HOLZ-HER GmbH - History

2008

Shareholder change at HOLZ-HER Reich Spezialmaschinen GmbH (HOLZ-HER Reich Special Machines LLC) is complete: The family enterprise wants to assure continuity and tradition with the investment company, HANNOVER Finanz Gruppe (HANOVER Finance Group), within the scope of a management buyout and to continue to grow through investments. The German-Austrian medium-sized enterprise develops high quality machines for the woodworking industry and the craft trades.

2007

HOLZ-HER introduces it‘s new high end edgebander line, the CONTRIGA series. It promptly is awarded the "Red Dot" and "iF-Product Design Award" for outstanding machine design

2006

The product range of edgebanders was extended by the entry level UNO series

2005

HOLZ-HER introduces the Pro-Master line, the new standard for speed and power in the CNC sector.
The Horizontal Pressure Bar Saws range is supplemented with a base model CUT 70

2004

HOLZ-HER celebrates its 90th Birthday.

2002

REICH Austria unveils "Werk II", a new state of the art manufacturing plant with almost 55,000 square feet of space.

2000

REICH Special Machines GmbH sets the course for further expansion – At the turn of the century in the year 2000, the corporate presence of REICH Special Machines was increased by the BWK GmbH, a financially powerful partner. By way of a new issue of capital, the BWK GmbH has acquired 33% of the shares. The participation of the Stuttgart-based company ensures the further long-term expansion and the internationalization of the company. In 2000 REICH Special Machines achieved sales of 80 million US and employs approximately 450 worldwide.

1999

REICH Special Machines GmbH employs approximately 400 worldwide
with sales reaching 75 million US.

1998

HOLZ-HER US, Inc. expands its headquarters in Charlotte, NC to 75,000 sqft, now including a large show room and a state of the art training facility.

1997

HOLZ-HER US introduces the state-of-the-art PLC controlled Triathlon edgebander.
HOLZ-HER US is the first woodworking machinery company with a Web Site on the Internet.
Kurt Reich, son of the company‘s founder, dies in August.
Wulf Reich and his children are now the sole partners of the RSM group.

1992

HOLZ-HER introduces the latest in sawing-cutting technology with a new product family-the BEAM SAW. The addition of this new product family makes HOLZ-HER the only company that can offer a complete range of saws.

1989

HOLZ-HER celebrates it‘s 75th anniversary. Seventy-five years of experience in R+D of machines make it possible to offer the best woodworking machines to the customer.

1983

The product group "stationary woodworking machines" is disincorporated from the Karl M. Reich group of companies.

Wulf W. Reich, a grandchild of the original founder, established the REICH Special Machines GmbH. RSP concerns itself exclusively with the development, construction and marketing of stationary woodworking machines (panel saws and edge banders). Apart from REICH-Austria (production destined for Austria) two sales and distribution branches in the USA and in Canada belong to the RSM group. Now there are 6 independent subsidiaries worldwide. This structure allows optimal worldwide distribution of HOLZ-HER machines

1969

A new product line is introduced into the market. Edgebanders are to become an important product group in the future.

1964

Manufacture of stationary woodworking machines is transferred to Austria. REICH-Austria (as the company is known today) is concerned exclusively with the production of stationary woodworking machines.

1958

This marks the death of Karl Matthias Reich, the founder of the company. The company continues under the management of his son Kurt Reich.

The same year sees the introduction of the vertical panel saw.
This was the beginning of the "panel saw" range, which remains an important part of our production today.

1951

HOLZ-HER develops the feed device, an updated version is still marketed today.
The feeder contributed to the economic recovery of the company after WWII and also made the HOLZ-HER name known worldwide.

1936

HOLZ-HER markets its first electric tool, a hand-held circular saw.

1932

The first meat cutting band saw under the trade name of REICH leaves the factory.

1925

Electric woodworking machines, such as stationary carpentry machines and stationary circular saws, were already produced. These became known under the name of HOLZ-HER after the shout of the carpenters on the roof when they wanted more timber for the frame.

1914

Karl Matthias Reich, child of a Black Forest rafter family, founded the company with a staff of five and, at first, produced wire machines and devices for the processing of wire.