© M. Nies/Agentur Format78 GmbH
© vanilla-kommunikation.de
The success story of today’s international Goldschmidt Group begins in 1895 with the invention of the Thermit® process by the chemist and pioneer of the railroad, Professor Hans Goldschmidt. He had succeeded in making the reduction of metal oxides with aluminum powder technically applicable.
Hans Goldschmidt (1861-1923) is the second son of Theodor Goldschmidt and Johanna Sophie Luise Goldschmidt (born Koner). He went to high school in Altenburg and studied chemistry from 1882, first in Berlin and then, like his older brother Karl Goldschmidt, at the University of Heidelberg, where he received his doctorate in 1886. After completing his doctorate, he took over the management of the father’s company “Chemische Fabrik Th. Goldschmidt”. The Thermit® process he developed in 1895, which made it possible to easily produce carbon-free metals such as iron, chromium and manganese, is still considered a standard procedure for welding railway and tram rails that is unsurpassed in quality worldwide.
© M. Nies/Agentur Format78 GmbH
© vanilla-kommunikation.de
The expansion years
1901 to 1917
World War I and comeback
1918 to 1938
World War II and return to the world market
1939 to 1950
Internationalization
1951 to 1959
Rise of a global player
1960 to 1979
Expansion of the group
1980 to 1989
After the reunification
1990 to 1999
Inventive spirit and innovation
2000 to 2009
A success story for over 120 years
2010 to 2015
The early years (1847 to 1900)
1847
Theodor Goldschmidt establishes the “Chemische Fabrik Th. Goldschmidt” in Berlin, Germany. Initially, the factory mainly supplied preliminary products for textile processing, including preparation salt, dextrin, chlorinated lime, tin salt and chlorine tin. The main customer was the Kattun printing company R. Goldschmidt & Sons, relatives of Theodor Goldschmidt.
1875
The company founder Theodor Goldschmidt passes away.
1882
After receiving his PhD in chemistry Karl Goldschmidt takes on sole management responsibility for the time being of the Chemische Fabrik Th. Goldschmidt company.
1888
For about 30 years the brothers Karl and Hans Goldschmidt share responsibility for the company – Karl Goldschmidt as entrepreneur and politician with a social conscience and Hans Goldschmidt as a chemist who promotes technical development.
1889
Relocation of the “Chemische Fabrik Th. Goldschmidt” to Essen, Germany.
1895
The imperial patent no. 96317 marks the start of a real success story. Prof. Hans Goldschmidt develops the aluminothermic process – the basis for the Thermit® process for the continuous welding of railway tracks.
1896
Implementation of a company health insurance fund.
1897
Implementation of a staff pension fund.
1899
Goldschmidt is awarded the first patent in the area of track welding with patent DRP 116400 for aluminothermic butt welding.
The first track welds with Thermit® are made for the Essen tramways.
From 1899 the Thermit® business became the second pillar of the Goldschmidt company after tinplate removal. It made a lasting contribution to the internationalization of the company because the welding business was always carried out globally “on site”.
1900
The “Allgemeine Thermit-Gesellschaft” company is founded to market the Thermit® process.
Registration of the THERMIT® trademark.
The expansion years (1901 to 1917)
1902
The “Allgemeine Thermit-Gesellschaft” company has its own generous exhibition pavilion at the famous Düsseldorf industrial and commercial exhibition. The company receives a gold medal for the aluminothermic process.
1904
Foundation of Thermit Ltd. in London, Great Britain and Goldschmidt Thermit Co. in New York, USA.
The first track welds with Thermit® are made on the Hungarian state railway in Budapest. These represent the first known welds carried out on railway tracks.
1906
Société Anonyme de l‘Aluminothermit founded in Paris, France, with C. Delachaux as the first managing director.
In Jersey City, USA, Goldschmidt Thermit Co. sets up a factory to produce welding materials.
1907
Registration of the first graphic symbol for Thermit® in Germany.
1909
Australian Thermit Co. founded in Sydney, Australia.
In Tokyo, Japan grooved rails used for trams are welded with the Thermit® process.
1911
The Chemische Fabrik Th. Goldschmidt becomes a joint stock company (AG).
1915
On the Seetalbahn tramway in Switzerland, a longer section of track with a length of about 1,000 m is welded for the first time. The welds prove a success and even in 1924 the welds still show no signs of wear.
World War I and comeback (1918 to 1938 )
1918
After the end of World War I, all of the companies abroad are lost.
1919
Elektro-Thermit GmbH founded in Berlin, Germany.
1922
Elektro Thermit GmbH is now completely owned by the Th. Goldschmidt AG company and the company is now based in the Colditzstraße in Berlin-Tempelhof.
The Chemische Fabrik Buckau AG company is acquired and through this also the plant in Halle Ammendorf, Germany.
1923
Theo Goldschmidt takes over the position of Chairman of the Board of the Goldschmidt AG from his father Karl Goldschmidt.
1925
Establishment of switch construction by Elektro Thermit GmbH, which ended in 1989.
1928
The Deutsche Reichsbahn approves the Thermit® welding process as a standard welding process for track.
Th. Goldschmidt AG acquires an interest in Elektro-Schweißwerk Ing. P.C. Wagner in Vienna, Austria to make the first Thermit® foreign investment after World War I.
1932
For the first time, railway tracks over a length of 1 km are continuously welded using the Thermit® welding process. This is the way to the continuously welded track of today.
1935
In Argentina the Roca railway line is the first railway in South America where railway track is welded using the Thermit® welding process.
World War II and return to the world market (1939 to 1950)
1943
The Thermit® facility in Essen is mainly destroyed in a bombing raid. To compensate for this in November of the year a new Thermit® production facility is opened in Halle Ammendorf, Germany.
1945
From 1945 the Thermit® welding process becomes the standard welding process for the tracks of nearly all railway organizations worldwide.
1946
The plant at Halle Ammendorf in the Soviet occupied area of Germany is impounded by the authorities along with all of its Thermit® production.
1949
The Elektro-Thermit GmbH company is founded in Essen, West Germany. The existing Elektro-Thermit GmbH company in Berlin from now on concentrates exclusively on switch production and the business of rail welding in Berlin.
1950
The Goldschmidt AG acquires an interest in Thermit Italiana in Milan, Italy.
The Thermit® process is used for the first time in Brazil within the scope of a license contract with Monas Ltda in Rio de Janeiro.
Internationalization (1951 to 1959)
1951
Goldschmidt AG participates in the founding of India Thermit Corp., India.
1952
Goldschmidt AG participates in the founding of Thermit do Brasil, Rio de Janeiro.
A subsidiary of Elektro-Thermit GmbH is founded in in Vienna, Austria.
1953
The Elektro Thermit GmbH exhibits at the groundbreaking trade fair “Rail and road” in Munich.
E.T. Argentina is founded in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Patent for the Ellira® welding repair process.
1954
Elektro-Thermit GmbH has a spectacular mission in Berlin: On November 22nd the annealed steel dome of the Berlin Reichstag building is welded through with Thermit® charges, which then falls into the former (and current) plenary hall. A conventional demolition would have caused irreparable damage to the old building.
1955
Patent for the SmW fast Thermit® welding process.
1957
The fast Thermit® welding process SmW becomes the standard welding process on the German railways.
1959
Thermit Welding founded in Rainham, United Kingdom.
E.T. Mexicana founded in Mexico.
Rise of a global player (1960 to 1979)
1960
Full acquisition of E.T. Argentina.
Merger of P.C. Wagner KG and branch office of Elektro-Thermit GmbH to become P.C. Wagner Elektrothermit Schweißgesellschaft, Vienna, Austria.
Since 1945 approximately 19,900 km of rails have been joined using Thermit® welding around the world.
1961
Introduction of the Thermit® SoW welding process.
1967
Orgotherm (for Original Goldschmidt Thermit), Inc. founded in Chicago, USA.
1970
Patent issued for the MT insulated joints. In the same year the hydraulic weld trimmer is introduced.
1971
Patent for the Thermit® SkV welding process and Eteka5® welding repair process.
1972
The Thermit® SkV welding process becomes the standard welding process with the Deutsche Bundesbahn and many other railway organizations worldwide.
1975
After reacquisition of the Thermit® brand rights in the USA and the acquisition of Thermex Metallurgical Inc. including all existing production locations, US Thermit Inc. is founded in Lakehurst, USA. For the time being Orgotherm Inc. remains independent.
1976
Acquisition of Thermitrex in Johannesburg, South Africa by Thermit Welding.
1978
The separate Thermit® companies in Essen and Berlin are given a single management.
1979
Patent of the Riflex® welding repair process.
Expansion of the group (1980 to 1989)
1981
In January, after a construction process of 18 months, the completely renovated production facility at Lakehurst starts operation.
1982
Introduction of the ATS-ER automatic tapping thimble.
1983
Complete takeover of Orgotherm Inc.
In Brazil a new Thermit® production facility starts operation.
1984
Orgotherm Inc. merges with US Thermit Inc. to become Orgo-Thermit Inc.
1986
Thermit Australia is founded.
Thermit Australia acquires the existing Thermit® business of Steel Mains Ltd. which goes back to the Goldschmidt company founded in Australia in 1909.
After the reunification (1990 to 1999)
1990
Complete acquisition of the Thermit Italiana and Thermit Welding.
OSG Oberbau Schweißgesellschaft (OSG) founded in Halle (Saale), Germany which on January 1, 1991 takes over and continues the existing Amotherm operations of the former VEB Plastwerke starting with 56 employees.
1992
Complete takeover of Thermit do Brasil.
1993
Form-Thermit founded in Brno, Czech Republic as a subsidiary of P.C. Wagner.
1995
MÀV-Thermit founded in Budapest, Hungary as a subsidiary of P.C. Wagner.
Sale of E.T. Argentina to the Oppizzi family.
Acquisition of Railway Maintenance Services by Thermit Australia.
1996
The plant in Halle (Saale) is enlarged to 50,000 m² through the purchase of 20,000 m².
Elektro-Thermit Dienstleistungsgesellschaft mbH (ETDL) founded in Essen, Germany.
1997
Winding up of the OSG company with assets transferred to Elektro Thermit GmbH.
1998
Separation of all Thermit® companies in Germany and abroad from the Goldschmidt AG and takeover by the assets management company “Erben Dr. Karl Goldschmidt GmbH, Essen (VVG)”.
Patent for the Single Use Crucible.
1999
Patent for the High Performance Weld (HPW).
Inventive spirit and innovation (2000 to 2009)
2001
Acquisition of the Elaugen Group with locations in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic and Belgium.
2003
Goldschmidt Thermit GmbH becomes Finance and Management Holding of the Goldschmidt Thermit Group.
RO-Thermit founded in Rumania as a subsidiary of MÁV-Thermit.
2004
Thermit China Co. Ltd. founded as a subsidiary of Goldschmidt Thermit GmbH.
Relocation of the head office of Goldschmidt Thermit GmbH from Essen, Germany to Leipzig, Germany.
SoW-5 Thermit® welding process approval acc.to EN 14730-1.
Introduction of different measuring devices such as Railscan, Railstraights, Trackscan and temperature measuring devices.
2005
Relocation of Elektro-Thermit GmbH & Co. KG to Halle (Saale), Germany and start of the new Thermit® production in Halle (Saale), Germany.
Introduction of different measuring services such as stress-free temperature measurement and geometrical measuring services.
2006
Goldschmidt Thermit Railservice GmbH founded from ETDL and Elaugen Essen, Germany.
Goldschmidt Thermit Railservice (Österreich) Ges. m.b.H founded in Austria from P.C. Wagner Elektro-Thermit and Elaugen in Vienna.
Homologation of Thermit® SkV-Elite welding process acc. to EN 14730-1.
Stress-free temperature acceptance inspection with the Railscan measuring device on the French TGV high-speed line “LGV Est européenne” before opening of the line and the TGV speed record.
2007
Long-term rail stress measurements up to 2009 using DMS technology in the Citytunnel Leipzig, Germany.
A success story for over 120 years (2010 to 2015)
2010
Goldschmidt-Thermit Japan Co., Ltd. founded in Japan.
Homologation of SkV-Elite L25 welding process acc. to EN 14730-1.
First measurement of the Eurotunnel with the Railscan measuring device.
Delivery of components for the Thermit® welding process with the Gautrain line extension for the soccer world cup in South Africa.
2011
OOO GT-ATS founded in Russia.
Measurement of approx. 1,000 track kilometers of the high-speed line of the Turkish railways TCDD with the Railscan measuring device.
2012
Approval/release for users for Railstraight measuring devices with the German railways, DB Netz AG.
2013
Acquisition of PortaCo, Inc., Moorhead, Minnesota, USA.
Supply of components for the Thermit® welding process and training and support for welding specialists with the Marmaray historic tunnel project in Istanbul, Turkey where the railway networks of Asia and Europe were connected.
Supply of weld-tempered rails, welding consumables and training for welding specialists for the new Ring Line tram system in Doha Education City, Qatar.
Execution of Thermit® welds for the extension of the railway network for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sotschi, Russia.
2014
New construction of the molding shop of Elektro-Thermit GmbH & Co. KG in Halle (Saale), Germany.
Technology Innovation Center founded in Leipzig, Germany.
Introduction of the Railstraight App.
Introduction of the Smartweld Spark.
2015
120-year jubilee of the Thermit® process patented by Prof. Hans Goldschmidt in 1895.
Supply of components for the Thermit® welding process for the new high-speed intercity connection between Erfurt and Leipzig/Halle. The new section is part of the new and extended railway connection from Nuremberg to Berlin within the German reunification 8 project and is a part of the trans-European transport network from Northern Italy to Scandinavia.
Modern and visionary (2016 to 2019)
2016
Goldschmidt Thermit Polska founded in Poland.
Acquisition of SRS Sjölanders AB, Osby, Sweden.
Introduction of the Goldschmidt Digital App.
Introduction of the Smartweld Jet.
2017
Acquisition of GRAW Sp. z o.o., Gliwice, Poland.
2018
Acquisition of Prüftechnik Linke & Rühe GmbH, Magdeburg, Germany.
Introduction of different measuring devices such as Trackgauge Digital, Trackgauge Solar and Trackscan Compact.
Introduction of the database solution Dari®.
The new Goldschmidt (2020 to today)
2020
Introduction of the new global brand Goldschmidt.
