THE ORIGINS OF INNOVATION:

BERNDORF BAND GROUP’S

JOURNEY FROM FOUNDING

TO THE 1950s

FOUNDING ROOTS: THE BIRTH OF BERNDORF METALWARE FACTORY (1843)

In 1843, industrialist Alfred Krupp and wholesaler Alexander Schoeller founded the Berndorf Metalware Factory in Berndorf, Austria. Krupp, heir to the renowned German manufacturing dynasty, and Schoeller, was a savvy businessman, combining their expertise to establish what would eventually evolve into Berndorf AG – the current parent company of Berndorf Band Group and several other industrial enterprises.

This founding marked the beginning of a legacy built on precision, quality, and industrial foresight. 

POST-WAR INNOVATION: ENTERING THE STEEL BELT INDUSTRY 

Following World War I, the Berndorf Metalware Factory expanded its capabilities to include the production of Steel Belts and Belt Systems. In 1923, the company produced the first Copper Foil Casting Belt, becoming the sole global supplier of copper and nickel film Belts at that time. This milestone marked the company’s entry into a specialized field that would define its future.

NATIONALIZING: A NEW ERA IN AUSTRIAN MANUFACTURING 

In 1957, after the withdrawal of the Russian Army from Austria and the nationalization of former German industrial assets, the Berndorf factory was re-established as a branch of state-owned Vereinigte Metallwerke Ranshofen-Berndorf AG, VMW.  This move brought film production back to Berndorf, reinforcing the town’s role as a hub for industrial innovation.

From its inception in 1843 to the industrial resurgence of the 1950s, Berndorf Band Group established itself as a pioneer in metalware and Steel Belt innovation. These early decades were not just about growth – they were about setting a standard for quality, adaptability, and forward-thinking that continues to define the company today.

The legacy of Berndorf Band Group is just beginning. Stay tuned for part two of our company history series, where we will dive into the global expansion and innovation of the company from the 1960s through the 1990s.