Robert Bosch GmbH, commonly known as Bosch, is a German multinational engineering and technology company headquartered in Gerlingen. The company was founded by Robert Bosch in 1886 in Stuttgart. Bosch is 92% owned by Robert Bosch Stiftung, a charitable institution.
Bosch's core operating areas are spread across four business sectors: mobility (hardware and software), consumer goods (including home appliances and power tools), industrial technology (including drives and controls), and energy and construction technology.
History
The company's history began on 15 November 1886 as the Werkstätte für Feinmechanik und Elektrotechnik (Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering) in a backyard in Stuttgart-West. A year later, Bosch introduced the first low voltage magneto for gas engines.
From 1897, Bosch began to install better-designed magneto ignition devices in automobiles and became the only supplier of truly reliable ignitions within the industry. In 1902, Bosch's chief engineer, Gottlob Honnold, unveiled a high-voltage magneto ignition system with spark plugs. This product paved the way for Bosch to become a major automotive supplier.
The first factory was opened by Bosch in 1901 in Stuttgart. In 1906, the company produced its 100,000th magneto. In the same year, Bosch introduced the 8-hour day for workers. In 1910, the Feuerbach plant was established and built near Stuttgart. In this factory, Bosch began to produce headlights in 1913.
In 1917, Bosch was turned into a corporation.
Until 1945
In 1926, Bosch began to produce windshield wipers, and in 1927, injection pumps for diesel. Bosch bought the production of gas equipment from Junkers & Co. in 1932. In the same year, the company developed its first power drill and introduced its first car radio.
In late 1933, negotiations began between Robert Bosch AG and the National Socialists on relocating parts of arms production to the interior of Germany. Bosch established two such alternative plants in 1935 and 1937: Dreilinden Maschinenbau GmbH in Kleinmachno near Berlin and Electro- und Feinmechanische Industrie GmbH (later Trilke-Werke GmbH) in Hildesheim. Both plants were used exclusively for the production of weapons. These "shadow factories" were built under great secrecy and in close cooperation with the Nazi authorities. In 1937, Bosch AG became a limited liability company (GmbH).
Bosch's subsidiary Dreilinden Maschinenbau GmbH (DLMG) in Kleinmachno employed about 5,000 people, more than half of whom were forced laborers, prisoners of war, and female concentration camp prisoners, including many women from the Warsaw Uprising. They were to make accessories for German Luftwaffe aircraft. In Hildesheim, a secret plant was built for the entire electrical equipment of the Wehrmacht's tanks, tractors, and trucks. In 1944, 4,290 men and women worked at the Tilke factory, of whom 2,019 were forced laborers, prisoners of war, and military apprentices. During World War II, a total of 2,711 people who were deported to Germany from the occupied countries had to work at the Bosch plant in Hildesheim.
In the final years of the war, no new German tank ever ran without starter elements from the Bosch factory in Hildesheim. Bosch also had a monopoly position in the organization of German Luftwaffe aircraft.
During the war, production was further decentralized, with Bosch producing in a large number of factories and moving parts of its production to 213 plants in more than 100 locations.
The company's founder, Robert Bosch, died on 12 March 1942 at the age of 80.
Angela Martin and Eva Zerwiakowski interviewed several former forced laborers and concentration camp prisoners of Dreilinden Maschinenbau GmbH and Trilke-Werke as part of the Berliner Geschitswerksstatt project, explored the history of the two shadow factories, and several books on the subject and Published exhibitions. In 2016, he published the website z.B. Bosch. Zwangsarbeit im Hildesheimer Wald.
Up to 2000
After World War II, Bosch established a partnership with the Japanese company Denso.
In 1964, the Robert Bosch Stiftung was founded. Bosch established a new development center in Schweberdingen in 1968 and the headquarters moved to Gerlingen in 1970.
In 1981, the company participated on an equity basis in Telefonbau and Normalzeit GmbH, which was renamed Telenorma in 1985 and was fully acquired in 1987. In 1994, this part of the company was renamed Bosch Telecom GmbH.
The company's most relevant inventions until 2000 were the Oxygen Sensor (1976), Electric Motor Control (1979), Traction Control System (1986), Xenon Light for Cars (1991), Electronic Stability Control (1995). Common Rail Direct Fuel Injection (invented by Magneti Marelli) (1997), and further development of Direct Fuel Injection (2000).
In 2000, Bosch sold the private network sector (nowadays, Tenovice and Avaya, respectively).
21st century
In 2001, Bosch acquired Mansmann Rexroth AG, which it later renamed Bosch Rexroth AG. In the same year, the company opened a new testing center in Vattouden near Arjeplog in northern Sweden. A new developing center in Abstatt, Germany came into being in 2004.
In 2002, Bosch acquired Philips CSI, which at the time was manufacturing a wide range of business communications and security products and systems, including CCTV, Congress and, Public Address Systems.
Important inventions over the years were electric hydraulic brakes in 2001, common rail fuel injection with piezo injectors, digital car radios with a disc drive, and cordless screwdrivers with lithium-ion batteries in 2003.
Bosch received the Deutsche Zukunftpreis (German Future Prize) from the German President in 2005 and 2008. In 2008 a new development center was planned in Renningen. In 2014, the first department moved to the new center, while the rest of the department moved in 2015.
In 2006, Bosch acquired Telex Communications and Electro-Voice.
In 2009, Bosch invested approximately 3.6 billion euros in development and research. About 3900 patents are published per year. In addition to increasing energy efficiency by employing renewable energy, the company plans to invest in new areas such as biomedical engineering.
China has developed into an important market and manufacturing base for Bosch. In 2012, Bosch had 34,000 employees and revenue of 41.7 billion yuan (about 5 billion euros) in China.
2012 - Purchased SPX Service Solutions
2012 - Bosch sells its foundation brake activities to KPS Capital Partners, which led to the establishment of Chassis Brake International.
2013 - Bosch announces it will exit its solar business
2014 - Bosch begins negotiations to acquire Red Bend Software.
2014 - Bosch buys 100% of the shares from the former BSH Bosch and Siemens Hausgaret GmbH joint venture (home appliance).
2014 - Bosch receives the 2014 US Smart Partner Award for Physical Security from Ingram Micro Inc.
2015 - Bosch acquires more than 100% of the shares of the former ZF Lenksysteme (Steering Systems) GmbH joint venture (with ZF Friedrichshafen was 50/50).
2015 - Bosch buys CO, Inc., a start-up working on solid-state lithium-ion batteries.
Bosch Packaging Technology becomes Syntegon in January 2020
In June 2021, Bosch christened its newly built semiconductor manufacturing plant, in which it invested $1.2 billion, the largest ever spend on a single project.
Operation
Most of the Bosch Group businesses are divided into the following four business areas.
Mobility Solutions
The Bosch R&D center in Abstatt, Germany is a major site for the development of automotive components.
The business sector accounts for 60 percent of the total sales in 2019. Its main areas of activity are internal combustion engines, powertrain electrification, steering systems, safety, and driver-assistance systems, infotainment technology as well as injection technology, and powertrain peripherals for vehicles. Two-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, repair-shop concepts, and technology and services for the automotive aftermarket.
Specific strategic priorities for the region include transforming powertrains and expanding the business into electrification, automated driving, new electrical and electronic architectures for vehicles, access to adjacent market segments, and the development of additional services.
The new Powertrain Solutions Division was formed effective 1 January 2018 to develop powertrain technology products, regardless of energy source. The new division resulted from the merger of the former Gasoline Systems and Diesel Systems divisions. It provides products for powertrain technology, ranging from gasoline and diesel direct injection to electrified powertrains with battery systems, and in the future, it will also offer fuel-cell technologies.
Brands in this segment include:
Auto Crew
Bosch Car Service
ITK Engineering
Robinaire
HC Cargo
ZyXEL
ETAS
Industrial Technology
In the 2019 business year, the industrial technology business segment generated approximately 10 percent of Bosch Group's total sales. This segment includes the Drive and Control Technology division, whose products include customized drive, control, and linear motion for factory automation, plant construction and engineering, and mobile machinery.
The second division, Packaging Technology, provides process and packaging for the pharmaceuticals and foodstuff industries. Its range includes stand-alone machines, systems, and services. In 2018, Bosch decided to look for a new owner for this business. Bosch's in-house provider of assembly systems, Robert Bosch Manufacturing Solutions GmbH, Stuttgart, remains part of the Bosch Group; Till now, it has been part of the Packaging Technology Division.
In addition, the Bosch Connected Industry business unit, which develops software and carries out Industry 4.0 projects for internal and external customers, has been part of the industrial technology business sector since early 2018.
Bosch Packaging Technology becomes Syntegon in January 2020
Consumer Goods
The consumer goods business sector contributed about 23 percent of Bosch Group's total sales in 2019. Its Power Tools division is a supplier of power tools, power tool accessories, and measuring technology. In addition to power tools such as hammer drills, cordless screwdrivers, and saws, its products also include gardening tools such as lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, and high-pressure cleaners. One of the division's focal points is convenient, high-performance cordless equipment, and increasingly Web-enabled devices and services.
The consumer goods business sector also includes BSH Hausgeräte GmbH, which offers a wide range of modern, energy-efficient, and increasingly connected home appliances. Its products range from washing machines and tumble dryers through refrigerators and freezers, stoves and ovens, and dishwashers to small appliances such as vacuum cleaners, coffee makers, and food processors.
Brands in this segment include:
Dremel
Siemens (under license)
nef GmbH
Gaggenau Hausgerets
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