The history of the BWF Group
How it all began and where we stand today
A lot has happened in 125 years of company history. How did we begin with wool felt and end up producing plastic profiles and industrial filter media? What has happened since 1892? Here, we share our story with you.
Five generations - 125 years
The "Bayerische Wollfilzfabriken KG Offermann, Zeiler, Schmid & Co. KG Offingen Hof" (BWF) came about as the result of a merger between two felt factories in 1962. One was founded in 1892 by Theodor Wilhelm Schmid and his partners in Hof; the other in 1896 in Offingen by the entrepreneurs Silbermann and Lembert. In 1912, Johann Offermann takes over Lembert's shares. Until the merger, both companies are mainly active in felt production.
In 1956, the first "Plexigum" plastic profile is produced by means of extrusion. It is the start date for BWF Profiles . With the founding of BWF Envirotec in 1968, the company becomes Europe's first manufacturer of filter media.
In the decades leading up to the turn of the millennium, the company successfully expands into the USA, Italy and China. The establishment of international production facilities in Turkey, India, Russia, Austria, South Africa and Poland has marked the last two decades of the BWF Group, which today is in its fourth and fifth generation of family ownership.
Overview of BWF Group milestones
from 1892 until today
2021
Change in the Management Board
After 37 years Stefan Offermann will hand over his operational tasks to Maximilian Offermann and Dr. Philipp von Waldenfels with effect from January 1, 2021.
125th anniversary of the BWF Group.
Revenue 2020: approx. € 260 million
Employees: 1,800
from left to right: Maximilian Offermann, Stefan Offermann, Dr. Philipp von Waldenfels
2019
Another production site in Germany
Acquisition of the company HEY-SIGN GmbH in Meerbusch / Düsseldorf; manufacture and design of felt products in the field of interior design and lifestyle.
2018
The next generation takes over
Maximilian Offermann, 5th generation, becomes a Managing Director | Partner.
Innovation as a corporate value: On 1 September 2018 innotec - the new, independent division for innovation management at BWF Group - officially begins its work.
The Company restaurant 'Johann's' is completely renovated and re-opens.
from left to right: Dr. Philipp von Waldenfels, Maximilian Offermann, Stefan Offermann
2017
New production sites in South Africa and Poland
Founding of BWF Envirotec, South Africa.
Acquisition of Orwat Filtertechnik in Poland and Germany by BWF Envirotec.
2016
The 5th generation joins the company
After 34 years, engineer Wolfgang Schmid hands his position on to Dr. Philipp von Waldenfels. The company name changes from BWF Offermann, Schmid & Co. KG to BWF Offermann, Waldenfels & Co. KG.
120th anniversary of the BWF Group.
Jack Filter Entstaubungstechnik becomes BWF Envirotec, Austria.
from left to right: Dr. Philipp von Waldenfels, Dr. Wolfgang Schmid, Stefan Offermann
2010
New production site in Russia
Founding of LLC BWF Envirotec in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation.
2008
New production site in India
Foundation of BWF Tec India Pvt. Ltd. in Pune, India.
2005
New production sites in Turkey and Italy
Founding of BWF Endüstri Filtreleri ve Teknik Kece Ltd. sti. in Izmir, Turkey.
Acquisition of BWF FTI S.p.a..
2001
Founding of BWF Profiles, China
Start of production for BWF Profiles in the People's Republic of China.
1996
BWF Group's first production site in China
Founding of BWF Environmental and Industrial Technology Wuxi Co. Ltd. in the People's Republic of China.
1990
Felt for the fashion industry
Acquisition of BWF facol s.r.l., Milan, Italy; manufacture of high-quality undercollar materials for menswear.
1989
BWF Group conquers a new continent
Founding of BWF America Inc. in the USA; filter bag manufacture.
1988
Production of thermoformed and injection-moulded parts
Acquisition of tkt GmbH & Co. KG, Geretsried; manufacture of thermoformed and injection-moulded parts.
1975
BWF Group goes international
First foreign subsidiary BWC Textiles Ltd., founded in Upperlands, Northern Ireland; production of filter media.
1968
Founding of BWF Envirotec
as the first manufacturer to introduce needle felts as a filter medium.
1962
Felt factory merger
The two felt factories in Offingen and Hof merge to form the "Bayerische Wollfilzfabriken KG Offermann, Zeiler, Schmid & Co. KG Offingen Hof," with headquarters in Offingen.
1956
Founding of BWF Profiles
Diversification: The first "Plexigum" plastic profile is produced by means of extrusion.
1912
Councillor of Commerce Johann Offermann
acquires the Lembert shares of the Offingen felt factory.
1896
Founding of the felt factory in Offingen
by the entrepreneurs Johannes and Wilhelm Lembert and Franz Baptist Silbermann.
1892
The company "Wunnerlich, Schmid & Co." is founded
in Hof by Theodor Wilhelm Schmid, Robert Wunnerlich and Otto Franck. Felt production begins in 1902.