Rolf Schwartz, Head of Design at Otto Junker GmbH’s branch factory in Gevelsberg, goes into business for himself when that site closed. Establishing schwartz GmbH, he embarks on the manufacture and design of heat treatment systems for steel, aluminum and nonferrous metals.

For the first time, press-hardened steel parts heat-treated with schwartz GmbH’s equipment are integrated into a vehicle.

The company’s headquarters is moved to Simmerath. A two-storey office building with adjoining production shop is erected on the Rollesbroich industrial estate.

Alexander Wilden joins the company as commercial director.

Volkswagen AG awards its first contracts to schwartz GmbH.

The management resolves to enlarge the office and production buildings as the company reaches its capacity limits time and again due to growing order volumes.

In order to speed up delivery to a growing customer base in the Asia-Pacific region, a subsidiary entity trading as schwartz Heat Treatment Systems Asia is founded in Kunshan near Shanghai, PR China. The production of heat treatment systems to German standards is launched here. 

Alexander Wilden becomes the sole Managing Director of schwartz GmbH.

schwartz, Inc. Is founded as a service operation in Oswego near Chicago (Illinois), USA. 

For the first time, schwartz GmbH’s staff complement exceeds 100 people.

Over 80 % of all press-hardened steel components used in cars worldwide are heated in schwartz heat treatment equipment.

schwartz celebrates its 30th business anniversary.

Alexander Wilden takes over the majority of the company.

For its innovation in the field of heat treatment equipment for press hardening, schwartz GmbH receives the AC² Innovation Award of the Aachen region. The newly developed system is capable of producing different closely defined temperature zones in one blank.

The already expanded office building is too small for the growing number of employees, so some departments are relocated to a new office building nearby.

schwartz GmbH is officially acknowledged by the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland) as the global market leader in the field of heat treatment systems for press hardening applications.

schwartz acquires Hütte GmbH in Düren, Germany.

Further extension of production capacities at the headquarters site in Simmerath.

Alexander Wilden becomes sole shareholder of the schwartz group.

Relocation of Hütte GmbH from Düren to Aachen. 

Opening of a new service location of schwartz HTS at Chongqing, PR China.

Opening of another service location of schwartz HTS at Guangzhou, PR China.

schwartz, Inc. moves from Oswego to Naperville (Illinois). In addition to a larger office space, the new location also has its own warehouse for spare parts.

schwartz Heat Treatment Systems Asia opens another service center in Beijing, PR China.

schwartz’s position as global market leader in heat treatment systems for press-hardening applications is again confirmed by the independent World Market Leader Index.

schwartz GmbH expanded its product range with a new business segment in the field of heating systems for the NF metal industry.

Econova GmbH, manufacturer of recuperative burners for industrial heating systems, is now a member of the schwartz group of companies.

schwartz Heat Treatment Systems Asia opens a new production site, the schwartz Gigafactory, in Zhangpu Town Kunshan, P.R. of China.

schwartz celebrates ist 40th business anniversary.

Opening of the service location in Singapore schwartz Service Center Singapore Pte. Ltd.