Our long history in short:
We’re making (company) history
Foundation
In 1911, Franz Bettermann founds a small company
for brass goods, shoe hooks and eyelets. This
lays the foundation for the OBO Bettermann Group.
New product areas
The initial fastening materials for electrical
and plumbing installations are produced.
Growth
By 1935, the number of employees rises to around 250.
OBO goes global
Business is booming again. In the mid-1950s,
OBO Bettermann expands and sells its products
outside of Germany for the first time, starting with
Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Neuwalzwerk in Menden-Bösperde
OBO takes over Neuwalzwerk in Menden-Bösperde,
which was founded in 1827. Rolled profiles and
special wires now extend the OBO portfolio.
This strategic decision marks the expansion
into cable support systems, becoming the market leader.
Expansion of the subsidiaries
Consistent expansion of OBO’s subsidiary companies and
branch offices from Philadelphia to Beijing, from
Helsinki to Sao Paulo.
Foundation of OBO Hungary
Foundation of OBO BETTERMANN Hungary Kft in Bugyi,
near Budapest. Today it is one
of OBO’s most central production and
logistics locations.
Cutting-edge galvanisation plant
OBO sets new standards of flexibility and
speed through the commissioning
of the world’s most modern galvanisation plant in Hungary.
Integration of the Dahl-Kanal brand
OBO continues to promote the Dahl-Kanal brand as an independent
product range. DAHL-KANAL is market leader
in the field of wiring trunking.
Integration of the Ackermann brand
OBO continues the production and brand of the company founded by Albert
Ackermann in 1919. This means that OBO is the
market leader in the underfloor systems sector and Europe’s
leading systems provider for cable management.
Metal Competence Centre opens
In 2008, OBO commences the expansion of its
production capacities and invests 40 million
euros in the construction of a new production facility with
an integrated hot galvanisation plant. On the occasion
of the company’s centenary on 13 May 2011, the new OBO
Metal Competence Centre, with an area of 30,000 m²,
opens in Menden with new production facilities and
state-of-the-art logistics.
O-line, South Africa
OBO takes over the listed company
O-Line, thus establishing and expanding its position in the African
market of the future. Over
700 employees and a well-known brand on the
African continent are promising.
OBO India, Chennai
OBO is represented on all continents. With the opening in
2014 of a new factory for cable management,
underfloor, connection and fastening systems
in Chennai, India, we strengthened our presence in Asia.
Trench, UK
Initially working collaboratively, OBO later acquires the
company Trench. This company is one of the market leaders in the area of
British Standard trunking and is a valuable addition to OBO.
Chalfant, USA
OBO acquires the company Chalfant and continues to expand its
portfolio in the area of cable support systems. Chalfant is one of the largest
manufacturers in the USA of aluminium cable support systems.
Integration of the REHAU brand
OBO Bettermann takes over the
cable management division of the independent, family-owned company
REHAU. For OBO, this means sustainable international
expansion of the key product unit for cable routing systems.
OBO continues to grow
In 2023, OBO Austria moves to a new location in Gramatneusiedl,
and in 2024 OBO Belgium and OBO India open new logistics
facilities. Trench will move into its new building for administration,
production and logistics in 2024.
