1830
Michael Busch (nicknamed Schmitten-Kaiuers) a master blacksmith from Meschede takes over a scythe forge in Nierachal from Baron Max von Fürstenberg-Eggeringhausen. The location of the forge is not far from the current factory premises in Nierbachtal, opposite the company-owned car park. From this time onwards, iron-wheeled axles were manufactured for animal-drawn agricultural vehicles.

1860
On the current factory premises in Meschede-Wehrstapel, a hammer mill and a grey iron foundry were erected. The output included not only forgings but also an increasing proportion of casings, such as axle

boxes, moulds, enineering castings and parts for ranges, stoves and boilers.

Planing permission for Heinrich Busch to build a machine factory together with a hammer mill (Bestwig plant)

1890
Four of the founder’s grandchildren establish a new factory in Bestwig, where they begin producing load axles and patented axles for agricultural vehicles.

1924
The two factories in Wehrstapel and Bestwig merge into M. Busch AG.

1929
M. Busch AG employs a workforce of 500, becoming an important German manufacturer of load axles.

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1935
The company M. Busch AG is converted into a limited partnership.

1945
Bombs destroy 90% of the Wehrstapel facilities.

1945 - 1950
Laborious reconstruction and search for new markets for the expected upswing during the years of peace.

1950 - 1960
New products are lauched, including potato harvesters, reciprocating diaphragm pumps, filter presses, forklifts and, increasingly, brake drums. The castings required for these products, which are manufactured in Bestwig, are made at Wehrstapel (pump casings, support stands and frames for filter presses, gearboxes, body parts for forklifts).

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1960
Bergische Achsenfabrik Fritz Kotz und Söhne, Wiehl, joins the partnership.

A period of rapid development begins for both companies. The solid axles manufactured in Bestwig in the open die forge are superseded by hollow axles. Brake drums and hubs for trucks and car trailers are cast and increasingly machined at Wehrstapel .

The pneumatic hammers at the Bestwig forge are replaced by modern hydraulic hammers and presses. Coke-fired furnaces are refitted for fuel oil.

Brake drums being finished in a vertical boring and turning mill.

1961
A new building is constructed in Wehrstapel to accommodate the turning shop. Mechanical brake-drum processing increases significantly.

1964
The drop forge in Bestwig is enlarged.

1966
A new building is constructed in Bestwig to accommodate Shed I and an office wing.

1967
Executive director Ernst Busch dies at age 59.

1968
Dipl.-Ing. Hans-Peter Busch and Dipl.-Kfm. Dr. Horst Schmitz-Dörner are appointed executive directors.

1969
The drop forge in Bestwig is modernised once again. Pusher-type furnaces are replaced by modern revolving hearth furnaces.

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1969 – 1970
Expansion of the foundry facility in Foundry I and construction of a social building in Wehrstapel with kitchen, toilets, washrooms and changing rooms.

1971
Construction of a new melting plant in Wehrstapel with the necessary auxiliary installations.

1974
Shed II is constructed at the Bestwig plant - axle assembly, sheet metal production and mechanical manufacturing are enlarged.

1975
Construction of a foundry test facility for the production of furan resin moulds.

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1976
Shed III is built in Bestwig.

1977
Wehrstapel acquires its first CNC lathe. Expansion of the break rooms in the office wing in Bestwig.

1978
The smelting facility in Wehrstapel is enlarged. Two mains-frequency crucible induction furnaces are commissioned.

Construction of Foundry II, featuring a Formatic die-casting plant, a casting line, a knock-out station, cooling conveyors, and casting aftertreatment.

Enlargemen of the composition shed in Wehrstapel.

1979 - 1980
The drop forge in Bestwig is shut down. A brake pad fabrication and assembly facility is acquired. In Wehrstapel, the composition hall is turned into an enclosed building with sound-proof walls.

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1980
Enlargement of the turning shop in Wehrstapel. Construction of a warehouse for finished parts.

1981
Construction of an administration building in Bestwig.

1982
Erection of a warehouse in Bestwig (first construction phase).
Interior of the smelting facility in Wehrstapel.

1983
Enlargement of the smelting shed in Wehrstapel. A new cupola furnace with holding furnace is commissioned. The annual melting capacity totals approx. 70,000 t.

1986 - 1988
Construction of a loading shed in Wehrstapel. The warehouses in Bestwig are enlarged in two phases.

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1990
Executive director Dr. Schmitz-Dörner retires. His successor is Dipl.-Ing. Jörg Kempermann, former member of the Advisory Board. Core-seting line installed with a view toward the product of the future: ventilated brake discs.

1991
Construction of Foundry III in Wehrstapel with sand reconditioning, moulding and casting line, knock-out station, and aftertreatment of casting. Enlargement of the patern-making facility.

1993
After Foundry III has been commissioned, Foundry I is shut down. The extra sheds thus gained are used as a warehouse for unfinished parts and as an annex for the mechanical processing unit. Adjustable draw bar for truck trailers.

1992 - 1993
Relocation of the axle production for car trailers from Bestwig. Relocation of the production of towing forks, draw bars and close coupling systems from BPW to the Bestwig factory.

1994
The storage and loading hall in Wehrstapel is roofed over

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1998
Construction of a lightweight storage hall for machined castings in Wehrstapel. BPW Bergische Achsen KG and a group of its partners acquires the M. Busch company.

1999
Dipl.-Ing. Dipl.-Wirtsch.-Ing. Wolfgang Krappe is appointed executive director of the company. Former executive director Dipl.-Ing. Jörg Kempermann leaves the company on 31 March, while former executive director Dipl.-Ing. Hans Peter Busch leaves the company on 31 December 1999.

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1999 – 2000
The production of draw bars and the commercial vehicle range are relocated to BPW-Rába in Hungary. A lathe from Wehrstapel is unloaded in Bestwig.

2001
The foundry increases its output by 20% after extensive investment. The manufacturing capacity for brake discs continues to expand. This increase in, performance enables Foundry II be closed down.

2001 - 2003
The mechanical processing unit is relocated from Wehrstapel to the Bestwig plant. The processing capacity reaches approximately 1 million units per year.

2002
The 'light range' (rubber parts and torsion-bar axles for car trailers plus accessories) is relocated to BPW-Fahrzeugtechnik, Paderborn. The core-making shop is equipped with a fully automated production line, including a modern line drier.

2003
For the first time ever, more brake discs are manufactured than brake drums.

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2004 - 2005
Planning, construction and start-up of a new foundry for brake discs with an investment volume of approximately €15 m.

2005
As the first company in the metalworking industry of North Rhine-Westphalia, Busch adopts the pay framework agreement (ERA). Workers become salaried employees paid under a common salary system.

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