Wollschläger Group

The Wollschläger Group (Wollschläger-Gruppe) was a German trading, technical and services company and a systems provider in materials management. Headquartered in Bochum, it was primarily active in wholesale distribution of products for metalworking and metal processing. At its peak the group employed more than 420 people across 15 domestic branches and 27 international locations, and generated revenue of around €300 million in the 2014 financial year. Its product range included roughly 85,000 precision tools and C-parts as well as around 15,000 performance brands. Beyond distribution, Wollschläger offered cost-reduction measures, e-procurement and order-process optimisation, and operated service lines such as equipment rental, calibration, tool management and C-part management. The group also included the Hommel Group, an economically independent sales, consulting and service company for CNC machine tools. The company was founded in 1937 by Heinz Wollschläger in Danzig, re-established in Herne in 1946, and opened its first Bochum branch in 1959, which became its headquarters. Frank Wollschläger, son of the founder, took over the 25-employee business in 1975 and expanded it through acquisitions and new branches in Germany and abroad. The group entered insolvency proceedings on 1 August 2016; a planned takeover by a Danish investor was cancelled shortly before signing in October 2016, all employees were dismissed, and business operations ceased on 30 September 2016.

The Wollschläger Group traces its origins to 1937, when Heinz Wollschläger founded its first branch in Danzig, offering a range of classic hardware as founder and sole employee. In 1946 he founded the Wollschläger company in Herne. The first Wollschläger branch in Bochum, which later became the headquarters, was established in 1959. In 1975 Frank Wollschläger, son of founder Heinz Wollschläger, took over the family business, which then had 25 employees. Shortly afterwards he acquired Franz Aretz Schweißtechnik in Krefeld and Cologne and initiated the relocation of the welding technology division to a larger building in the Harpener Heide in Bochum. Three years later the Bochum Universal Grinding Centre opened. Between 1990 and 1995 the group expanded with branches in Krefeld, Cologne and Mülheim-Kärlich. From 1996 to 1999 Frank Wollschläger established the project department for foreign business and the Herbrechtingen branch. The company also took over Dalhoff in Essen, and Frank Wollschläger introduced the bundling of all company parts at today's Bochum location. The acquisition of Bickenbach in Siegburg and the founding of the Hanover branch and the machine technology division followed in 2000–2002. In 2001, through a partial merger with Camille Gergen & Co. KG, Wollschläger Gergen GmbH & Co. KG was created with headquarters in Dillingen and a branch in Koblenz. In 2003 the equipment rental and industrial service divisions were founded, and the Cologne and Siegburg branches were merged and relocated to Troisdorf. From 2004 to 2005 Siemer-Wollschläger in Hamburg was integrated and renamed, and Hoffmann & Schlage in Munich was acquired. The expansion of the central warehouse in Bochum and the grinding centre followed in 2006. In 2009 the new grinding centre opened on Josef-Baumann-Straße in Bochum, and SAP (ERP, EWM, PI and BI) was introduced. Construction and renovation of the future headquarters at Carolinenglückstraße in Bochum began, and WSG was founded with headquarters in Mülheim an der Ruhr and a branch in Gummersbach between 2009 and 2010. During this period branches were also established in Mannheim, China, Panama and Sweden. In 2012 the new Wollschläger Austria branch opened in Breitenbach am Inn, Austria. In 2013 work began on designing and implementing a data centre at the Carolinenglück site in Bochum to facilitate the relocation of the new central logistics and head office. Under the umbrella of the Service Centre, the company combined its welding technology, rental service and grinding technology business areas from January 2014. The central and welding technology workshops (Bochum and Krefeld) were also consolidated at the new administration and logistics site on Carolinenglückstraße. Wollschläger Gergen GmbH & Co. KG was integrated into Wollschläger GmbH & Co. KG at the end of 2013 and ceased to exist as a separate company. Wollschläger also gained a new partner for tool distribution in Spain, Portugal and North Africa: with Arsam Group from Barcelona, a supplier of cutting tools, Wollschläger entered these markets. At the end of 2014 Wollschläger planned to move its logistics centre to the new premises on Carolinenglückstraße. On 1 August 2016 the company had to file for insolvency. The competent local court in Bochum appointed lawyer Dirk Andres as provisional insolvency administrator. The planned takeover by a Danish investor in October 2016 was cancelled shortly before contract signing and all employees were dismissed. Business operations ceased on 30 September 2016.

• 2016

  Insolvency filing on 1 August; planned Danish takeover cancelled in October; business operations cease on 30 September.

• 2014

  Service Centre combines welding technology, rental service and grinding technology business areas; logistics centre relocation planned.

• 2013

  Wollschläger Gergen GmbH & Co. KG integrated into Wollschläger GmbH & Co. KG; data centre planning begins at Carolinenglück site.

• 2012

  New Wollschläger Austria branch opens in Breitenbach am Inn, Austria.

• 2010

  WSG founded with headquarters in Mülheim an der Ruhr and branch in Gummersbach; branches established in Mannheim, China, Panama and Sweden (2009–2010).

• 2009

  New grinding centre opens on Josef-Baumann-Straße in Bochum; SAP (ERP, EWM, PI, BI) introduced.

• 2006

  Expansion of the central warehouse in Bochum and the grinding centre.

• 2004

  Integration and renaming of Siemer-Wollschläger in Hamburg; acquisition of Hoffmann & Schlage in Munich (2004–2005).

• 2003

  Equipment rental and industrial service divisions founded; Cologne and Siegburg branches merged and relocated to Troisdorf.

• 2001

  Partial merger with Camille Gergen & Co. KG creates Wollschläger Gergen GmbH & Co. KG.

• 1996

  Project department for foreign business and Herbrechtingen branch founded (1996–1999).

• 1990

  Expansion with branches in Krefeld, Cologne and Mülheim-Kärlich (1990–1995).

• 1975

  Frank Wollschläger takes over the 25-employee family business.

• 1959

  First Wollschläger branch in Bochum (later headquarters) is established.

• 1946

  Heinz Wollschläger founds the Wollschläger company in Herne.

• 1937

  Heinz Wollschläger founds the first branch in Danzig.

Systems provider in materials management for metalworking and metal processing, serving industrial and trade customers with a broad range of tools, C-parts and technical services.

• Precision tools

  Approximately 85,000 precision tools and C-parts offered.

• C-parts

  C-parts management and distribution.

• Welding technology

  Welding technology division with workshops in Bochum and Krefeld.

• Grinding technology

  Grinding centre in Bochum.

• Equipment rental

  Rental service division.

• CNC machine tools

  Distributed through Hommel Group.

1. 1Wollschläger Gruppe - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
2. 2Wollschläger Group - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Official websitewollschlaeger.de
4. 4Professionelle M&A Beratung für den Mittelstand in Deutschland - starkpartners - Corporate Finance Beratung für den Mittelstandstarkpartners.de
5. 5Werterhalt durch Strategie und Intelligente Investorenprozesse - starkpartners - Corporate Finance Beratung für den Mittelstandstarkpartners.de