The Company

Shaping the Future through the Past

Today Bosch Rexroth, with its Headquarters in Lohr am Main, offers a complete range of all leading drive, control and motion technologies that is unique world-wide. Components, systems and tailor-made solutions are used in countless branches of industry, for example in the automobile industry, the printing and paper industry, and in food and packaging. The components are used among others in construction and agricultural machinery, wood processing machinery and machine tools.
Bosch Rexroth’s power of innovation originates from its continuously developing know-how and experience in industry that spans about 200 years.

The beginnings
When in 2001 Mannesmann Rexroth AG and the automation technology business unit of Robert Bosch GmbH merged, the competencies of two companies came together, both rich in tradition and big names in business history.
Rexroth’s origins go back to 1795. In Elsavatal (Spessart), Georg Ludwig Rexroth put into operation a hammer mill. This hammer mill obtained its motion energy through water power and at the time was considered one of the most powerful of its kind in this area. After the take-over of the Stein’schen Eisengießerei iron foundry in Lohr in 1850, Lohr became the headquarters of the company. Strategically well located in the Main valley, it offered good connections to the German railway network that was then being built.
In 1886 Robert Bosch opened its first workshop for fine mechanics and electro-technology in Stuttgart and in doing so laid the foundations for Robert Bosch GmbH, as we know it today.

The milestones
Initially Rexroth was an iron foundry specialist. Around the year 1930 the company developed a cupola furnace with which it was possible to achieve casting of outstanding quality. After the war, Rexroth was producing mainly iron goods.
During this time, Bosch was active in a different production branch. High-voltage magnetos and spark plugs were among the company’s main products.

First parallels
In 1952/53 Rexroth began its activities in the field of hydraulics. In 1953 Bosch also starting producing hydraulic systems and in 1964 acquired the company RB Maschinenbau Murrhardt GmbH, active in the market of components for industrial hydraulics and pneumatics.
There were other stages in the process, which illustrate how the activities and competencies of these two companies were brought closer:
In 1965, for example, with the take-over of Indramat GmbH in Lohr, Rexroth entered the area of electric control technology. Three years later, Mannesmann AG became shareholder of Rexroth and in 1972 another company joined Mannesmann Rexroth, Hydromatik GmbH of Elchingen, manufacturer of axial piston pumps and motors.
In 1969 Bosch set up a technical center for hydraulics in Schwieberdingen, commencing in 1972 with the manufacture of radial piston pumps.

Formation of the business units during the mid-1970s
During the mid-70s the business units began to form which eventually, in 2001, would grow together as Bosch Rexroth. At Bosch this was the business unit of Industrial Equipment, predecessor to Automation Technology. In 1976 Rexroth took over Brueninghaus GmbH in Horb which manufactured axial piston pumps and motors. In 1975 Rexroth became a 100 percent subsidiary of Mannesmann. 1977 also saw the acquisition of Lohmann und Stolterfoht GmbH of Witten, a manufacturer of power transmissions, clutches and couplings.

Other significant stages
In 1987 Mannesmann Rexroth extended its program to the area of linear technology by acquiring Deutsche Star GmbH of Schweinfurt, and in addition to this, established the pneumatics business unit in 1989.
At this stage Bosch was also combining and intensifying its know-how. The “Automation Technology” business unit was founded in 1996, through the merging of the areas of “Industrial Equipment” and “Hydraulics/Pneumatics”. In 1997 Bosch integrated the product area “Tightening and press-fit systems” into the “Automation Technology” business unit.

The merger
In May 2001, Bosch Rexroth became a 100 percent subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH. This was the result of the merger of the Bosch Automation Technology business unit of Robert Bosch GmbH with Mannesmann Rexroth AG. From the very beginning importance was attached to a clear sense of direction: The company resolved to use a single brand strategy and to combine all its products under the name of Rexroth. In doing so, Bosch Rexroth was underlining the fact that as The Drive & Control Company, it can now offer all technologies from a single source.

Innovation born out of customer needs and Rexroth know-how
Bosch Rexroth combines a strong innovative spirit with a wide range of know-how in the various technologies. Our engineers work in close cooperation with those who use our machines, right from the initial idea through to its realization. This forms the basis for numerous important innovations, including the first hydraulic control system with integrated closed loop control system (HNC 100), shaftless drive technology for printing machines, electropneumatic pressure control valves, and automotive drive and anti stall control (DA) in closed loop hydraulic systems.
The company is investing more than the industry average in research and development, with a special focus on employing and training young people, and on working closely with universities and research facilities all over the world.

Realignment
In July 2010, Bosch Rexroth was restructured according to market segments and industries in reaction to changes in the markets. The company is now structured into three business units: Mobile Applications, Industrial Applications and Renewable Energies.