From a family-owned basement forge to a globally successful security company
In 1924, in the small town of Volmarstein near Wetter an der
Ruhr, a success story began that continues to this day. It was a time when
people went to cinemas to watch silent films, children played on almost
traffic-free streets, and computers were still a vision of the future. In that
very year, August Bremicker and his sons achieved a decisive breakthrough: with
the padlock “Iron Rock,” they launched a product that laid the foundation for
the future of the company and the family.
The development and production of the first padlocks began
in the forge located in the basement of the family home. Competition was
intense, as many similar forges existed in Volmarstein and the surrounding
area. Nevertheless, August Bremicker and his sons were highly successful, and
the company quickly grew to around 30 employees. In 1929, the family business
acquired a production facility on Hegestraße in Volmarstein, which is still in
operation today. By the late 1930s, ABUS already employed around 300 people.
After the Second World War, August Bremicker’s sons took a bold step toward a
new beginning – a decision that continues to shape the company’s long-term
success.
