Company

History Bilfinger VAM Anlagentechnik

07/2008
MCE becomes the sole owner of VAM Anlagentechnik und Montagen
On July 1st, 2008, MCE AG and Bilfinger Berger Industrial Services AG signed the agreements on the repurchase of 26% of the shareholdings in VAM Anlagentechnik und Montagen, a subsidiary of MCE, in Wels.

04/2007
Deutsche Beteilgungs AG - DBAG -, one of the leading German Private-Equity-Companies, takes over MCE AG.

2003
Rheinhold und Mahla (now Bilfinger Berger Industrial Services AG) acquires a 26%
stake in VAM.

2001
As from July 21, 2001, the name of the company is VAM GmbH & Co Anlagentechnik und Montagen.

2000
VAM proves its competencies in power plant pipework and is charged with detailed engineering, pre-erection, and delivery of about 4,000 t of pipes for the coal fired power station of Iskenderun in Turkey.
Andlinger Group acquires from VA TECH its remaining stake in the parent company MCE VOEST.

1999
The company name is changed to VA TECH VOEST Montage GmbH & Co.

1994
Acquisition of Bohr- und Rohrtechnik Gesellschaft m.b.H.

1991
On the premises of BASF located in Ludwigshafen, the largest air separation plant of that time in Central Europe is erected, and VAM is put in charge with erecting the entire pipework.

1983
On the island of Barbados, a cement plant is erected for which VOEST ALPINE Montage carries out the entire mechanical erection.

1982
Another overseas large-scale order: VOEST ALPINE Montage is put in charge of manufacturing, supplying, and erecting all vessels and pipes for the gold extraction plant in OK Tedi / Papua New Guinea.

1980
VAM supplies and assembles all vessels and pipes for the new potash plant of Jordanian Arab Potash Co. Ltd.

1978
Upon establishing the business divisions, the company name changes from Rumpel to “VOEST-ALPINE Montage Ges.m.b.H.” and the abbreviation of "VAM" is created.
Plant erection is set up as the most recent division of the company.
Three years later, sales exceed ATS 500 million while 650 employees work for the company.

1976
Sales top ATS 250 million. 500 people are employed.
Rumpel erects the drinking water supply pipeline for the city of La Paz, Bolivia (about 36 km long with a diameter of 800 mm).

1974
On January 1st, the company is integrated into VOEST-ALPINE Group.

1973
When the power plant Malta is erected in Carinthia, Rumpel returns to a traditional field of manufacture: the construction of pressure pipes. The first overseas exports of this segment are destined to Zambia.

1970
Production is concentrated at the location in Wels.

1969
The plant located in Vienna is shut down so that only one branch office remains in the capital focusing on: building automation, district heating, gas supply for Vienna.

1963
Rumpel employs a total of 380 people achieving annual sales of more than ATS 50 million.

1955
After signing of the Austrian State Treaty, Rumpel remains as an independent nationalized company. Shortly afterwards, the former SMV drilling unit located at the plant Siebenhirten is re-integrated into the company. At the end of the 1950ies, the company is a large business enterprise employing about 110 people and achieving annual sales of about ATS 8 to 10 million.

1954
The first export order is to participate in the erection of the river power plant Jochenstein on the Danube, which is a joint project of Bavaria and Upper Austria.

1953
Sales stabilize at about ATS 8.5 million. Rumpel benefits from the boom in ERP investments. It contributes considerably to the reconstruction of VÖEST. A special reputation is built up in pipework by supplying large-scale coke gas pipes and highly sophisticated hydraulic extreme pressure pipes for the cold rolling mill.

1951
The first postwar sprinkler order is placed by a spinning mill in Schwanenstadt.
At the beginning of the 1950ies, pipework accounts for more than half of the sales.

1950
The new decade starts quite promising for Rumpel at its new location in Wels.
The ministry for traffic and nationalized companies is proudly informed that about 70 employees achieved sales of ATS 3.5 million in Frankenburg. The move to Wels is paid for by own funds.
After the workshop has been put into operation, the company management starts to reactivate traditional fields of activities of former Rumpel which are rationalized and operated in a technology-focused manner.

1949
Rumpel moves from Frankenburg to Wels due to infrastructural reasons.

1948
Rumpel erects the water feed lines for the turbines at the hydro power plant Kaprun.

1946
On the occasion of a ceremony at the steel plant in Linz taking place in June 1946, General Clark, the US High Commissioner for Austria, hands over to the Republic of Austria the company VÖEST in order to administer it in a fiduciary capacity. Later on, also the plants of Rumpel located in Frankenburg are handed over to the Republic of Austria.
Rumpel becomes the most important special enterprise in the Western occupation zone.

1945
The company or what is left of it is divided into an Eastern and a Western part. The Soviet occupying power takes over the Eastern part and integrates it into the drilling unit of SMV.
Meanwhile, some 60 stalwarts set about getting the company “Rumpel” going again at the plant in Frankenburg, Upper Austria.

1944
Business activities come to a sudden end due to air raids by the Allies. The surrender puts an end to the era of the “thousand-year empire”. The end of Rumpel too?

1941
Rumpel acquires the plant Siebenhirten located in the Southern suburbs of Vienna in order to manage the strongly increasing volume of workmanship. At the “Reichswerke Hermann Göring”, which are now VOEST-ALPINE Stahl Linz, Rumpel-Mannesmann carries out one of its largest single projects regarding erection, industrial pipework and water supply.
In general, pipeline engineering is becoming an important pillar for Rumpel.
The company works at almost all large industrial sites of the “thousand-year empire”.

1940
The branch of Rumpel located in Teplitz is wound up, and Rumpel in Vienna takes on the tools and know-how related to the manufacture of sprinkler systems.

1939
Rumpel moves to Strebersdorf near Vienna. Mannesmann Düsseldorf assigns the pipeline engineering division to the company. A large-scale order is placed with the company for installing the pipework at the pulp mill Lenzing, which is under construction at that time. The air force places more orders for the construction of hangars.
The drilling division becomes the second pillar of the company focusing on deep drilling of up to 2,000 m aimed at developing the oil fields near Vienna . When the Third Reich comes to an end, Rumpel is one of the most important well drilling enterprises in Greater Germany.

1938
Two weeks after the “Anschluss” to the German Reich, Rumpel defines its future production program: sprinklers, equipment for filling stations and deep drilling, tubular scaffolding.

1934
Only the “gasoline division” comes through the crisis and continues operating as an “enterprise specializing in filling stations and deep drilling”. In fall of 1934, Rumpel plays an important role in the beginning of Austrian oil production. The first deep oil well is sunk on the outskirts of Vienna.

1932
The world economic crisis reaches its climax. The hydraulic engineering department of Rumpel collapses being dissolved two years later. Moreover, the branches located in the federal provinces are shut down and 40% of all employees are dismissed.

1930
In the field of hydraulic engineering, Rumpel installs the water supply for the cities of Klagenfurt, Salzburg, and Klosterneuburg. The company turns into the market leader for developing mineral springs. Rumpel sets an important step regarding its future: By acquiring the company "Rosenthal & Co", a company specializing in filling stations, a new promising market is opened.

1927
Mannesmann-Komotau acquires Rumpel Wien after having absorbed Rumpel Teplitz two years earlier.

1925
Rumpel Wien goes bankrupt in 1925 despite the outstanding technological standard of the services offered. This is the consequence of the hyperinflation recorded in 1921/22 and the resulting stabilization problems. After the breakdown, the bank assumes the management of Rumpel AG in Vienna. Hans Rumpel leaves the company.

1922
The plants in Vienna and Teplitz strive to extend the range of services offered by innovative products: sheet metal radiators, bellow expansion joints, and in particular sprinkler systems.

1921
Rumpel AG establishes branch offices in the capitals of the federal provinces as well as in Romania and Yugoslavia to be in a better position for dealing with the markets in the newly created state of Austria and the succession states of the monarchy.

1920
In order to be able to continue the company, Hans Rumpel submits to the conditions imposed by a bank in Vienna. On November 23, the former company located in Vienna is wound up and the new “Rumpel AG” specializing in hydraulic engineering, heating and sewage systems is set up.

1919
The decay of the monarchy forces Georg Rumpel to reorganize its company. At the beginning of the year, his son Hans becomes partner in the company. In spring, Rumpel becomes a “German-Austrian company” having its headquarters in Vienna, and a “Czech company” having its headquarters in Teplitz. Hans Rumpel heads the company in Vienna, and the founder of the company manages the plant in Teplitz.

1917
The company starts obtaining orders having a higher technical value added such as industrial pipework for powder plants (Trofaiach/Styria; Blumau/Lower Austria) and the erection of fire extinguishers.

1915
Military and civil departments place 18 large-scale orders.

1914
In the summer of that year, Georg Rumpel offers the imperial and royal ministry of war the services of his company for erecting water supply and sanitary facilities in hospitals, barracks, and war prisoner camps.

1913
Rumpel succeeds in erecting a patented retort oven for the production of coal gas. Moreover, hot-water heating systems, so-called single-storey heating systems, are designed.

1910
Rumpel acquires more and more technological expertise thus opening up new markets. Example: exploration of mineral springs through deep drilling.

1907
Rumpel makes a name for itself regarding the equipping of health resorts when being put in charge of erecting the thermal water supply line from the mineral springs in Gastein by means of a seven-kilometer long pressure pipe.

1899
By that time, a total of 116 projects have been executed for municipal, other public and even private institutions.

1889
After parting with Niklas, Rumpel moves its headquarters to Vienna. Franz, Ritter von Waldeck, is appointed new managing director.

1891
After erecting the spring water pipeline Aussing and water supply systems in Moravia and Styria (Mürzzuschlag), the company wins an identical order from the city of Linz.

1889
The company, up to now a small regional business, succeeds in becoming a large-scale enterprise offering its services and products throughout the monarchy. The range of services encompasses all urban supply and disposal installations.

1887
Georg Rumpel, born in Bavaria, has been dealing with the erection and management of urban water supply installations for several years.
He establishes his company in Teplitz Schönau (now Czech Republic) and finds Adolf Niklas as his congenial partner. The first order he wins: the water supply for Teplitz.