Böllhoff Group

Böllhoff Group is a German international company specialising in joining technology. Founded on 6 January 1877 by Wilhelm Böllhoff as a hardware wholesale business in Herdecke, North Rhine-Westphalia, the company is now headquartered in Bielefeld and remains 100% family-owned, managed by the fourth generation. It describes itself as a competence leader in 360° joining technology, offering a broad portfolio that includes special fasteners, DIN and standard parts, custom-made drawing parts, assembly technology and supply chain solutions. Its products serve industries such as automotive, aerospace, mechanical engineering, railway, medical technology, energy, construction and agricultural machinery, domestic appliances and commercial vehicles. According to its own figures, Böllhoff employs more than 3,300 people and generated revenue of €726 million in 2025, operating at 46 locations with 17 production sites in 26 countries across five continents. The company is known for the HELICOIL® thread insert, for which it acquired a production and distribution licence in 1954, a product family that has shaped its development. Böllhoff continues to expand internationally, with recent central warehouses in Oelsnitz/Vogtland, Germany, and Sainte-Hélène-du-Lac, France, and a management team that since 2023 includes managing partners Wilhelm A. Böllhoff and Michael W. Böllhoff alongside Jens Bunte, Thomas Pixa and Cathrin Wesch-Potente.

Böllhoff Group was founded on 6 January 1877 by Wilhelm Böllhoff (1848–1924) as a national wholesale hardware trader in Herdecke, North Rhine-Westphalia. Wilhelm Böllhoff deliberately chose Epiphany Day to launch his independent business, hoping for an auspicious start. The hardware business initially supplied forges, locksmiths and the mining industry. In 1923, due to the French occupation of the Ruhr, a branch was established in Bielefeld, East Westphalia, which became the company headquarters just two years later. Under the second generation, Josef Böllhoff (1894–1984), who took the helm in 1923, the company specialised in screws, nuts and threaded parts. In 1952, Böllhoff acquired a licence for the production and distribution of HELICOIL® thread inserts and established its first own production facility in Bielefeld. This product family has shaped the company's development like no other. In 1959, Dr Wolfgang W. Böllhoff (born 1934) joined the company, marking the beginning of internationalisation. He led the Böllhoff Group for more than 40 years until 2004, expanding it onto the international stage with the foundation of companies in Brazil (1964) and Mexico (1965), followed by further expansions in Europe (1970s to 1990s) and ventures in Asia. In 2016, Böllhoff expanded its presence in Asia by opening sales offices in Japan and South Korea. In 2019, the company commissioned cross-regional central warehouses in Oelsnitz/Vogtland, Saxony, and Sainte-Hélène-du-Lac, France. Since 2023, the management team has consisted of managing partners Wilhelm A. Böllhoff and Michael W. Böllhoff, along with Jens Bunte, Thomas Pixa and Cathrin Wesch-Potente. Today, Böllhoff Group is a fourth-generation family-owned company, present at 46 locations with 17 production sites in 26 countries across five continents. According to its own figures, it employs more than 3,300 people and generated revenue of €726 million in 2025.

• 2023

  New management team: Wilhelm A. Böllhoff, Michael W. Böllhoff, Jens Bunte, Thomas Pixa, Cathrin Wesch-Potente.

• 2019

  Commissioned central warehouses in Oelsnitz/Vogtland, Germany, and Sainte-Hélène-du-Lac, France.

• 2016

  Opened sales offices in Japan and South Korea.

• 1965

  Foundation of company in Mexico.

• 1964

  Foundation of company in Brazil.

• 1959

  Dr Wolfgang W. Böllhoff joins, beginning internationalisation.

• 1952

  Acquired licence for HELICOIL® thread inserts; first own production facility in Bielefeld.

• 1925

  Bielefeld becomes company headquarters.

• 1923

  Branch established in Bielefeld; Josef Böllhoff takes over leadership.

• 1877

  Founded by Wilhelm Böllhoff as a hardware wholesale trader in Herdecke.

Competence leader in 360° joining technology, offering holistic joining solutions for every industry and application.

• HELICOIL® thread inserts

  Thread inserts for creating strong, wear-resistant threads in soft materials.

• Special fasteners

  Customised fastening solutions for various industries.

• DIN and standard parts

  Standard fasteners according to DIN and other standards.

• Custom-made drawing parts

  Custom-manufactured parts based on drawings.

• Assembly technology

  Assembly solutions and tools for joining components.

• Supply chain solutions

  Logistics and supply chain management services.

1. 1Böllhoff Germany – Competence leader in joining technologyboellhoff.com
2. 2History | Böllhoffboellhoff.com
3. 3360° joining technology – Discover our product portfolio | Böllhoffboellhoff.com
4. 4Patents | Böllhoffboellhoff.com
5. 5Böllhoff Group - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Böllhoff - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org