Dürr AG is a global mechanical and plant engineering firm. The company, founded by Paul Dürr (1871–1936) as a metal shop for roof flashing in Bad Cannstatt in 1895, has been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 4 January 1990. Meanwhile, the shares are listed in the MDAX and Stoxx 600. The customers of Dürr AG include almost all familiar automobile manufacturers and their suppliers. Other market segments include, for example, the mechanical engineering, chemical and pharmaceutical industries and – since the takeover of HOMAG Group AG in October 2014 – the woodworking industry. The company is registered in Stuttgart, but its actual location (mailing address) has been in Bietigheim-Bissingen since 1 August 2009 after the relocation of various business units.[2]
Company history
In 1896, a metal shop for roof flashing was founded in Bad Cannstatt by Paul Dürr. In 1917, the company expanded to sheet metal processing. In 1932, Paul Dürr handed the running of the company over to his son, Otto Dürr, who established a construction office.
With the rise of the National Socialists in 1936, the economic policy of the National Socialists focuses on self-reliance and rearmament. This initially leads to a perceptible upswing for German industry. It is not long before Dürr’s order books also look healthy again. While a modern production site is established in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, a workshop for apprentices is set up in Cannstatt, since the company is training more and more new recruits. It was also during this period that Dürr first hired engineers and began performing internal design work. With the invasion of Poland by the German army triggering the Second World War on September 1, 1939. Dürr became part of the Nazi arms industry and delivers, among other things, sheet metal parts for military vehicles. During the war, the company also uses forced laborers.