Our history at a glance
Our company history is a journey spanning one and a half centuries of bold decisions, technical innovation, and entrepreneurial foresight.
The birth of the BENTELER pioneering spirit
When company founder Carl Benteler took over a hardware store in Bielefeld (Germany) in 1876, a story of entrepreneurial curiosity began. With an unusually wide range of products and a talent for marketing, he laid the foundation for BENTELER's pioneering spirit.
Carl Benteler lays the foundation for what is now a 150-year company history with the notarization on October 2, 1876.
Carl Benteler acquires the commercial building that houses the business on Gehrenberg in Bielefeld – then the city’s busiest street.
From an early stage, the small hardware store offered an unusually wide range of products – from household appliances such as kitchen scales and bread slicers to washing machines.
From trading company to industrial business
We recognized the potential of industrial manufacturing early on. Through patents, mechanical engineering, and the founding of Benteler-Werke AG, a trading company gradually evolved into an industrial pioneer.
Eduard Benteler takes over from his father Carl Benteler.
The first patent application, “Window bars made from steel tube”, is filed. For the first time, the product that would become central to our success story – the tube – is specifically mentioned.
The acquisition of a machine factory in Bielefeld marks the transition from a trading company to an industrial enterprise.
The company produces drawn tubes for the first time.
Founding of BENTELER-Werke Aktiengesellschaft in Bielefeld.
BENTELER receives its first order from the automotive industry, manufacturing exhaust pipes for the Ford Eifel.
BENTELER during the National Socialist era
As a traditional industrial company, BENTELER became part of the German war economy during the National Socialist period. Following the collapse of civilian demand, production was increasingly shaped by government armament contracts. The plants operated at full capacity, manufacturing, among other things, components for anti-aircraft guns as well as military equipment under license. From 1943 onward, BENTELER also employed forced laborers and prisoners of war, who made up a significant proportion of the workforce. Their deployment was implemented under the conditions of the National Socialist forced-labor system and constitutes a grave injustice. This chapter is an inseparable part of the company's history.
In the final years of the war, production was increasingly disrupted by Allied air raids. With the end of World War II, BENTELER – like many industrial companies in Germany – faced the task of reconstruction and realignment.
Ralf Göttel, CEO of the BENTELER Group: “The period of World War II is among the most painful chapters in our company's history. Confronting our own past is an essential part of acting responsibly for us. It reminds us to respect human dignity and to consistently live our values in our day-to-day actions. Today, we are a group in which people from more than 100 nationalities work together respectfully – this diversity makes us strong.”
The tube connects in times of change
In challenging times, BENTELER demonstrated resilience – from post-war reconstruction to the production of refrigerators and textile machinery to bicycles and cars. The unifying element was the tube.
The third generation of the owning family, Erich and Helmut Benteler, take over. Helmut Benteler (pictured) develops the Schloß Neuhaus plant into a high-performance tube mill.
At the same time, Erich Benteler assumes management of the Bielefeld machine factory and restores it to its former market position.
BENTELER begins production of its own compact car, the “Champion” – around 2,000 units are sold.
Start of the company's first in-house steel production in Paderborn.
Radiators remain part of the product portfolio for the next 20 years, until production was finally discontinued in 1986 in favor of forming technology, which was significantly more profitable.
The BENTELER electric steel mill in Lingen begins producing more environmentally friendly steel.
International expansion begins with the first location of BENTELER Automobiltechnik GmbH in the USA.
The first European site outside Germany is established in Burgos, Spain.
Global partner to the automotive industry
With the expansion of activities in the automotive sector, a new era begins. Specialization in ready-to-install components and just-in-time delivery accelerates global expansion. BENTELER becomes a reliable partner to OEMs worldwide – with solutions that move things forward: technologically, sustainably, and through partnership.
Hubertus Benteler assumes management responsibility and transforms the company into a global partner to the automotive industry.
The first BENTELER site in Mexico is established in Puebla.
BENTELER opens its first plant in China at the new location in Shanghai.
BENTELER International AG (today BENTELER International Austria GmbH) is founded in Salzburg, Austria. It serves as the strategic management holding company of the BENTELER Group to this day.
The Steel/Tube division strengthens its position in the international market. One of North America's most efficient steel tube plants is built in Shreveport.
Mobility, industry, and sustainability
BENTELER is shaping the mobility of the future. Driven by our pioneering spirit, we develop, produce, and distribute safety-relevant products, systems, and services worldwide.
Ralf Göttel becomes CEO of the BENTELER Group.
The BENTELER Group launches its successful transformation into a metal processing specialist.
BENTELER underscores its ambitions in the global autonomous mobility market: The new brand HOLON focuses on autonomous shuttle solutions.
Early, successful refinancing provides momentum: From this point on, BENTELER shapes the future of mobility with four divisions (BENTELER Automotive Components, BENTELER Automotive Modules, BENTELER Steel/Tube, and HOLON).
BENTELER celebrates “150 years of pioneering spirit in motion”. The anniversary is both a reflection and a driving force – our goal: shaping the future. Enabling progress.
BENTELER. 150 years of pioneering spirit in motion.
For 150 years, we have moved forward with courage, ambition, and respect, driving continuous progress into the future. Together, we set standards in metal technology – for safety, sustainability, and innovation.
For us, challenges are opportunities to achieve great things together. What seems “impossible” continues to inspire us to develop new solutions that help our customers, partners, and society move forward. That’s what we stand for every day as a team.
With our pioneering spirit, we not only exceed our customers’ expectations, but also our own. Through our expertise and passion for the automotive and metal industries, we are shaping a sustainable future for all of us.
