Westfalia-Werke (Westfalia works), now two firms: Westfalia-Automotive GmbH and Westfalen Mobil GmbH, are a manufacturer of automotive camping equipment and trailers.[1] Westfalia-Werke is based in Rheda-Wiedenbrück in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany.Westfalia invented the ball head trailer hitch in 1934.Westfalia is best known for Volkswagen Westfalia Campers. Westfalia is a leading manufacturer of trailer hitches for cars and light commercial vehicles. Westfalia also manufactures a line of automotive bicycle racks.[2][3]
History
Westfalia traces its founding back to Johann Bernard Knöbel, who opened a blacksmith shop in Wiedenbrück on October 1, 1844.[1] The blacksmith shop was passed on to Knöbel two sons Wilhelm and Franz.
Wilhelm and Franz added wagon and saddlery products to the business.
Near the end of World War I, the two brothers ended their blacksmith partnership.
Franz Knöbel changed the blacksmith shop to the manufacture of hunting wagons and horse-drawn sleighs, founding Franz Knobel & Sohn GmbH.
In 1918, the company built a self-propelled carriage.
In 1922, Franz Knöbel called his new company Westfalia, Fahrzeugfabrik Westfalia (Vehicle factory Westfalia).
In the 1920s he start making a line of automobile products, including trailers, truck body, coachbuilding and taxi cab conversions.[4] Before 1932, trailers used only jaw or hook couplings with an eyelet for trailer towing.
In 1932, Franz Knöbel developed the trailer hitch with a ball head and socket joint.
Franz Knöbel patented the ball head-socket joint trailer hitch invention on March 14, 1934.
Westfalia hold a number of towing patents.[5][3][6]
The first camping conversions was the Volkswagen Camping Box, built by request in 1951 on a Volkswagen Type 2 van. The request was for VW van to have a sleeping, living and working space. As cars and truck power increased Westfalia built motorhomes and camping trailers.In the 1960s Westfalia built driver's cab for the Mercedes unimog.[3] In 1966, Westfalia was the first manufacturer to market a removable trailer coupling using bolt on system. In 1987, Westfalia introduced a fully automatically removable trailer coupling.
In 1999, Westfalia-Werke divided into three divisions: [3]
In 2002, Westfalia introduced an electrically swiveling trailer hitch. In 2006 Westfalia took over trailer coupling manufacturer SIARR in France. In 2007 Westfalia took over of the trailer coupling manufacturer Monoflex in Sweden. In 2008, Westfalia introduced a wide range of bicycle rack systems.[3]
On 28 January 2010, Westfalia-Werke filed for bankruptcy after having a 40 percent drop in sales. Under bankruptcy restructure Westfalia-Werke was able to stay open. In 2011 Westfalia was acquired by the Rapido Group, a French motorhome company.[7][8]
Westfalia-Automotive GmbH now has 1,700 different types of trailer coupling covering almost all vehicle makes. In October 2016, Westfalia-Automotive trailer couplings was sold to the American trailer hitch manufacturer Horizon Global Corporation.[9][10]
Westfalia Van Conversion GmbH (motorhomes), now Westfalen Mobil GmbH
Westfalia-Automotive GmbH (trailer couplings, towbars, and cycle carriers.)
Westfalia Trailer Group GmbH (Westfalia-Trailergroup). In 2002 went bankrupt.
Products
In the early 1950 Westfalia built a number of built outs for the Gutbrod Atlas delivery truck. Westfalia built 866 Gutbrod Superior four-seater estate cars.[4]
In the last 1956, Westfalia built motorhomes on the DKW Schnellaster.[4]
Westfalia built complete small camping trailers and has done camper conversions on number of vans.[11]
Westfalia-Werke is most known for its Volkswagen Westfalia Camper conversions from 1950s to 2003. The VW camper has been in the models of VWs called: VW Bus T2; Volkswagen Type 2 (T3) called Vanagon; and the Volkswagen Transporter (T4) called the EuroVan.[12]
Westfalia has also built a camper van, Marco Polo , on Mercedes-Benz Vito starting in 1996.[13]
Westfalia built the model Michelangelo on the Fiat Scudo van starting in 2009.[11]
Westfalia built the model James Cook on thee Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van starting in 2006.[14]
Westfalia built the model Nugget on the Ford Transit Custom van starting in 1985.[15]
Westfalia built the model Sven Hedin type 2 on the Volkswagen Crafter van starting in 2017.[16]
Westfalia trailers such as B. Jupiter, Saturn, XXL and Rodeo were manufactured in Rheda-Wiedenbrück. In 2002 the Westfalia-Trailer group went bankrupt. In 2003, former Heinemann employees found Westfalia-Heinemann AG which went bankrupt in 2004.[3] Westfalia Trailer Systems GmbH was founded in 2005. This company acquired the rights of use to the corresponding brands, production tools, etc. of the former Westfalia-Heinemann AG from a South African company, which were purchased by the insolvency administrator in 2005. Today, Westfalia Trailer Systems produces horse and other trailers under the name "Westfalia" in Obergoseln, Saxony.[3][17]
In 2024 Westfalia is returning to the North America with a new camper van (Class B campervan based on a Ram ProMaster-Fiat Ducato.[18]
