TPT September 2012

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Industry News
46 September 2012
Celebrating 140 years in steel
THE Wuppermann Group is celebrating
its 140th anniversary this year. What
began for founder Heinrich Theodor
Wuppermann in 1872 in a suburb of
Düsseldorf, Germany with a single
puddling oven and ironworks forge has
become an important steel company
with locations all over Europe in the
course of the last 140 years.
The comprehensive product portfolio
of the Wuppermann Group includes
surface-coated flat products, tubes,
tube components and sheet metal
parts made of steel, stainless steel and
aluminium, all of which are distinguished
by the high quality that comes from
the long years of experience, skill and
innovative product development that
the company relies on.
The family enterprise with head office
in Leverkusen has grown continuously
over the last 140 years and had a
particularly successful year in2011.With
new locations and plant expansions in
France, Poland, the Czech Republic,
Sweden, the Netherlands, Switzerland
and Germany, Wuppermann fortified its
presence in the international market.
“For 140 years now, our history has
been marked by a passion for steel.
It is the driving force behind our work
and our efforts towards constant further
development, and it is contained
in every product that leaves our
factories,” explained Dr Carl Ludwig
Theodor Wuppermann who heads the
company in the 5th family generation, is
responsible for finances on the board of
management and acts as the spokesman
of Wuppermann AG. “We want to
continue down the road to success with
sustainable growth, constant innovation
and the development of new markets.”
Heinrich Theodor Wuppermann laid
the cornerstone of the business in 1872
with the purchase of a puddling oven for
6,588 thalers. Seven years later he sold
the plant in Düsseldorf and moved the
business to what is now Leverkusen,
where it remains to this day. The
company succeeded in developing
further despite the turmoil of two world
wars. The founder’s grandson, August
Theodor Wuppermann, managed the
steel company for 40 years all the way
through to the 1960s, always faithful
to his maxim: “To solve a problem,
you must have many heads and many
hands working together.”
There was a break in the company’s
history in 1983 as a result of the
steel crisis in Europe. Because of its
continued losses Wuppermann had
to sell its rolling mill in Leverkusen.
Wuppermann sold the rolling mill on
the condition that there would be no
job losses at the plant. This meant
that it was sold to the one who saw the
prospect of continued employment and
not just to the highest bidder. After two
years, however, the new owners had to
close the plant. Ever since this severe
crisis was overcome, Wuppermann has
experienced continuous growth.
Wuppermann AG – Germany
Fax: +49 2171 5000 802
Email:
Website:
Heinrich Theodor Wuppermann founded
the company Wuppermann in 1872
Dr C L Theodor is member of the Board of
management of Wuppermann AG