From Bright Steel to Better Clamps: The 135+ Year History of BESSEY
BESSEY has been making tools for a really long time.
The company was founded in 1889, starting as a bright steel drawing mill in Stuttgart, Germany. And more than 135 years later, BESSEY is known around the world for clamping and cutting tools used by woodworkers, fabricators, tradespeople and professionals.
“The best clamps ever.” It's something we hear from BESSEY fans around the globe. But we haven't always made clamps. Getting from steel to clamps took a few turns along the way.
It Started With Steel
In 1889, Max Bessey founded the company as a bright steel drawing mill. For the first several decades, precision steel was at the heart of the business. The company continued to grow under the leadership of Max Bessey's nephew, Karl Bessey, and later Ing. Eugen Mayer, expanding its production capabilities and expertise. That foundation in precision steel would eventually become an important part of BESSEY's future in toolmaking.
1936: The Move Into Clamping
1936 was a pretty big year for BESSEY. Patents were granted for a new type of malleable cast iron screw clamp, marking the beginning of BESSEY's clamping tool production. It was the start of something that would become a defining part of the company.
BESSEY continued expanding its clamping capabilities, including the establishment of a branch factory in Bietigheim in 1944 dedicated to clamping tool production. From there, clamping became a major part of the BESSEY name.
Expanding Beyond Clamps
BESSEY's history isn't only about clamping. In 1979, the company acquired the Ernst Diener scissors factory, expanding its product range to include ERDI scissors. This added another area of expertise to the business: cutting.
Today, BESSEY's product range spans both clamping and cutting tools, with solutions designed for everything from woodworking and fabrication to construction and installation.
From Germany to North America
As BESSEY grew, so did its reach. In 2003, BESSEY expanded into the North American market through the acquisition of sales partners, creating the foundation for what is now BESSEY Tools North America. The following year, BESSEY acquired the GROSS STABIL clamping tool brand, further expanding its product expertise.
Some of our incredible team members still remember when that happened. How cool is that?
135+ Years of What Comes Next
A lot has changed since 1889. The materials, industries and applications have evolved, and the tools people use today look very different from those of previous generations. What hasn't changed is the focus on quality and innovation.
As a family-owned company, BESSEY has remained independent for more than 135 years. That independence has allowed the company to take a long-term approach to developing products, building expertise and finding better solutions for the people who use its tools.
From a bright steel drawing mill in Stuttgart to a global manufacturer of clamping and cutting tools, BESSEY's history has always been about evolving with the people and industries it serves.
And after 135+ years, we're not done yet.
Want to read more about our history? Take a look: Die BESSEY-Geschichte – BESSEY