Robert Bosch GmbH

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Type	GmbH (Private company)
Industry	Automotive, Automation, Major appliances, Packaging, Security
Founded	15 November 1886 (adopted current name in 1937)
Founder(s)	Robert Bosch
Headquarters	Gerlingen, Germany
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Franz Fehrenbach (Chairman)
Products	Automotive parts, Power tools, Security systems
Revenue	€51.4 billion (2011)
Employees	303,000 (2011)
Website	www.bosch.com

 Robert Bosch GmbH (help·info) (commonly known as Bosch) is a German multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components.^[1] The company was founded by Robert Bosch in Stuttgart in 1886.^[2]

Bosch's core products are automotive components (including brakes, controls, electrical drives, electronics, fuel systems, generators, starter motors and steering systems), industrial products (including drives and controls, packaging technology and solar panels) and consumer goods and building products (including household appliances, power tools, security systems and thermotechnology).^[3]

Bosch has more than 350 subsidiaries across over 60 countries and its products are sold in around 150 countries.^[3] Bosch employs around 303,000 people and had revenues of approximately €51.4 billion in 2011. In 2010 it invested around €3.8 billion in research and development and applied for over 3,800 patents worldwide.^[3] In 2009 Bosch was the leader in terms of numbers of patents at the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (GPTO) with 3,213 patents.

Robert Bosch GmbH is privately owned, and 92% of its share capital is held by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a charitable foundation.^[3] The majority of voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG, an industrial trust.^[3] The remaining shares are held by the Bosch family and by Robert Bosch GmbH.^[3] The Bosch logo represents a simple magneto armature and casing, one of the company's first products.

History[link]

1886 to 1901[link]

Robert Bosch aged 27.

• 1886 - Opening of Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering in Stuttgart on 15 November
• 1887 - First low-voltage magneto from Bosch for stationary petrol engines
• 1897 - First low-voltage magneto ignition for motor vehicle internal combustion engines

1901 to 2001[link]

• 1901 - First plant in Stuttgart
• 1902 - First commercially viable high-voltage spark plug
• 1906 - Production of 100,000th magneto ignition
• 1906 - Introduction of eight-hour working day
• 1910 - Opening of plant in Stuttgart-Feuerbach
• 1913 - Start of production of headlights

The former headquarters of the American Bosch Magneto Corporation, now part of the New York Institute of Technology

• 1918 - American assets seized; later become American Bosch Magneto
• 1926 - Start of production of windscreen wipers
• 1927 - First diesel fuel injection pump
• 1929 - First TV Set from Fernseh AG division
• 1932 - Formation of Junkers & Co.
• 1932 - First power drill from Bosch
• 1932 - First Blaupunkt car audio
• 1936 - First diesel fuel injection pump for passenger cars, such as the Mercedes-Benz 260D
• 1942 - Death of the company founder Robert Bosch on 12 March
• 1962 - Worcester Bosch Group opens in England
• 1964 - Robert Bosch Foundation
• 1970 - Company headquarter moves to Gerlingen
• 1976 - First oxygen sensors
• 1982 - Company acquires photographic equipment division from Braun AG
• 1986 - Traction control system (TCS) on the market
• 1995 - Acquisition of Atco-Qualcast Ltd^[4]
• 1994 - Begin implementation of SAP R/3
• 1995 - First Electronic Stability Control - Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
• 1997 - Common rail diesel fuel injection
• 2000 - DI-Motronic gasoline direct injection system
• 2000 - Acquisition of Rexroth

2001 to present[link]

• 2003 - Acquisition of Buderus AG
• 2003 - Digital car radio with MP3 drive and digital recorder (Blaupunkt)
• 2003 - The formation of the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation and acquisition of S-B Power Tool Corporation and Vermont American Corporation including the brand names for Bosch Power Tools, Skil Power Tools, Dremel, Vermont-American, Primark brands, and Gilmours^[5]
• 2004 - Third-generation common rail diesel injection for cars, with piezo injectors
• 2004 - Bosch opens new Technology Center in Abstatt
• 2006 - Bosch acquires Telex Communications, a maker of hearing aids, headsets and audio equipment, and partners with Daewoo to build Bosch refrigerators in Mexico
• 2007 - The Bosch Communications Systems business unit is created to manage the brands and products of former Telex Communications
• 2007 - Bosch acquires Health Hero Network
• 2008 - Tata Nano, the $2,500 People's Car powered by Bosch-designed engine is unveiled at Auto Expo in New Delhi. Bosch plans to acquire majority stake in Ersol photovoltaics. Bosch acquires CST/berger, maker of professional measuring equipment.
• 2009 - Bosch acquires LR Nelson, a maker of lawn and garden products, including ponds, and merges the Gilmour and Nelson brands into Bosch - Garden and Watering.^[6]

Operations[link]

Bosch comprises more than 350 subsidiary companies. In addition to automotive components, which generate around 60% of its revenues, Bosch produces industrial machinery and hand tools.^[7] Its Bosch Rexroth subsidiary produces hydraulic, electric, and pneumatic machinery for applications ranging from automotive to mining.^[2]

Bosch owns 50% of Purolator Filters in a joint venture with Mann+Hummel. Bosch also owns 50% of the home appliance manufacturer Bosch-Siemens Hausgeräte.^[2] The vehicle audio equipment company Blaupunkt was a subsidiary of Bosch until March 2009.^[2]

Locations[link]

The Bosch world headquarters in Gerlingen, Germany

Although most of the company's plants and employees are located in Germany (112,300 employees), Bosch is a truly worldwide company.^[2] In North America, Robert Bosch LLC (a wholly owned Bosch subsidiary) has corporate headquarters in Farmington Hills, MI; with factories and distribution facilities in Mt. Prospect, IL; Hoffman Estates, IL; Broadview, IL; Kentwood, MI; Waltham, MA; Clarksville, TN; Anderson, SC; Charleston, SC; South Bend, IN (to close 2011^[8]); and 11 other cities. The Research Technology Center is located in Palo Alto, CA near Stanford University. There are also two corporate sites in Brazil and ten in Mexico where a central purchasing office for all divisions of Bosch Group is located in Broadview, IL. In North America, Bosch employs about 24,750 people in 80 locations, generating $8.8 billion in sales in 2006.^[9]

There are other wholly owned Bosch subsidiaries in:

and other countries. Bosch employs over 281,717 people in more than 50 countries, supplying a complex distribution network of new products and parts.^[10]

Core activities[link]

Automotive components[link]

The Bosch R&D center in Abstatt, Germany, which is a major site for the development of automotive components.

About 60% of Bosch's worldwide annual sales are produced in automotive technology. Bosch invented the first practical magneto, an early ignition electrical source, which provided the spark to ignite the fuel in most of the earliest internal combustion engines. Bosch's corporate logo to this date depicts the armature from a magneto. Bosch was an early manufacturer of Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), and as time passed, Bosch became a leader in such specialized fields as traction control systems (TCS), the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), body electronics (such as central locking, doors, windows and seats), and oxygen sensors, injectors and fuel pumps. Even in such humble technological areas as spark plugs, wiper blades, engine cooling fans and other aftermarket parts, Bosch has over $1 billion in annual sales.

Bosch is a leading player in car stereo systems and in-car navigation systems.

Robert Bosch GmbH is supplying hybrid diesel-electric technology to automakers, including PSA Peugeot 3008.^[11]

In June 2008 Bosch formed SB LiMotive, a 50:50 joint company with Samsung SDI. The company held ground breaking ceremony for a 28.000 m² lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing plant in September 2009 and it is scheduled to start production for hybrid vehicles in 2011 and for electric vehicles in 2012 The plant will generate a 1.000 jobs in Ulsan, Korea in addition to the 500 employees in Korea, Germany and the USA.

Industrial technology[link]

Bosch's subsidiary Bosch Rexroth is a supplier of industrial technology. Through this division, Bosch supplies technologies for driving, controlling, and moving machines. These technologies serve Bosch's two core markets–factory automation and mobile hydraulics.

Bosch's packaging technology division plans, designs, manufactures and installs packaging lines for manufacturers of pharmaceutical, confectionery, food, and similar products. Bosch is one of the largest supplier of packaging technology.

Consumer goods and power tools[link]

Bosch belt sander 1274 DVS

Bosch caters to the areas of consumer goods and building technology with its power tool, thermotechnology, and security systems, as well as with its household appliances business within the BSH Bosch and Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH joint venture. In the US, power tools are provided by the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation based in Mt. Prospect, Illinois.^[12][13]

With its brands Bosch, Hawera, Skil, Dremel, RotoZip, Freud, Vermont American, and many more, Bosch is one of the largest manufacturer of portable power tools worldwide. Bosch manufactures power tools for the building trade, industry, and do-it-yourselfers (DIY-ers). In or around 1956, Dr. Hans Erich Slany worked with Bosch to design one of the first plastic power tools. Prior to this time, power tools were metal castings that often conducted electrical sparks or current into the user as well as being very heavy. Today, possibly contributing to the sales success of Bosch, the power tools designed by TEAMS Design have been winning awards worldwide for many years.^[14] Most recently, the 12" Dual-Bevel Glide Miter Saw won an EID Silver Award.^[15] The product range also includes accessories such as drill bits and saw blades, under its Vermont American brand, as well as gardening and water gardening products under its Gilmour, LR Nelson, and Sunterra brands.^[16]

Bosch is the largest European manufacturer of thermotechnology (heating units, etc.) with its subsidiary BBT Thermotechnik GmbH. It had revenues of €2.8 billion in 2006. Its brands include Bosch, Buderus, Junkers, Dakon, e.l.m leblanc S.A., Florida Heat Pump (FHP), Geminox, IVT, Nefit, Sieger, Vulcano and Worcester.

BSH Bosch and Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH, in which Bosch and Siemens AG each hold a 50% share, is one of the world's top three companies in the household appliances industry. In Germany and Western Europe, BSH is the market leader. Its portfolio includes the principal brand names Bosch and Siemens, Gaggenau, Neff, Thermador, Constructa, Viva, and ufesa brands, and further six regional brands. Bosch household appliances for the North American market are mainly manufactured at its factory near New Bern, NC. Its competitors include Viking Range, Fulgor, Sub-Zero Refrigerator, Wolf Appliance (a division of Sub-Zero Refrigerator), Fagor, Dacor, and Miele. The distribution of manufacturing workforce in household appliances is:

• 36% in Germany
• 30% in Western Europe (excluding Germany, but including Turkey)
• 15% in Asia
• 10% in Eastern Europe
• 5% in North America
• 4% in Latin America

with 39,000 employees overall.

Security systems[link]

In 2001, Bosch bought Detection Systems and Radionics, Inc., to build their business in the North American security and life safety products manufacturing/supply business. Through the Detection Systems acquisition, Bosch also obtained additional sales channels in Latin America, Asia-Pacific (including Australia), and Europe.^[17][18]

In 2002, Bosch acquired Philips Communications and Security, Inc., adding a video surveillance portfolio, as well as sales channels, to its business.^[19]

In 2008, Bosch acquired Extreme CCTV, a rugged camera and IP camera manufacturer, to further expand their video surveillance portfolio.^[20][21]

Corporate affairs[link]

Robert Bosch GmbH, including its wholly owned subsidiaries such as Robert Bosch LLC in North America, is unusual in that it is an extremely large, privately owned corporation that is almost entirely (92%) owned by a charitable foundation. Thus, while most of the profits are invested back into the corporation to build for the future and sustain growth, nearly all of the profits distributed to shareholders are devoted to humanitarian causes.

Diagram of Robert Bosch GmbH (Beteiligung relates to shares, Stimmen to voice/votes).

As shown in the diagram (above), the Robert Bosch Stiftung (Robert Bosch Foundation) holds 92% of the shares (Beteiligung) of Robert Bosch GmbH, but no voting rights (Stimmrecht). The Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG (Robert Bosch Industrial Trust KG), with old members of the company management, agents of the Bosch family, and other eminent people from the industry (such as Jürgen Hambrecht, CEO of BASF), have 93% of the votes (Stimmen), but no shares (0.01%). The remaining 8% of shares and 7%^[2] of voting-rights are held by the descendants of the company founder Robert Bosch (Familie Bosch).^[22]

For example, in 2004, the net profit was US$2.1 billion, but only US$78 million was distributed as dividends to shareholders. Of that figure, US$72 million was distributed to the charitable foundation, and the other US$6 million to Bosch family stockholders. The remaining 96% of the profits were invested back into the company. In its core automotive technology business, Bosch invests 9% of its revenue on research and development, nearly double the industry average of 4.7%.^[23]

Accreditations[link]

Almost all Bosch locations are both ISO 9001 certified (quality) and ISO 14001 certified (environmental protection).^[24] In addition to that, their management is compliant with OHSAS 18001.

See also[link]

Companies portal

• Knorr-Bremse

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Robert Bosch GmbH

• Robert Bosch GmbH official website
• Profile at Yahoo! Finance: Bosch-YF-profile

v t e Bosch Divisions and subsidiaries Current Bosch Rexroth Bosch Security Systems Bosch Solar Energy Dremel Skil Worcester Zexel Former and defunct Blaupunkt² Fernseh² Indramat¹ Midas Consoles² SIBA Elektrik¹ Telex Communications¹ Joint ventures and shareholdings Current BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte (Gaggenau Hausgeräte NEFF Pitsos) (50%) SB LiMotive (50%) Former and defunct Broadcast Television Systems² Japan Electronic Control System² Products Bosch 1886 Digifant Engine Management system Jetronic Motronic People Robert Bosch Robert Bosch, Jr. Franz Fehrenbach Gottlob Honold Places Bosch-Halle Gerlingen Robert-Bosch-Hospital Other Bosch fellowship Bosch process Robert Bosch Stiftung ¹Now integrated into other Bosch divisions or business groupings ²Sold Category ·  Commons