a glance

BENTELER Automotive employee in plant at Paderborn Talle

BENTELER Automotive employee in plant at Paderborn Talle

BENTELER: Who we are, We are the family of driven professionals

BENTELER: Who we are, We are the family of driven professionals

BENTELER Automotive Produktion: Kraftstoffverteiler

BENTELER Automotive Produktion: Kraftstoffverteiler

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