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Per 1. April 2023 hat die Autoneum Holding AG das Automotive-Geschäft der Borgers Gruppe übernommen. Ausgewählte Inhalte dieser Webseite werden derzeit in die Onlinepräsenz der Autoneum Holding AG überführt. Bis zum Abschluss dieses Transfers wird die Webseite der ehemaligen Borgers Gruppe nicht mehr aktualisiert. Für weitere Informationen verweisen wir gerne auf www.autoneum.com.

As of April 1, 2023, Autoneum Holding Ltd acquired the automotive business of Borgers Group. Selected contents of this website are currently being transferred to the online presence of Autoneum Holding Ltd. Until this transfer is completed, the website of the former Borgers Group will no longer be updated. For further information please refer to www.autoneum.com.

A journey through time

Take a trip back to the first Bocholt steam engine and discover the essential milestones of the BORGERS family business:

 

 

 

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2017
Plant inauguration in Poland

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.

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2016
150 years – one family

The Borgers AG is changed into the Borgers SE & Co. KGaA.

2008–2015: Active consolidation and globalisation after the crisis

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2014
Ground-breaking ceremony for the new Borgers site in Norwalk

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.

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2013
Signing the joint venture contract

Establishment of Borgers Tuopu Automobile Parts Co. in Langfang, China.

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2012

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).

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2011

Sale of Gebrüder Rensing GmbH & Co. KG

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2010
Plants in Ellzee und Krumbach

BORGERS takes over the production sites Krumbach and Ellzee with the insulation sector of the insolvent Aksys GmbH und thus secures 300 jobs.

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2008–2009

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)

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2008
R+S Technik GmbH, Offenbach

Olbrich‘s tool and mould construction is strengthened by the acquisition of R+S Technik GmbH in Offenbach.

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2004
New plants in the Czech Republic and the USA

The third Czech BORGERS factory is established in Volduchy. In addition, BORGERS establishes its first US-site in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

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2003
Plant in Saint-Quentin

A new factory is built in Saint-Quentin in France.

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2001
New plants in the Czech Republic and Spain

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.

Picture
2000
Luggage compartment system for the Mercedes C-Class

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

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1998
BORGERS site in Hrádek

Establishment of the second Czech factory in Hrádek.

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1997
Borgers Nord AB, Gothenburg

Establishment of Borgers Nord AB in Gothenburg, Sweden.

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1996

The legal form of Borgers GmbH is changed to a stock company (Borgers AG).

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1995
BORGERS site in Rokycany

In Rokycany the first BORGERS-factory in the Czech Republic is established.

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1993

The reconstruction of the East Berlin factory is finished. The BORGERS company health insurance fund is founded and serves as an example.

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1991
Plant in East Berlin

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

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1988
Location in Spain

Take-over of 78% of the Spanish company CEFSA (est. 1952) in Madrid.

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1987
BORGERS plant in Telford

Borgers UK Ltd., the 2nd plant abroad, is founded in Telford near Birmingham.

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1983

Mould and tool making is taken up by Olbrich.

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1982

Purchase of the weaving factory Rensing which Werner Borgers had been sole owner of since 1959.

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1981
Fire in factory II (1980s)

The turnover reaches DEM 100 million; a blaze in factory II in Bocholt causes a damage of DEM 10 million.

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1979
Large-scale production of moulded parts made of triflex

Borgers starts the large-scale production of moulded parts made of triflex.

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1976

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

Picture
1969
Production of moulded parts

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.

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1966
Production of flat material

BORGERS is supplier to the automotive, mattress, upholstered furniture, and clothing industry.

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1965

The turnover is higher than DEM 35 million. In 1948 it was only DEM 3 million.

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1962
Plant in Dingden

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.

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1953

Illegal expropriation of Johann Borgers KG in (East) Berlin by GDR-authorities.

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The 1950s
Main plant in Bocholt

Extension of the headquarter

1933–1949: Destruction and reconstruction of the biggest wadding factory in Europe

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1949
Engineering factory

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.

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1946-1948

Provisional rebuilding of the Bocholt factories: in the following years industry waddings, jute felt and quilts are manufactured, too.

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1945
Destruction of both plants in Bocholt

On 22 March the factories I and II in Bocholt are completely destroyed.

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1937-38
Location in Halle

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“.

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1936

Johann Borgers AG is turned into a „Kommanditgesellschaft“ (private limited partnership).

1919–1933: Expansion despite inflation and crisis

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1931
Setup in Berlin

Establishment of the Berlin factory.

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1930
Plant near Paris

BORGERS puchases a factory near Paris and establishes its first plant abroad.

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1929-1932

During the economic crisis sales proceeds decrease by half.

Picture
1929
A Borgers company share

Johann Borgers oHG (general partnerhip) is turned into a public limited company.

Picture
1928

The 2nd factory (Werk II) is set up in the newly acquired weaving factory Drießen & Becker on Grabenstraße in Bocholt.

Picture
1925

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.

Picture
1919

The factory building is enlarged by app. 50%.

1866–1918: From a small workshop to the biggest wadding factory in the German Empire

Picture
1914/1915
Reconstruction after two blazes

After two blazes „Germany‘s biggest wadding factory“ (Bocholter Volksblatt, 14 February 1914) is reconstructed.

Picture
1902-1906
Steam engine

Quadruplication of turnover; manufacturing of panel and roll waddings as well as fleece.

Picture
1896-1897
Steam wadding factory

Building of the steam wadding factory on Stenerner Weg: manufacturing of waddings for blankets and industrial purposes.

Picture
1875-1876
Drawing of a steam boiler

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.

Picture
1866
Johann Borgers

At the age of 24 Johann Borgers opens a workshop for the manufacturing of waddings on Osterstraße 37.

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1852

Commissioning of the first steam engine in Bocholt.