Böhler was an Austrian trader for steel. It was founded in 1870 by the brothers Albert and Emil Böhler. Following World War II, the company was nationalized in 1946.[1] It was merged with other Austrian steel companies to form the VÖEST-Alpine AG, before being restructured into a subsidiary of said VÖEST-Alpine AG called Vereinigte Edelstahlwerke (German for 'United Stainless Steel Works'). After considerable losses, the VÖEST-Alpine AG and its subsidiaries were restructured again in 1988. The Böhler companies were merged with Uddeholms AB in 1991, following the acquisition of Uddeholm by VÖEST-Alpine Stahl AG in 1990.[2]