HISTORY

BORBET FAMILY BUSINESS: PERFECT SYMBIOSIS OF TRADITION AND MODERNITY 

Founded in 1962 by Peter Wilhelm Borbet, the family-owned company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of light alloy wheels and has five sites in Germany and one each in Austria and South Africa. The focus is clearly on Germany as a production location and guarantees quality products "Made in Germany". In 2019, Mrs Margot Borbet, wife of company founder Peter W. Borbet, took over the general power of attorney. Since then, as Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of the BORBET Foundation, she has steered the fortunes of the BORBET (Group) with its more than 4,000 employees (m/f/d) together with a team of managing directors and plant managers.

2024 - 2015

2024

  • Investments at the Medebach site: BORBET is building a new warehouse and dispatch hall. In addition, another paint shop and a high-gloss turning center are being built to further optimize production processes and increase efficiency.


  • Burkhard Plett becomes CEO at BORBET. Mr. Plett has many years of experience in the international automotive and aluminium industry and has already worked successfully at BORBET. Ms. Margot Borbet will withdraw from the operational business in future and concentrate fully on her duties as a member of the BORBET Foundation Board and Chairwoman of the Foundation Board.
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2021

Female power in the family business:  
Ms Margot Borbet, General Representative of BORBET (Group) since 2019, has been appointed as an additional Managing Director of BORBET GmbH at the main plant in Hallenberg-Hesborn with immediate effect.

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2019

  • Mrs Margot Borbet takes over the general power of attorney of BORBET (Group) 

  • Expansion of BORBET Thüringen GmbH to include the pad printing centre
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2018

Expansion and modernisation of the BORBET South Africa production facility, in particular the paint shop, finishing and part of the mechanical processing areas as well as the final inspection and packaging station
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2017

At the main plant in Hallenberg-Hesborn, the tool shop for the entire BORBET (GROUP) and the training area of 1,130 square metres are expanded
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2016

Commissioning of BORBET Sachsen GmbH in Kodersdorf.
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2015

  • Foundation and ground-breaking ceremony of BORBET Sachsen GmbH in Kodersdorf, Saxony 

  • Introduction of pad printing 

  • Expansion of BORBET Thüringen GmbH to include a fully automated high-bay warehouse 

  • Modernisation of the test field in Hallenberg-Hesborn


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2014 - 2001

2013

BORBET is honoured by two customers at once:  PSA Peugeot Citroen with the "Supplier Award" and Volkswagen AG with the "VW Group Award"
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2012

BORBET celebrates its 50th anniversary and is honoured as "Brand of the Century" by Deutsche Standards EDITIONEN GmbH

The expansions in Bad Langensalza are completed, making BORBET Thüringen GmbH the largest production facility for light alloy wheels in Europe

New development and introduction of the ExaPeel lasering process at the Hallenberg-Hesborn site.
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2010

Introduction of FlowForming technology at the Thuringia site, which makes it possible to significantly increase the strength of the wheels while maintaining the same low material usage and weight.
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2010

Completion of the production expansion at the main plant in Hallenberg-Hesborn.
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2007

The ground-breaking ceremony for the expansion of production in Hesborn is linked to a complete reorganisation. This investment secures the future of the Hesborn site.
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2006

Award of the Federal Cross of Merit for special services to Peter Wilhelm Borbet
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2003

  • Construction and commissioning of the BORBET Thüringen Bad Langensalza plant 

  • Takeover of AWI South Africa in Port Elizabeth, now BORBET South Africa

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2001

Completion of the second construction phase of the Medebach / Hochsauerland plant.
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2000 - 1978

1998

Construction and commissioning of the first section of a new plant in Medebach, Hochsauerland, including as a paint shop and dispatch centre 
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1996

Takeover of Austria Aluguss in Ranshofen/Austria, today BORBET Austria GmbH 
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1989

Takeover of CW-Fahrzeugtechnik in Niederneuching near Munich, today BORBET Vertriebs GmbH 
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1987

  • BORBET A, the legendary classic and cornerstone for the specialised trade and the brand.

  • Construction of the new paint shop and offices in Hallenberg-Hesborn.


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1982

 Foundry in Hallenberg-Hesborn
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1981

Expansion at the Hallenberg-Hesborn site
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1979

Wheel production Mechanical processing at the Hallenberg-Hesborn site.
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1978

 The subsidiary plant in Hesborn becomes an independent company, BORBET GmbH. 
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1977 - 1960

1977

The Borbet brothers recognise the potential of a new product category and start manufacturing light alloy wheels to customer order. 
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1973

Rüdiger Borbet (*1943), graduate engineer in foundry science (RWTH Aachen, 1965-1971) and brother of Peter Wilhelm Borbet, joins the company as assistant to the management. 
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1970

One of the first Dimo casting machines is delivered to Hallenberg-Hesborn. 
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1969

The first major investment. An expansion of the existing production hall in Hallenberg-Hesborn. 
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1963

The beginnings of BORBET as a sand foundry in Hallenberg-Hesborn.
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1962

  • Peter Wilhelm Borbet founds the current company headquarters in Hallenberg-Hesborn / Hochsauerland. Production of sand, permanent mould and later low-pressure die castings 


  • With only five employees at the beginning, he starts the production of clutch housings, oil pans and rolling stamps made of light metal by sand casting and gravity die casting.

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1961

After his return from the USA, Peter Wilhelm Borbet founds a branch of the family business in Hallenberg-Hesborn, Hochsauerland, where the company is now headquartered.
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1960

After Peter Wilhem Borbet graduated as an industrial clerk (1957) in his father's company and continued to work in the foundry, Peter emigrated to the USA. 
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1959 - 1881

1954

Peter Wilhelm Borbet (*1936), Wilhelm's son, joins his father's company. He initially attends the company's own training workshop.
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1949

The BORBET Altena workforce in 1949 with company boss Wilhelm Borbet (2nd from right) 
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1928

Wilhelm Borbet expands production to include aluminium sand casting.
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1881

Gustav Borbet founds the company BORBET as a brass foundry in Altena, Westphalia. 
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