BESSEY history

INDEPENDENT BY TRADITION

The BESSEY Group has maintained its independence as a family-owned company since 1889. This allows strategy and organisation to be coordinated in a direct and clear manner. For the workforce and all stakeholders, this means consistency and preservation of values – all decisions are sustainable and geared towards long-term success. The current shareholders are descendants of company founder Max Bessey. Today, BESSEY sees itself as a family in which the shareholders, management and workforce act as a team. This independent approach still defines BESSEY today and secures the company's unique market position.

The picture shows a section of the 25-strong BESSEY workforce from 1913. The boss, Karl Bessey, is sitting at the table on the bottom left

Company history

1889

THE BEGINNING

Max Bessey founds a bright steel drawing mill in Stuttgart.

1912

NEW GENERATION

Continuation by his nephew Karl Bessey.

1926

FIRST EXPANSION

dr. Ing. Eugen Mayer takes over as managing director and significantly expands the production programme in terms of dimensions and quality.

1928

MARRIAGE

Marriage of Dr. Ing. Eugen Mayer to Erna Bessey, widow of Karl Bessey.

1936

THE BIG BANG

Patents granted for a new type of malleable cast iron screw clamp, marking the start of clamping tool production.

1944

EXPANSION I

Establishment of a branch factory in Bietigheim for the production of clamping tools.

1961

EXPANSION II

Expansion of the plant in Bietigheim and commencement of bright steel production at this location.

1966

GENERATION CHANGE

transition of the company to daughter Dr Erna Fetscher and son Dr Theodor Mayer as managing partners.

1979

EXPANSION OF COMPETENCE I

acquisition of the Ernst Diener scissors factory, thereby expanding the BESSEY product range to include ERDI SCISSORS.

1983

GEOGRAPHICAL CONCENTRATION

Concentration of blank steel production in new production halls at the Bietigheim plant and sale of the site in Stuttgart.

2003

GLOBAL EXPANSION I

acquisition of distribution partners in the strategically important North American market Origin of today's subsidiary: BESSEY Tools North America.

2004

EXPANDING OUR EXPERTISE II

acquisition of the GROSS STABIL clamping tool brand and integration of the product range as part of the global growth strategy.

2023

GLOBAL EXPANSION II

First image film in the history of BESSEY Tool to further global expansion.

2024

ANNIVERSARY YEAR

Our 135th anniversary with an exclusive anniversary clamp.