History

Alfred August Wirth - The savior of the IBG

Alfred August Wirth is born on August 6, 1878 in Vienna in Imperial and Royal Austria, where he also studies mechanical engineering. He later becomes a technical advisor to the banking firm A. Schaaffhausen (A. Schaaffhausen'sche Bankverein) in Cologne, advising it on the grant of credits to industrial enterprises.

Logo of the IBG in 1910 When Anton Raky leaves Internationale Bohrgesellschaft on June 30, 1907, the A. Schaaffhausen'sche Bankverein becomes the sole owner and shareholder. As a result of the nationalization of mining and mineral resources in line with a new law, "Lex Gamp" (1907), the deep drilling business - once the foundation of the Internationale Bohrgesellschaft (IBG) - begins to shrink steadily. This law places concessions under state control and drastically reduces the huge profits of the entrepreneurs.

The Bankverein, meanwhile in a financial crisis of its own, decides to part with the IBG. Without further ado, the entire drilling equipment park, worth 3.5 million marks, is sold to Deutsche Erd�l AG (DEA) in 1916.

Portrait of Otto Wolff As the next step, the machine and drilling equipment factory in Erkelenz is also to be closed. But Alfred Wirth strongly objects to this idea. He informs his friend, the iron wholesaler Otto Wolff (1881-1940), and suggests that he take over the works. Thereupon, Wolff, one of the most important iron and steel producers and dealers in the 20th century, buys the firm for 760000 marks on October 1, 1916. Because of its good reputation, Wolff asks for Alfred Wirth's name. Since then, the firm has been called "Maschinen und Bohrger�tefabrik Alfred Wirth & Co. KG", but the firm Otto Wolff has always held the majority shareholding.

Alfred Wirth manages the firm conscientiously for nearly 17 years and successfully maneuvers it through the economic difficulties of the post-war period. Even after the death of Alfred Wirth in 1933, the Erkelenz firm continues to be a credit to his name. In the 1930s, it perfects the rotary drilling technique - originally from the USA - and establishes it as a new drilling method. In its Moscow office, the company also receives an extremely lucrative contract for the supply of 26 drill turbines. And, in 1936, tool joint production is begun.

Post-war period, growth years and integration into the Otto Wolff Group

Final inspection of three roller-cone bits in the mid-50s In the 50s, after painstaking reconstruction of the factory, which was almost completely destroyed in the war, only a few scars still bear witness to the conflict. Meanwhile, the workforce has grown to about 1000. The main business of the firm WIRTH is mineral oil exploration, foundation boring and machine tool construction. At the end of the 60s, a fourth pillar is added, this time with a more "media effective" quality: tunnel boring, with a specialty in hard rock.

It is 1977 when Otto Wolff AG takes over all the shares in the firm and it is finally integrated into the Group. The name of the firm is also changed to "WIRTH Maschinen- und Bohrger�tefabrik GmbH, Erkelenz".

WIRTH is sold

Following the first signs of a crisis in the Otto Wolff Group - which also affects WIRTH's foreign subsidiaries - the Howden Group PLC, Glasgow, takes over the traditional German firm WIRTH in 1989.

Open differences soon occur between the Group management in Glasgow and WIRTH with regard to management style. As a result, WIRTH has an investment ban imposed on it and is forced, in the long term, to reduce personnel. In 1993, only 700 of the former 1200 are left. Four years later, the Howden Group is now itself in crisis and is taken over, together with WIRTH, by Charter PLC, London. But Charter is not interested in the drilling machine business and wants to drop it. That means the possible end of the company in Erkelenz.

The Management Buy-out

Niko Kleuters 2006 Niko Kleuters, who applied to WIRTH GmbH in 1978 after studying agricultural machine construction and, at the age of 25, was appointed as a designer in the tunnel boring machine division, has meanwhile proven himself as managing clerk, department manager, engineer and Technical Business Manager. Charter now faces two alternatives: either WIRTH must be liquidated at great financial cost or the break-up of the firm must finally begin.

Christoph Kleuters 2006 But, suddenly, a third solution emerges and this is presented by Charter Chairman Niko Kleuters. A management buy-out (MBO) is proposed. A short time later, Niko Kleuters, his brother Christoph Kleuters - who, as a self-employed tax and company consultant, already has experience in the restructuring of ailing firms - and Wilfried Kroppen, Manager for Marketing & Sales at that time, take the first step by founding a GbR, a civil association. Charter is prepared to support the project with a bank guarantee.

Wilfried Kroppen 2006 Then, on March 12, 1999, the time comes. The trio and their team actively begin with the consolidation and restructuring of the firm. New orders follow immediately. No wonder, for high quality products from WIRTH still have a top international reputation and are highly regarded worldwide. In the same year, WIRTH takes over the firm Paurat, a manufacturer of mining machinery. This is followed by the takeover of Soltau Microtunnelling in 2001.

New Partner of WIRTH

In August 2007, Aker MH AS - an affiliate of the Norwegian mixed enterprise  Aker Solutions AS - acquired 50 % of the shares of  WIRTH GmbH. Aker Solutions is one of the largest manufacturers of equipment for the oil and gas exploitation offshore, worldwide, and has been one the most important customers of WIRTH for already more than 20 years. This consolidation with a strong partner strengthens the position of WIRTH in the international markets further.

New Ownership

Since 2008, WIRTH International is an Aker Solutions Company!

Today, WIRTH enjoys a first class reputation worldwide as a partner for infrastructure projects, for mining and also as a supplier to the energy industry.