Bedea history
In the beginning, more than 100 years ago, all started with wire drawing. Following the technolological developments of the era, bedea turned to a powerful medium-sized company. Here are some steps:
| 1889 | Foundation by Carl Berkenhoff in Merkenbach/Herborn (Germany) |
| 1893 | Invention of the multiple wire drawing machine (patent pending) |
| 1895 | Entrance of the merchant Paul Drebes. Company name: Berkenhoff & Drebes |
| 1897 | Aquisition of the wire drawing plant "Aßlarer Hütte" near Wetzlar (Germany) |
| 1914 | Construction of a wire drawing die plant (Oranien) near Herborn (Germany) |
| 1920 | Foundation of the Berkenhoff + Co.KG in Kinzenbach near Gießen (Germany) |
| 1923 | Change into the Berkenhoff & Drebes plc |
| 1939 | 50th anniversary |
| 1952 | Extension of the plants in Merkenbach and Asslar |
| 1958 | Extension of the wire drawing plant in Merkenbach |
| 1964 | A administration building was erected in Merkenbach |
| 1969 | All wire and tool plants were sold to the „Westfälische Union“ in Hamm (Germany) |
| 1981 | The Berkenhoff & Drebes GmbH becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of the THYSSEN DRAHT AG. Cable production and plastics processing was extended. |
| 1986 | Rope production was moved from Merkenbach to Asslar. |
| 1989 | 100th anniversary |
| 1994 | Under the company name bedea Berkenhoff & Drebes GmbH, the Asslar plant of the THYSSEN DRAHT AG becomes a subsidiary of the THYSSEN STAHL AG. |
| 1996 | The bedea Berkenhoff & Drebes GmbH is independant, with no ownership stake by any other company. |
| 1998 | The company establishes the brand "bedea akzent" for fiberoptical lighting systems. |
| 2003 | The bedea measuring system "CoMeT" is a milestone in measuring coaxial and symmetrical cables. |
| 2006 | Opening of the "bedea akzent" showroom. |