Robert Bosch GmbH

Robert Bosch GmbH is a German company which was started in 1886 by Robert Bosch.

Bosch businesses include:

Parts and systems supplier for the automotive industry
Manufacture of consumer goods (power tools, home appliances)
Industry and building services engineering
Packaging technology
Safety engineering

Bosch is a leading global supplier of automotive and industrial technology and of consumer goods and building technology. The Bosch Group comprises some 280 subsidiary companies. The objectives of the Bosch Group's activity are sustained profitable growth and the safeguarding of its independence which allows it to pursue long-term strategies. In 2005, worldwide sales of the Bosch Group came to 41.5 billion euros. The number of associates employed around the globe in the three business sectors Automotive Technology, Industrial Technology, and Consumer Goods and Building Technology in 2005 came up to approximately 251,000.

The headquarters of Bosch is in Stuttgart. Franz Fehrenbach became chairman on July 1, 2003.

Ownership

The Robert Bosch Stiftung ("Robert Bosch Foundation") holds 92% of the shares of "Robert Bosch GmbH", but no voting rights. The Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG ("Robert Bosch Industrial Trust KG") (old members of the company management, agents of the Bosch family and other eminent people from the industry such as Jürgen Hambrecht (CEO of BASF) have 93% of the voting rights, but no shares. The remaining shares and voting-rights are held by the descendants of the company founder Robert Bosch.

Arrangement of the company

Automotive engineering

Bosch's largest business sector is the automotive technology sector, which generated about 63% of the revenue in 2005. This business sector comprises of: Gasoline Systems and Diesel Systems with the core products injection and motor management, Chassis Systems Brakes, Chassis Systems Control, Energy and Body Systems (alternators, starter motors), Car Multimedia (Brand: Blaupunkt), Automotive Electronics (control units and semiconductor elements), Automotive Aftermarket (spare parts) and Steering Systems.

Bosch was the world's largest automotive supplier in terms of sales for the first time in 2004. In 2005, this business sector generated sales of 26.3 billion euros.

Industrial Technology

Bosch's subsidiary Bosch Rexroth is a supplier of industrial technology. Through this division, Bosch supplies technologies for driving, controlling, and moving machines. These technologies serve Bosch's two core markets – factory automation and mobile hydraulics. Bosch's packaging technology division plans, designs, manufactures and installs packaging lines for manufacturers of confectionery, food, and similar products. Bosch is the largest supplier of packaging technology.

Consumer goods and power tools

Bosch caters to the areas of consumer goods and building technology with its power tool, thermotechnology, and security systems, as well as with its household appliances business within the BSH Bosch and Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH joint venture.

With its brands Bosch, Skil, Dremel, and RotoZip Bosch manufactures power tools for the building trade, industry, and do-it-yourselfers. The product range also includes accessories such as drill bits and saw blades, as well as gardening appliances.

In thermotechnology, Bosch has meanwhile begun manufacturing heating units and hot water appliances.

BSH Bosch and Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH, in which Bosch and Siemens each hold a 50% share, is one of the world's top three companies in the household appliances industry. In Germany and western Europe, BSH is the market leader. Its portfolio includes the principal brand names Bosch and Siemens, the Gaggenau, Neff, Thermador, Constructa, and ufesa brands, and a further six regional brands. Bosch household appliances for the North American market are mainly manufactured at its factory near New Bern, NC. Its competitors include Viking Range, Sub-Zero Refrigerator, Wolf Appliance (a division of Sub-Zero Refrigerator), Dacor, and Miele.

Bosch also supplies electronic security systems.

History

1886	Opening of Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering in Stuttgart on 15 November
1887	First low voltage-magneto from Bosch for Gasoline Engines
1897	First low-voltage magneto ignition for motor vehicle engines
1901	First plant in Stuttgart
1906	Production of 100.000. magneto ignition
1906	Introduction of 8-hours working day
1910	Opening of plant in Stuttgart-Feuerbach
1913	Start of production of headlights
1926	Start of production of Windshield wipers.
1927	First diesel fuel injection pump
1932	Birth of the Junkers & Co.
1932	First drill from Bosch
1932	First Blaupunkt car audio
1936	First diesel fuel injection pump for passenger cars like Mercedes-Benz 260D
1942	Death of the company founder Robert Bosch on 12 March
1964	Robert Bosch Foundation
1965	Worcester Bosch Group opens in England
1970	Company headquarter moves to Gerlingen
1976	First oxygen sensors
1978	Worldwide first anti-lock braking system (ABS)
1979	First electronic control unit (MOTRONIC)
1986	Traction control system (TCS) on the market
1995	First Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
1997	Common rail diesel fuel injection
2000	DI-Motronic gasoline direct injection system
2003	Acquisition of Buderus AG
2003	Digital car radio with MP3 drive and digital recorder (Blaupunkt)
2004	Third-generation common-rail diesel injection for cars, with piezo injectors
2004	Bosch opens new Technology Center in Abstatt

External links