The history of ATB Austria Antriebstechnik AG dates back more than 90 years. Today, the Group ranks among the leading global suppliers of electric drive systems for industrial applications and home appliances.
The ATB Group product range extends from 25W to 25MW and includes standard solutions, customised solutions and design-to-order solutions including complete drive systems for a wide range of applications.
The Company, which includes famous brands such as Schorch, Morley, Laurence Scott and Brook Crompton, currently has ten manufacturing bases – in Spielberg, Welzheim, Moenchengladbach, Nordenham, Leeds, Norwich, Cradley Heath, Tarnow, Subotica and Bor – and employs more than 3,500 people.
Woolong LogoWith a shareholding of 98.93%, WOLONG, the Chinese parent company, is the strategic investor and a strong partner of the ATB Group. The industrial and financial Group WOLONG HOLDING GROUP Co. Ltd. ranks as a top company in China, having received many government business awards, and is one of the leading electric motor manufacturers in the country. Wolong has many years of expertise and works in close cooperation with a number of well-known international companies.
ATB History 1919 - 2012
January 2014
Joint Venture with Wolong Electric for a co-ownership of ATB Wuhan (Motors) Co. Ltd.
November 2012
Formation of ATB Motors (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., China
October 2012
Company name change of ATB Motorentechnik GmbH, Nordenham and Schorch Elektrische Maschinen und Antriebe GmbH, to: ATB Nordenham GmbH, ATB Schorch GmbH
October 2011
Wolong Investment GmbH acquires 99% of the shares of ATB Austria Antriebstechnik AG
March 2011
Disposal of ATB Technologies, Lustenau, Austria
June 2010
Transfer of the shares in Schorch Elektrische Maschinen und Antriebe GmbH and Fabryka Silników Elektrycznych Tamel S.A. to ATB Austria Antriebstechnik AG
June 2010
Formation of ATB RUS OOO, Moscow
January 2010
Disposal of ATB Selni SAS, Nevers, France
July 2007
Acquisition of David McClure, UK. Integration into ATB Morley Ltd.
May 2007
Acquisition of Laurence Scott & Electromotors Ltd. UK – ATB Laurence Scott Ltd., 2006 sales: approx. EUR 19 million
From May 2006
Staged investment in Lindeteves-Jacoberg Ltd., Singapore; Brands: Schorch, Tamel, Brook Crompton, Western Electric
December 2004
Acquisition of Sever Holding International a.d., Subotica; Privatisation – ATB Sever Holding International a.d., Subotica;
2004 sales: EUR 18 million, 2,270 employees
October 2004
Acquisition of Morley Electric Motors Ltd. from private shareholders - ATB Morley Ltd., Leeds
2003 sales: EUR 12 million, 115 employees
April 2004
Acquisition of Brandt Components SAS from Elco-Brandt-Group – ATB Selni SAS, Nevers;
2003 sales: EUR 35 million, 300 employees
February 2003
Acquisition of Thien Group from Rauber – ATB Thien Antriebstechnik GmbH, Rankweil;
2002 sales: EUR 10 million, 100 employees
November 2002
Acquisition of Moeller Antriebstechnik GmbH from Moeller Group – ATB Motorentechnik GmbH, Nordenham;
2001/02 sales: EUR 20 million, 150 employees
December 2001
M. Kovats / C. Schmidt join ATB Beteiligungs GmbH as a result of the take-over of ATB Spielberg & ATB Welzheim by GBI
2001
ATB Beteiligungs GmbH, Vienna, takes over ATB Antriebstechnik AG
1997
GBI GmbH, Vienna, takes over ATB Antriebstechnik AG
1995
Company name change to Flender ATB-Loher Antriebstechnik AG, Welzheim
1992
Flender AG increases its holding in ATB to 84%. ATB AG acquires the majority shareholding of AAT AG in Spielberg/Austria and Loher/Ruhstorf
1989/1990
12,000m² expansion of the Welzheim site and construction of a new 5,000m² manufacturing facility
1989
A. Friedrich Flender AG, Bocholt, takes over the majority shareholding in ATB
1986
ATB shares are listed on the Frankfurt and Stuttgart stock exchange
1985
ATB GmbH is converted into a stock corporation
1982
Formation of ATB, Antriebstechnik G. Bauknecht GmbH. Emerged from the Bauknecht GmbH insolvency. As well as being a production site, Welzheim is now also the location of the head office.
1980
Third expansion of the assembly shops in Welzheim
1976
Bauknecht acquires the majority shareholding of Himmelwerk AG, Tuebingen.
The Spielberg motor factory produces its millionth electric motor.
The company’s founder, Gottlob Bauknecht, dies and his sons Guenter and Gerhard Bauknecht carry on with the management of the company.
1974
The newly constructed small-size motor factory, with a production area of 36,000 m², is commissioned in Spielberg, Austria
1969
G. Bauknecht GmbH celebrates its 50th anniversary
1961
Second expansion of the Welzheim plant – construction and occupation of a further manufacturing site
1952
Construction of the assembly shop above the foundries at the Welzheim plant
1951
Bauknecht introduces his first refridgerator, which is also manufactured in Welzheim. The manufacturing of cooling appliances is later relocated to Calw.
1947
The business employs 1,000 people
1938
Welzheim plant is acquired and manufacture of electric motors established
1932
Gottlob Bauknecht builds a fully sealed electric motor which becomes the prototype for many generations of electric motors
1930
Production of electric motors starts in Stuttgart
1919
Gottlob Bauknecht sets up an electro-technical workshop