History of the Company

Prehistory:             In 1942 relocated Rheinmetall – Borsig AG one part of its cardan shaft production to Stadtilm.

After World War II machines were disassembled as reparation.

Manufacturing of trolleys, agricultural machinery etc.

 

11.05.1947             Foundation – Gelenkwellenwerk Thueringen; Landeseigener Betrieb Stadtilm.

Manufacturing of cardan shafts and taper roller bearings.

306 Employees.

 

1948 – 1958           Gelenkwellenwerk Stadtilm (GEWES) was integrated into IFA

(Industrieverband Fahrzeugbau der DDR);

Proprietary development of cardan shafts for vehicle manufacturing.

783 Employees.

 

1959 – 1968           Development and construction of double cardan shafts (e.g. for passenger car “Wartburg”);

Mechanisation and automation of production; Building of new production halls;

approx. 10.000 m² of production area.

1,100 Employees including 200 trainees.

 

1969 – 1979           Company belongs to “IFA – Kombinat Barkas Werke”, later “IFA – Kombinat Nutzkraftwagen”;

Building of further production halls; Development and construction of cardan shafts for HGV (heavy goods vehicle like “W50”), for busses (e.g. “Ikarus”) and tractors (e.g. “Valtra” and “KHD”).

1,500 Employees.

 

1979 – 1989           Development of cardan shafts with long life cycles.

In 1983 VEB Gelenkwellenwerk Haldensleben (837 Employees) was affiliated to GEWES.

1,600 Employees. (Haldensleben not included).

 

1990 – 1993           Company of Treuhand (Trust);

from 01.07.1990 named Gelenkwellenwerk Stadtilm GmbH;

Reorganisation and outsourcing; privatisation efforts.

In spring 1994 GEWES GmbH was privatised within a MBO/MBI – concept

retroactive to November 1993.

Many cardan shaft series were replaced by new developed products and

search of new market.

208 Employees.

 

1994 – 2007           Target-oriented redevelopment of further high-quality production especially in the field

of heavy cardan shaft series; production start further products for drive technology.

Company developed into a fast and reliable supplier of industry sector with

high quality standard;

Achieving of certificates of quality of ISO/TS 16949 basing on DIN EN ISO 9001 and

environmental certificate DIN EN ISO 14001.

Results of audits and approval of all essential ship classification societies

allow the application of products in all sectors of drive technology.

In 2007 GEWES is going to produce and sell goods in the amount of approx.

40 Mio Euro worldwide;

GEWES counts ca. 500 customers in 40 countries.

 

 

19. May 2007         Celebrations on the occasion of the 60th anniversary.

Anniversary celebrations with marquee

GEWES stand at Hannover Fair 2007