SCHMIDTHAMMER ELEKTROKOHLE GMBH

The founding by Adolf Schmidthammer in early 1929 - right in the middle of the Great Depression, shortly after the inflation - was more than a gamble. Through tireless diligence and excellent expertise, he managed to win initial customers starting from a one-man operation. The knowledge acquired in the USA regarding the production of copper-graphite and bronze-graphite brushes through the crystal growth of copper, without the annoying disturbances caused by binders, while simultaneously applying pressure and heat, sparked great interest. Additional advantages of individually pressed metal brushes included the incorporation of cables, pins, bolts, screws, lifting hooks, and threaded sleeves, as far as this could be aligned with the shape of the brush. The load capacity of these special copper-graphite brushes with pressed connections was particularly higher in low-voltage machines and large forming machines. The density of the material could also be varied within wide limits using the developed hot pressing process. The extensive experience with individually pressed metal brushes with sintered cables has been successfully continued to this day with the cold pressing process. The company "Kohlebürstenfabrik Adolf Schmidthammer Schwabach," which had previously been operated as a sole proprietorship, was converted into a limited partnership effective January 1, 1955. As personally liable partners, Mr. Adolf and Ralph Schmidthammer, along with Mrs. Mina Schmidthammer as a limited partner, were appointed. Due to the increasing demand for carbon brushes, especially in the automotive and electrical industries, production had to be continuously expanded. Expansions at the previous location were no longer possible, and in 1958/59, it became necessary to expand the property located in the industrial area by an additional 12,000 square meters and to take over existing buildings, including a furnace house and a 40-meter-high chimney. Thus, the company MEGA is once again facing the necessity of orienting itself to new standards set by the market in its eighth decade of existence, in order to achieve the highest level of effectiveness with the most economical use. This task can only be accomplished through the joint efforts of employees and management. The corporate concept for the future is focused on qualified and solid further development and on a constant improvement of the service offering through new products, as long as the market demands them, through better technology, and a declared readiness to serve. The proven performance capability in the past and the trust earned in many countries around the world provide confidence for the future.