1937

Founding of the company
On 16th. January 1937, the following entry appears in the Burbach official registry: Fritz Schäfer – manufacture of metal goods of all kinds.
The first products were manufactured in the cellar of the house he lived in.

1948

Relocating the business
The change to series production for transport boxes meant that the original production facilities soon became too small and so operations were transferred to the old “Dorfwiese” (village green) in Neunkirchen-Salchendorf in 1948.

1951

Four brothers all pulling together
The four sons, Hans, Gerhard, Manfred and Theo Schäfer take on the management of the young enterprise in 1951. In addition to their manufacturing operations, they decide to expand the retail business.

1952

The EMW
In December, the EMW, Ironmongers and Hardware Dealers, is founded: “Trading with industrial raw materials and products of all kinds.”

1953

FIX storage box
The innovation: A box with a “peep hole”!
The development and series production of the FIX storage box is not only a mile stone in the company’s history, but an innovation that has left an indelible mark on modern storage logistics today.

1962

The "Pfannenberg"
Take over of the former iron ore mine “Pfannenberger Einigkeit". “Pfannenberg GmbH” is founded.

1963

The EMW
The EMW Steel-Service-Centre relocates to the Pfannenberg site in rebuilt factory halls.

1965

Radiators
The launch of FIX panel radiators.

1970

SCHÄFER WERKE GMBH
The company now operating under the name “SCHÄFER WERKE GMBH” builds an administration building and extensions to the production facilities on the Pfannenberg site.

1970

SCHÄFER SHOP is founded
With the establishment of SCHÄFER SHOP in 1970, a new sales idea is born. As a mail order supplier of equipment for offices, warehouses and workshops, SCHÄFER SHOP gives its customers the opportunity to buy from catalogues. This “shopping from your desk” idea is a great success. The original four-page brochure has since developed into a 1300-page catalogue.

1971

New plant at Betzdorf
Construction of the Betzdorf works for the production of steel furniture for office, workshop and shop floor.

1978

Reusable containers
Market launch of reusable beverage containers with a PU (polyurethane) coating.

1980

Perforated Metal
Production of perforated metal is begun.

1985

Steel Service Centre
EMW is built up into a Steel Service Centre with slitting and lateral slitting lines, geared to the high-grade steel sector.

1995

SUDEX
SCHÄFER WERKE takes over SUDEX – a company producing stainless steel KEGs in Ledec nad Sazavou in the Czech Republic.

1998

SCHÄFER IT-Systems
Production of server and network cabinets is launched under the brand name SCHÄFER IT Systems.

2001

IBC
The Container Systems division expands its range to include IBCs (intermediate bulk containers) of stainless steel for liquid and paste-like substances, solid materials and granulate.

2011

New machine at EMW

An additional slitting line is put into operation and extends the range of products offered by EMW.