Our history - our journey through time

100 years – not many people live that long. Not many companies reach this venerable age either – and even if they do, maturity is rarely accompanied by an increase in strength, scope and outlook. In our anniversary year, we are stronger and more visible than ever. We are more internationally oriented than ever before, but we are still very much a family company. We are also living proof that “medium-sized company” and “market leader” is not a contradiction in terms.

(Johannes Winklhofer’s foreword to our 2016 brochure “100 Years iwis")

The company history, and with it the history of the Winklhofer family, is and always has been about moving forward. It is characterized by a relentless determination to advance and develop, rather than to be content with stagnation, complacency and mediocrity.

We were, we are and always will be proud of our commitment to striding ahead – as our history clearly shows. This is why we chose “The journey of those striding ahead” as the central theme of our chronicle and our anniversary year 2016. To this day, “striding ahead” is a fundamental principle and core vision of our company. We never stop – we keep moving ahead on our journey through time….

100 years Drawing

Our journey began long before 1916….

Our 100th anniversary chronicle “Join us on a journey through time…” contains a number of nice stories and accounts of special occasions that we would like to share with you.

 

Today finds us more future-oriented and more innovative than ever before. In strategic and commercial terms, we are constantly looking and moving in the same direction: forwards! Yet after taking a close look at our past, one thing is certain: our history, our heritage, the sum of our experiences, our setbacks and successes, are the guarantee of our stability. These deep roots help us to keep our feet firmly on the ground – and also enable us to reach for the sky.

The journey of those striding ahead

1884
1885 Foundation of Wanderer-Werke
Foundation of Wanderer-Werke

It all began in Chemnitz...

1916
1916 Foundation Johann Winklhofer-Maschinenfabrik
Johann Winklhofer-Maschinenfabrik

Foundation of our company Dec. 7th Johann Baptist Winklhofer (1859 – 1949) in Munich 

1920
1920 Name change to Joh. Winklhofer & Söhne
Name change to "Joh. Winklhofer & Söhne”

The two eldest sons Hans (1887–1933) and Fritz (1888–1972) Winklhofer join.

1922
1922 Production of bicycle chains begins
Production of bicycle chains begins

It all started with bicycle chains...

1933
1933 End of sales activities for Wanderer-Werke goods
End of sales activities

for Wanderer-Werke goods

1934
1934 Introduction Rudolf and Otto Winklhofer
The sons join their father

Dr. Rudolf (1890 – 1977) and Otto (1900 – 1990) Winklhofer

1936
1936 Doubling of production space
Doubling of production space

due to the new building the Albert-Roßhauper-Street.

1937
1937 Production start iwis timing chains
Production start iwis timing chains

for the automobile brands Adlerwerke, BMW, DKW and Hanomag

1945
1945 Shutdown and restart of production
Production resumes

Company is shut down; production resumes on July 26th

1954
1954 First duplex timing chains for Daimler Benz
First duplex timing chains

series starts for Daimler-Benz (Mercedes-Benz 300 SL)

1955
1955 Expansion of industrial chains and participation in the Hanover Fair
Expansion of industrial chain business

and debut as exhibitor at Hannover Messe trade fair

1963
1963 Gerhard Winklhofer joins
Gerhard Winklhofer joins

Gerhard Winklhofer (*1934) joins the company as Assistant to the Technical Director  

1966
1966 End of bicycle chain production
End of bicycle chain production

Focus on automotive and industrial chains

1968
1968 First chain tensioners delivered to Opel
Chain tensioners

First chain tensioners delivered to Opel

1973
1973 Opening of the company kindergarten Kinderkette
Kinderkette

Opening of a company kindergarten called “Kinderkette” for working families

1975
1975 Gerhard Winklhofer takes over as Managing Director
A new era beginns

Gerhard Winklhofer takes over as Managing Director

1984
1984 Award for Vocational Training
Award for Vocational Training

Award for training excellence from Germany’s Federal President Karl Carstens. Prof. Rolf Rodenstock and Gerhard Winklhofer at the award ceremony.

1990
1990 First systems order from the automotive industry
First systems order from the automotive industry

A milestone on the way to the development of timing chain systems

1992
1992 Harmonisation of shareholder structure and transformation into “Joh. Winklhofer & Söhne GmbH & Co. KG”
Joh. Winklhofer & Söhne GmbH & Co. KG

Harmonisation of shareholder structure and transformation into “Joh. Winklhofer & Söhne GmbH & Co. KG”

1993
1993 Foundation of “orwis ketten spol.s.r.o.” as an autonomous production subsidiary in Strakonice
Expansion to Czech Republic

Foundation of “orwis ketten spol.s.r.o.” as an autonomous production subsidiary in Strakonice

1996
1996 Award of the Bavarian Quality Prize
Bavarian Quality Prize

was awarded to iwis for the first time in 1996

1999
1999 Johannes Winklhofer joins as Managing Partner
Johannes Winklhofer joins iwis

Johannes Winklhofer (*1964) joins as Managing Partner

2000
2000 Opening Production facility in Landsberg
Production facility in Landsberg

opens for the production of timing chain systems for the Automotive industry

2005
2005 Landsberg is awarded Factory of the Year
Winner “Factory of the Year” Award

iwis production facility in Landsberg won for 1st time

2006
2006 Acquisition of Flexon Gmbh and expansion of the industrial division
Industry division expands

Acquisition of Flexon GmbH and expansion of the industrial division

2007
2007 Restructuring with 16 subsidiaries
Reorganization

Restructuring as “Joh. Winklhofer Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG“ with a total of 16 subsidiaries worldwide

2009
2009 Production site Nanhui near Shanghai opens
iwis in China

Our production facility Nanhui beginns production of automotive timing chains near Shanghai

2011
2011 Start PVD pin production
Start PVD pin production

First serial use of PVD pins in the automotive division

2013
New production site Suzhou China iwis
Suzhou (China)

New production plant opened

2014
2014 Begin of serial production at the TRITAN coating plant in Landsberg
TRITAN

Begin of serial production at the TRITAN coating plant in Landsberg

2015
2014 Start of chain production in Murray
Start Plant Murray

in the US

2016
2016 100th anniversary of iwis
The next 100 years are to come

iwis celebrates its 100th anniversary

2017
2017 iwis group expands with the acquisition of iwis systemtechnik GmbH in Germany
iwis systemtechnik GmbH

iwis group expands with the acquisition of iwis systemtechnik GmbH in Germany

2018
2018 iwis opens its research and development center in Shanghai
Asian R&D Center founded

Opening of the iwis Research & Development Center in Shanghai

2018
2018 Production site PingHu near Shanghai opens
Production site PingHu near Shanghai opens

with more production space for engine systems near Shanghai.

2018
2018 iwis takes over Unimet
Unimet Group

The corporate group expands: iwis merges the Unimet Group to the corporate iwis group

2020
Congratulation!

50 years smart connect

2020
40th anniversary

Wilnsdorf location celebrates its jubilee

2020
Plant Landsberg

Our Champion Production Plant at the Lech celebrates 20 years!

2020
New iwis plant

Our Romanian location for automotive systems in Oradea was founded

2021
View of the Soehnergroup building in Schwaigern, Germany
Soehnergroup

The corporate group expands: iwis merges the Soehnergroup to the corporate iwis group

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