WECO Feuerwerk GmbH

WECO Feuerwerk GmbH, originally founded as Pyro-Chemie Hermann Weber & Co. on 20 September 1948 in Eitorf, Germany, is a manufacturer of pyrotechnic products. The company was established by Hermann Weber and Oskar Drößmar, initially producing sparklers. Over the decades, it expanded its product range to include rockets, firecrackers, and battery fireworks, and grew through acquisitions and international subsidiaries. WECO is headquartered in Eitorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, and according to its own statements, is the market leader in fireworks in Germany and Europe. The company operates in several European countries, including France, Austria, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, through subsidiaries and partnerships. It has faced significant challenges, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to sales bans and financial losses, resulting in the closure of its Freiberg plant in 2021. Despite these setbacks, WECO remains a key player in the European fireworks industry.

WECO Feuerwerk GmbH was founded on 20 September 1948 as Pyro-Chemie Hermann Weber & Co. in Eitorf, Germany, by Hermann Weber and Oskar Drößmar. Initially, the company produced sparklers. Hermann Weber had prior experience working in a pyrotechnic factory in Meiningen since 1925, and with financial backing from his food wholesale business, he established the first manufacturer of entertainment fireworks in post-war Germany with permission from British occupation authorities. The first location was an old brickworks. By 1955, Weber could focus solely on the pyrotechnics business, and by 1964, the Eitorf plant had expanded to 150 employees, with products including rockets and firecrackers. In 1966, Weber handed over management to his adopted son Frank Weber-Picard and Günter Scherzer. The company expanded into Benelux and France, and acquired competitors in Kiel-Holtenau (1968) and Berlin (1969). From 1975, products were distributed via a large warehouse in Nuremberg-Altenfurt, used until 2002. In 1984, Hermann Weber retired, and a new central warehouse was built on 40,000 m² in Eitorf. In 1987, the company was renamed Weco Pyrotechnische Fabrik GmbH, derived from the founders' names Weber and Co. In 1989, WECO acquired Spielzeugpistolen und Amorces-Fabrik Ferdinand Wicke in Hattingen, and in 1991, it acquired a traditional fireworks factory in Freiberg, Saxony, from the Treuhand, which became Sachsen Feuerwerk. In 1997, the first battery fireworks were developed. In 1998, Thomas Schreiber and Dieter Kuchheuser took over management, while Frank Weber-Picard remained as a consultant and sole shareholder until 2003. The company also established SF-Automotive Freiberg, producing pyrotechnic granules for airbag gas generators for Takata Petri GmbH. A quality control and sales office was set up in China due to the large share of Chinese-made fireworks. In 2003, Schreiber and Kuchheuser acquired Weber-Picard's shares through a management buy-out. In 2004, Sachsen Feuerwerk was fully integrated and renamed Weco Freiberg. Between 2005 and 2006, subsidiaries were founded in France (Weco France S.A.R.L.), Austria (Weco Austria GmbH), and the United Kingdom (Weco Fireworks Limited). Marketing efforts increased with sponsorships of VfL Bochum and TSV Germania Windeck. In December 2007, Newco Safety Technologies (NST) was founded in Kiel as a wholly owned subsidiary for safety technology pyrotechnics. In 2010, Liebenwein-Weco Pyrotechnik GmbH was founded in Austria, Weco Suisse AG in Switzerland, and GBV Weco Vuurwerk in the Netherlands. In 2013, WECO introduced Pyromould batteries made from plant fibers, natural starch, and calcium carbonate. During the COVID-19 pandemic, sales bans for New Year's Eve fireworks in 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 led to a loss of 25 million euros in the 2020/2021 fiscal year. 150,000 pallets of fireworks (about 30,000 tons net explosive mass) could not be sold and were stored for two years across 30 halls. In December 2021, WECO announced the closure of its Freiberg plant with 100 employees due to the sales bans. The 550,000 m² site with 194 buildings was no longer economically viable. The workforce decreased from 460 to 218 employees by the end of 2023. For New Year's Eve 2022/2023, fireworks sales were allowed again, and WECO reported better-than-expected sales, reducing high inventory levels.

• Founded as Pyro-Chemie Hermann Weber & Co. in Eitorf by Hermann Weber and Oskar Drößmar.

• Weber was able to give up his food wholesale business.

• Eitorf plant expanded to 150 employees; product range included rockets and firecrackers.

• Hermann Weber handed over management to Frank Weber-Picard and Günter Scherzer.

• Acquired a competitor in Kiel-Holtenau.

• Acquired a competitor from Berlin.

• Distribution via large warehouse in Nuremberg-Altenfurt began.

• Hermann Weber retired; new central warehouse built on 40,000 m² in Eitorf.

• Company renamed Weco Pyrotechnische Fabrik GmbH.

• Acquired Spielzeugpistolen und Amorces-Fabrik Ferdinand Wicke in Hattingen.

• Acquired a traditional fireworks factory in Freiberg, Saxony, from Treuhand; became Sachsen Feuerwerk.

• First battery fireworks developed.

• Thomas Schreiber and Dieter Kuchheuser took over management.

• Management buy-out: Schreiber and Kuchheuser acquired Weber-Picard's shares.

• Sachsen Feuerwerk fully integrated and renamed Weco Freiberg.

• Subsidiary Weco France S.A.R.L. founded.

• Subsidiaries Weco Austria GmbH and Weco Fireworks Limited founded.

• Newco Safety Technologies (NST) founded in Kiel as wholly owned subsidiary.

• Liebenwein-Weco Pyrotechnik GmbH (Austria), Weco Suisse AG (Switzerland), and GBV Weco Vuurwerk (Netherlands) founded.

• Introduced Pyromould batteries made from renewable raw materials.

• COVID-19 sales bans led to 25 million euro loss; 150,000 pallets stored.

• Announced closure of Freiberg plant with 100 employees.

• Fireworks sales resumed; sales exceeded expectations.

Market leader in fireworks in Germany and Europe

• Sparklers

  Initial product of the company.

• Rockets

  Added to product range by 1964.

• Firecrackers

  Added to product range by 1964.

• Battery fireworks

  First developed in 1997.

• Pyromould batteries

  Introduced in 2013, made from plant fibers, natural starch, and calcium carbonate.

1. 1WECO Feuerwerk GmbH - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2WECO Feuerwerk - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org