A journey through time
Take a trip back to the first Bocholt steam engine and discover the essential milestones of the BORGERS family business:
The Borgers Polska sp. z o.o. is started in Złotoryja (Poland). In the USA, the production area of the plant in Norwalk, Ohio, is doubled.
The Borgers AG is changed into the Borgers SE & Co. KGaA.
2008–2015: Active consolidation and globalisation after the crisis
The second BORGERS-site in the USA is established in Norwalk, Ohio. Establishment of Shenyang Borgers Tuopu Automobile Parts Co., Ltd., the third site in China.
Establishment of Borgers Tuopu Automobile Parts Co. in Langfang, China.
Establishment of Borgers Tuopu Automobile Parts Co., Ltd. in Ningbo, China. The former logistics center Borgers USA in Vance, Alabama is extended to a production site. The legal forms of Olbrich and Borgers are changed from „Kommanditgesellschaft“ (private limited partnership) to „GmbH“ (Ltd).
Sale of Gebrüder Rensing GmbH & Co. KG
BORGERS takes over the production sites Krumbach and Ellzee with the insulation sector of the insolvent Aksys GmbH und thus secures 300 jobs.
The severe crisis worldwide hits BORGERS hard: In view of temporary declines in turnover of up to 50%, dismissals cannot be avoided despite early counter measures.
2000–2008: Further internationalisation (factories in Spain, the Czech Republic, France and the USA)
Olbrich‘s tool and mould construction is strengthened by the acquisition of R+S Technik GmbH in Offenbach.
The third Czech BORGERS factory is established in Volduchy. In addition, BORGERS establishes its first US-site in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
A new factory is built in Saint-Quentin in France.
The Spanish Borgers S.A. moves from Madrid to the new factory building in Alcalá. Further subsidiaries are founded in the Czech Republic: Olbrich CZ in Holoubkov and Rensing in Brasy-Stupno.
Mercedes C-Class is furnished with the first luggage compartment system developped by Borgers.
1990s: The Fall of the Berlin Wall paves the way for factories in the Czech Republic and East Berlin
Establishment of the second Czech factory in Hrádek.
Establishment of Borgers Nord AB in Gothenburg, Sweden.
The legal form of Borgers GmbH is changed to a stock company (Borgers AG).
In Rokycany the first BORGERS-factory in the Czech Republic is established.
The reconstruction of the East Berlin factory is finished. The BORGERS company health insurance fund is founded and serves as an example.
BORGERS is 125 years old: 10 production sites in 4 countries, 2.200 employees, DEM 460 million turnover in the group. The automotive business reaches 80% of the turnover of Johann Borgers GmbH & Co. KG. The factory in East Berlin is repurchased at a price of DEM 1,00 plus VAT.
1970s and 1980s: Expansion in the automotive business and internationalisation
Take-over of 78% of the Spanish company CEFSA (est. 1952) in Madrid.
Borgers UK Ltd., the 2nd plant abroad, is founded in Telford near Birmingham.
Mould and tool making is taken up by Olbrich.
Purchase of the weaving factory Rensing which Werner Borgers had been sole owner of since 1959.
The turnover reaches DEM 100 million; a blaze in factory II in Bocholt causes a damage of DEM 10 million.
Borgers starts the large-scale production of moulded parts made of triflex.
Having grown by 35% BORGERS makes the greatest leap until then, mostly because of the increasing automotive business.
1950s and 1960s: From wadding to textile floorings and moulded parts for the automotive industry
Textile floorings are the mainstay of sales and point of origin for the manufacturing of moulded floor carpets for cars. A considerable number of the first moulded triflex parts are produced. Borgers takes over 100 % of the share property of the company Herbert Olbrich.
BORGERS is supplier to the automotive, mattress, upholstered furniture, and clothing industry.
The turnover is higher than DEM 35 million. In 1948 it was only DEM 3 million.
Acquisition of licence for new products based on shredded cotton and thermosetting binding agent (triflex) from Gustin-Bacon Manufacturing Company, Kansas City; building of the Dingden plant.
Illegal expropriation of Johann Borgers KG in (East) Berlin by GDR-authorities.
Extension of the headquarter
1933–1949: Destruction and reconstruction of the biggest wadding factory in Europe
Establishment of an engineering factory by Herbert Olbrich and Werner Borgers: In the 1950s mainly printing machines for wallpapers and installations for the manufacturing of artificial PVC leather.
Provisional rebuilding of the Bocholt factories: in the following years industry waddings, jute felt and quilts are manufactured, too.
On 22 March the factories I and II in Bocholt are completely destroyed.
Purchase of a raw material factory in Halle (Westphalia). By building a huge storehouse in Bocholt and other projects „the company Johann Borgers becomes the biggest wadding factory in Europe before World War II“.
Johann Borgers AG is turned into a „Kommanditgesellschaft“ (private limited partnership).
1919–1933: Expansion despite inflation and crisis
Establishment of the Berlin factory.
BORGERS puchases a factory near Paris and establishes its first plant abroad.
During the economic crisis sales proceeds decrease by half.
Johann Borgers oHG (general partnerhip) is turned into a public limited company.
The 2nd factory (Werk II) is set up in the newly acquired weaving factory Drießen & Becker on Grabenstraße in Bocholt.
Start of production for the automotive industry. Upholstery waddings had already indirectly been supplied to car producers (via upholsterers) since the end of the 19th century.
The factory building is enlarged by app. 50%.
1866–1918: From a small workshop to the biggest wadding factory in the German Empire
After two blazes „Germany‘s biggest wadding factory“ (Bocholter Volksblatt, 14 February 1914) is reconstructed.
Quadruplication of turnover; manufacturing of panel and roll waddings as well as fleece.
Building of the steam wadding factory on Stenerner Weg: manufacturing of waddings for blankets and industrial purposes.
Borgers buys the first steam engine (8 PS Locomobile) and carding facilities for the new building in today’s Südmauer which mainly includes a trade workshop.
At the age of 24 Johann Borgers opens a workshop for the manufacturing of waddings on Osterstraße 37.
Commissioning of the first steam engine in Bocholt.