Westfalia
Westfalia Mobil GmbH is a company of the automobile industry in the East Westphalian city Rheda- Wiedenbrück and heard since November 2010 to the French Rapido Group, a strategic investor. Previously, it has long operated under the name Westfalia Van Conversion GmbH. Westfalia primarily manufactures motorhomes and had in the 20th century with products such as the Joker and James Cook very much success.
History
On October 1, 1844 Johann Bernhard Knoebel opened a blacksmith shop were built in the horse-drawn carriage. The construction of the railway station of Cologne -Minden Railway Company and the completion of the railway a few years later left him hope to an increased demand for such vehicles. Also shoeing horses - Close to were in the forge - as usual. Carriages were also later in the operation built and imported cars. In 1887 the company was taken over by Wilhelm Knöbel as eldest son. His brother Francis was the paint and the upholstery. This partnership lasted until 1917, then the brothers split. William named his new operation WEKA vehicle and Franz founded the company Westfalia.
In 1927 the company Westfalia first offered on an open box trailer for car and opened a line of products that was very important for the company's rise. To further develop this line also includes developed in 1932 and introduced worldwide ball trailer hitch.
Until 1950, field kitchens, truck bodies, trailers and mobile homes were manufactured in the production halls. This year marks the beginning of a long collaboration with Volkswagen falls. The first result of this collaboration was the " camping box", a box for the VW T1, which made this vacation ready. From 1952 there was also to an awning. In the years to 1958, the box is in continuous comfort improved until it was eventually replaced by completely mobile homes retrofitted VW buses. 1959 was already the 1000. VW conversion to be celebrated. The production figures fell from now on the steady growth of German prosperity in part:
Known models this time were James Cook and Sven Hedin. In a further production line also cabs of the Mercedes -Benz Unimog at Westfalia were produced from 1952 to 1979.
By 1978, the success story of the Joker began. From him until 1987 70.000 vehicles were sold. For many campers, he became the " multi- vehicle ", with whom she also went for shopping or work. In this way, could be dispensed with an additional car and the purchase became at all financially feasible for many households. Later models were the Nugget, the VW California, the Vito Marco Polo, the Vito F and the semi-integrated motorhome on Ford Transit base, the WestVan.
Decline, new start and insolvency
Quarrels in the family owners Knöbel drove the company in 1994 almost to ruin. The announcement by the company management bankruptcy led to violent protests in the workforce. On banners on the A2 motorway they demanded the " release " of the family shareholders. At this time the company Westfalia was market leader in Germany for trailer couplings and the staff was convinced of the future of this product and the associated jobs. There were three managers from the region of East Westphalia ( Gunther Berg, Werner Gehring and Mark Woessner ), which bought up the company with their private funds. The former family owners were resigned by pension payments. The three divisions of the company were converted into their own separate legal entities:
- Westfalia Trailer Group GmbH
- Westfalia Van Conversion GmbH
- Westfalia -Automotive GmbH & Co. KG.
In 1999, the economic situation was stabilized so that a resale of newly formed companies could be considered. The Westfalia Van Conversion GmbH went first to 49% in the possession of Daimler Chrysler. 100 % takeover by Daimler Chrysler was in 2001. A planned relocation to Dusseldorf, which would have originally meant a total loss of about 250 jobs in Rheda- Wiedenbrück, concluded in 2006 between job security agreement between the works council and management could be prevented by a beginning. Add the location to six million euros will be invested. In October 2007 Westfalia Van Conversion by Daimler was sold to Aurelius AG, a Munich-based industrial holding company. It will continue to be produced for Daimler. Since 2009, Westfalia has the sole right to sell the Sprinter James Cook. Except for the Mercedes -Benz Viano Marco Polo motorhomes produced are now marketed through its own dealer network.
In the traditionally profitable business of Westfalia Automotive Towbars occurred with 85 % share of a US- British private equity firm Granville Baird Capital Partners. The remaining 15% equity interest took over the new five-member Management (2 managing director and chief clerk 3 ), with the support of the Reconstruction Loan Corporation (KfW). This funding was leveraged buy-out scheme ( 40 % equity and 60 % debt ) as a basis. The investment volume of Granville Baird alone was 11.7 million euros in 2000. With 385 employees, 110 million euros in sales were generated. The alignment of the investment had to increase a greater export target for the hitherto low export share of 10 % of production.
After the company was renamed in January 2010 CVC Camping Van Conversion, put it on 27 January 2010 to file for bankruptcy .. In November 2010, the French Rapido Group CVC Camping Van Conversion GmbH purchased. After the acquisition, the company was renamed Westfalia Mobil GmbH and has been operating successfully again.