History

The KraussMaffei company history

1838

1838
Copyright: Bayerisches Wirtschaftsarchiv

Joseph Anton von Maffei (1790-1870) founds the family business "Eisenwerk Hirschau" and acquires Munich's first machine factory at the Hirschau site in the English Garden. The beginning of the history of KraussMaffei!

1841

The first locomotive built in Hirschau is delivered. King Ludwig I names it "the Munich" at Anton von Maffei's request.

1857

1857
Copyright: NETSTAL Maschinen AG

The machine factory Eisen- & Messinggießerei Ulrich Rietmann & Cie. in Netstal is founded. In 1922, it is transformed into Maschinenfabrik & Gießerei Netstal AG.

1866

1866
Copyright: Bayerisches Wirtschaftsarchiv

Georg von Krauss (1828-1906), previously employed by Maffei, founds the rival company Krauss und Comp. on the Marsfeld in Munich (today's headquarters of Circus Krone).

1867

1867
Copyright: Bayerisches Wirtschaftsarchiv

Krauss's first locomotive ("Landwührden") wins a gold medal for its advanced design at the World's Fair in Paris. Today, the locomotive is on display at the German Museum's Transportation Center.

1897

1897
Copyright: KraussMaffei

Hermann Berstorff founds the craft company of the same name in Hanover and starts producing hose machines for the rubber industry.

1909

The Krauss and Maffei companies start producing electric locomotives.

1931

1931
Copyright: Bayerisches Wirtschaftsarchiv

As a result of the world economic crisis, Krauss und Comp. takes over the J.A. Maffei company: Lokomotivfabrik Krauss & Comp. - J.A. Maffei A.-G. Munich is founded, with locomotive construction remaining the core business.

1935

1935
Copyright: Bayerisches Wirtschaftsarchiv

The merged company moves to its current location in Allach near Munich. Three years later, Krauss & Comp. - J.A. Maffei A.-G. celebrates its 100th anniversary - and thus follows in the tradition of J.A. Maffei.

1940

A new phase in the company's history begins: Lokomotivfabrik Krauss & Comp. - J.A. Maffei A.-G. Munich is renamed Krauss-Maffei AG - the predecessor of the name that still exists today. The portfolio now includes the main divisions of transport technology, defence technology and process engineering.

From 1956

From 1956
Copyright: Bayerisches Wirtschaftsarchiv

The 1950s mark Krauss-Maffei's entry into the plastics industry. Krauss-Maffei starts designing injection moulding machines and eventually acquires the plastics machinery manufacturer Eckert & Ziegler.

1966

1966
Copyright: KraussMaffei

Krauss-Maffei AG establishes a subsidiary in the USA. Since 1986, KraussMaffei Corporation (KMC) has been headquartered in Florence, Kentucky.

1968

1968
Copyright: KraussMaffei

Krauss-Maffei establishes the Reaction Process Machinery Division. The first products are bumpers and instrument panels for cars.

1986

The Plastics Technology Division is transferred to an independent subsidiary of Krauss-Maffei AG: Krauss-Maffei Kunststofftechnik GmbH is founded.

1989

The German industrial and telecommunications company Mannesmann acquires a majority stake in Krauss-Maffei AG. In 1996 Mannesmann becomes the sole shareholder.

1992

1992
Copyright: KraussMaffei

Krauss-Maffei AG acquires the majority of shares in Netstal-Maschinen AG.

1998

1998
Copyright: KraussMaffei

Six years later, Krauss-Maffei acquires a majority stake in Berstorff GmbH.

1999 / 2000

The Mannesmann Group is bought by the British mobile phone company Vodafone Group Plc and subsequently dissolved. Krauss-Maffei then specialises in plastics and rubber machinery manufacturing. The locomotive construction division is taken over by Siemens, the defence technology division by Wegmann.

2001

The birth of a new company name: Krauss-Maffei is renamed KraussMaffei AG.

2010

2010
Copyright: KraussMaffei

The production facility in Sučany, Slovakia, is opened.

2016

2016
Copyright: KraussMaffei

The Chinese chemical group National Chemical Corporation (ChemChina) acquires the KraussMaffei Group. In picture (from left): Former KraussMaffei CEO Frank Stieler, Chen Junwei, former CEO of ChemChina Finance Co. LTD, Cai Ting, former Chairman and General Manager of China National Chemical Equipment Co, LTD

2018

2018
Copyright: KraussMaffei

180 years of KraussMaffei! To mark this anniversary, the company is inviting guests to a grand gala at the Bayerischer Hof, including Jianxin Ren, Chairman ChemChina, and Munich's Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter.

2018

In its anniversary year, the company also reaches a milestone: KraussMaffei becomes the first German company to be listed on the Shanghai stock exchange.

2020

2020
Copyright: KraussMaffei

The construction of the new KraussMaffei: The company opens two new, modern plants in Jiaxing (China) and Einbeck (Germany).

2021

2021
Copyright: Sinochem

The Chinese groups ChemChina and Sinochem merge.

2022/2023

2022/2023
Copyright: KraussMaffei

It is the beginning of a new era in the company's history: After 90 years at the Allach site, KraussMaffei moves to modern headquarters in Parsdorf (near Munich). KraussMaffei Extrusion also moves to Laatzen (near Hanover), from now on the centre for innovative recycling solutions.