Corporate history, steeped in tradition

From a mining equipment manufacturer to a flange specialist.


1858
 Company founder, Jakob Friedrich Langenbach was born on 23 January in Mittelhees near Kreuztal
1872-1876
 Apprenticeship as a locksmith and blacksmith, journeymanship
1877
 Jakob Friedrich Langenbach joined the Künkler blacksmith's shop located in Gosenbach, which specialized in mining equipment
1881
 Examination for the master craftsman’s certificate as a blacksmith
Marriage to Wilhelmine Utsch, daughter of a mining foreman in Achenbach
1882
 Foundation of the company
as a self-employed master craftsman, he established his first blacksmith’s shop near the „Grüner Löwe” mine in Gosenbach. Production of augers and other mining tools

1883
 Langenbach moved to his new home in Gosenbach, Siegenerstr. 1

1885
 Birth of Willy Langenbach, who would later succeed him, on 19 April 1885
1895
 Jakob Friedrich Langenbach died on 19 February 1895 at the age of 37, leaving a family of six. His wife continued to run the company.

1899-1901
 Apprenticeship of Willy Langenbach as a blacksmith and locksmith in his parents’ company.
1903
 Move to a newly built blacksmith’s shop
1905
 Examination of Willy Langenbach for the master craftsman’s certificate
1909
 Extension of the production programme by producing centering arches for galleries
1911
 Marriage to Christiane Dickel from Schüllar
Extension of the blacksmith’s shop
1914-1916
 Willy Langenbach became an ambulance driver in the First World War
The blacksmith’s shop continued to be run by his mother and some journeymen
1917
 Extension of the production programme by adding rings and flanges
“The production method applied to centering arches was gradually developed while still using forge welding in the blacksmith’s shop.”
1918
 The first bank account with Sparkasse Siegen was opened
1919
 Willy Langenbach took over the business from his mother, who had managed it alone for more than 24 years
1920
 Opening of a hardware and household goods shop
1921
 Birth of Andreas Langenbach on 27 February 1921
1922-1932
 Difficult economic times:
Extremely high Inflation – daily wage payments – introduction of the German Rentenmark currency. Everyone had to start from scratch again
1933-1939
 Economic recovery
Extension of production facilities
8 regular employees
1939-1944
 Production increased despite the shortage of coal and steel in the Second World War
1945
 Operations disrupted
Major damage to production buildings and machinery
1946-1948
 Repair work on farms in exchange for food
1948
 Return of Andreas Langenbach from captivity in Russia. He joined his parents' company
1949
 Resumption of ring and flange production
1950
 Commissioning of the first oil-fired annealing furnace
1951-1952
 First major extension:
2 halls for the turning shop
1953-1957
 Purchase of new machinery and equipment
1958
 Construction of a new blacksmith’s shop building
Erection of a new annealing furnace and the first screw press
1961
 Andreas Langenbach took over the company from his father
1964-1965
 Construction of a new material storage hall with indoor crane, subject to the requirements and regulations of the building authorities
1968
 Purchase of a building plot in the Brachbach industrial area
Further automation of ring production; development of new groups of customers
1971
 Construction of the first building in Brachbach
1972-1979
 Extension of the Brachbach shop
1980
 Construction of a new office building, all units moved to Brachbach
1982
 Conversion into a GmbH (German limited company)
Sons Dieter and Hans-Günter Langenbach joined the company as shareholders

100th anniversary
1985
 Death of Managing Director Dieter Langenbach
Günter Langenbach was named Managing Director
1997
 Death of Managing Director Andreas Langenbach
1999 Complete overhaul of the corporate image including a new logo and website
2003
 Commissioning of a CNC sintered carbide drilling machine designed for a hole circle diameter up to 3,100 mm
2004
 Extension of the warehouse and despatch building
Start of fabrication of automotive products
2005
 Extension of production range by starting series production of automotive products
2006-2008
 Commissioning of the latest models of various CNC controlled flash butt welding machines
2007
 125th anniversary
2009
 Modernization of the corporate image including website