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103 years Castolin Eutectic
BIT celebrates its 33th anniversary. In 1976, the first product, a vaccination gun, was manufactured.
Messer Group - our sister company - is the biggest owner-managed industrial gases specialist in more than 30 countries with more than 60 productive companies
More than 100 years of experience
MEC Holding GmbH was established in the year 2000 in the merger between Castolin Eutectic Group and Messer Cutting & Welding GmbH.
Both divisions, Messer Cutting Systems and Castolin Eutectic were founded around the start of the 20th century, both were for most of the last century owned and/or headed by members of the founding families and both had nearly identical philosophies to grow through Innovation, Quality and Partnership with Customers. The daily direct contact with many customers in the field was always key to this partnership.
Castolin Eutectic
1904 / 1930
Foundation of Castolin and Eutectic - Jean-Pierre Wassermann founds Castolin and starts producing products for low-heat maintenance welding at a plant near Lausanne, Switzerland. About twenty five years later, after emigrating from Europe to the US, René Wassermann, the founder's son, sets up Eutectic Welding Alloys Corp. in New York.
1940s
Expansion of business activities - Due to the scarcity of raw materials during World War II and the consequent increasing demand for maintenance and repair activities Castolin and Eutectic manage to significantly expand their operations.
1950s / 1960s
Merger of Castolin and Eutectic - Growing demand leads to the opening of Castolin subsidiaries and production plants around the world during the 1950s. Additionally, Castolin introduces complementary services such as service workshops. During the same period the two companies, Castolin and Eutectic, decide to merge their business activities under the name Castolin Eutectic.
Formation of the MEC Group
2000
Formation of the MEC Group - In 2000 the Messer Industrie GmbH contributed its shares in Messer Cutting & Welding GmbH into MEC Holding GmbH as a contribution in kind, whereas The Carlyle Group contributed cash, giving The Carlyle Group a substantial participation as majority shareholder in the newly formed MEC Group. The cash contributed by The Carlyle Group as well as bank financing were consecutively used by MEC Holding GmbH to acquire the Castolin Eutectic Group.
Since 2005
Castolin Eutectic expands into new markets in Eastern Europe and Asia in which to date ten new offices had been established. Strong expansion of the CastoLab® Network of Service Workshops providing services to customers in all areas of wear protection.
2008
Opening of CastoLabs in Russia, France and Austria
2009
Foundation of new sales subsidiaries in Malaysia and Egypt
Messer Cutting System
1898
Foundation of Adolf Messer GmbH - Adolf Messer founds a small business in Frankfurt-Hoechst focusing on the production of acetylene generators and acetylene lightning plants.
1903
Invention of the first oxyfuel cutting torch. Increasing demand for torches and accessories for oxyfuel products leads to the introduction of the trade name 'Original Messer' in 1908.
1920s
Extension of product portfolio - Adolf Messer GmbH extends its existing product portfolio by producing first electric welding equipment as well as welding electrodes and large cutting machines for shipyards.
1950s - 1965
Geographic Expansion - In 1953, the Adolf Messer GmbH opens an American branch office in New York under the name American Messer Corp. and establishes branches in Belgium, Denmark, France, Mexico and Switzerland. Formation of Messer Griesheim GmbH - Adolf Messer GmbH and Knapsack Griesheim AG decide to form Messer Griesheim GmbH through a merger in which a 1/3 participation remains with the Messer family and a 2/3 participation is bought by Hoechst AG.
1976
Hoechst Ag manufacturers the first medical instrument and thereby established the predecessor of what would later become BIT Analytical Instruments.
1990s Refocusing on core business activities and further geographic expansion - In 1991, Messer Griesheim GmbH decides to divest its electric arc welding and filler material business in Europe to Lincoln Electric to further concentrate on its core business activities.
1999 Sale of Messer Cutting & Welding AG - Hoechst AG sells its 2/3 stake in Messer Cutting & Welding AG, which is in 2000 renamed Messer Cutting & Welding GmbH, to Messer Industrie GmbH, a holding company of the Messer family, thus making the Messer family again the sole shareholder.
2000
Merger of the Castolin + Eutectic Group and Messer Cutting & Welding AG under the leadership of The Carlyle group and formation of MEC Holding GmbH.
2005
Messer Industrie Holding GmbH purchases the shares in MEC Holding GmbH from The Carlyle group
2007
The successful growth of MEC Group is continued throught the opening of a number of new production locations and akquisitions around the world.
2008
Foundation of software company "Messer Soft"
2009
111years existence of Messer Group
