The story of our history
The closing 19th century is a period of sweeping technical and economic progress. In 1876, Nikolaus Otto builds the first four-stroke engine, Alexander Bell brings the telephone on its way, Edison pioneers entertainment electronics and, in 1878, invents the electric light bulb, Werner Siemens presents the first electric train in 1879, and Maybach, Daimler and Benz achieve automotive engineering advances in the 80s.
Chronicle
On 13 April 1889, the metals and mining conglomerate Hoerder Bergwerks- und Hüttenverein, under General Director Joseph Massenez, founded “Rheinische Metallwaaren- und Maschinenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft” to supply munitions to the German Empire. Engineer Heinrich Ehrhardt, from Thuringia, established the factory in Düsseldorf and headed it until 1920.