History

From decorative metalworker to global player

Rosenbauer’s corporate history has been closely linked with that of the fire services for the past 150 years. The company has been active for the fire services since 1866, initially as a trading enterprise and from 1906, as an equipment manufacturer. The first fire trucks were built in the 1920s, which also saw the beginning of exports to China. As a result of its constant inventiveness, Rosenbauer has had a major influence on the fire services in Austria, Germany and the rest of the world and has established a reputation as the branch’s innovation and technology leader.

In the wake of the stock exchange float of 1994 and the systematic policy of internationalization pursued subsequently, the company has developed from an export-oriented, specialist business into a worldwide group and a leading supplier of equipment to fire services around the globe.

1866Established by Johann Rosenbauer as a trading company for fire department loose equipment in Linz, Austria
1906Began producing fire pumps and components
1919Began producing fire fighting vehicles
1926Began exporting to China
1968Moved to new factory in Leonding (near Linz)
1976Exports represented over 50% of total sales
Participated in Rosenbauer AG, Switzerland
1983Participated in Rosenbauer Española S.A., Spain
1988Reorganized Konrad Rosenbauer K.G. -> Rosenbauer International GmbH
1990Acquired M-U-T Feuerwehrtechnik Gesellschaft mbH (production facility Neidling, Austria)
1991Acquired SK Rosenbauer PTE Ltd., Singapur (former SK Fire PTE Ltd.)
1992Converted into Rosenbauer International GmbH into AG
1994Shares of Rosenbauer International AG are publicly traded
1995Participated in General Safety Equipment LLC., Minnesota, USA
1998Acquired the Metz Aerials Group in Germany
Participated in Central States Fire Apparatus LLC., South Dakota, USA
2000Participated in RK Aerials LLC., Nebraska, USA
2003Participated in Rosenbauer Motors LLC., Minnesota, USA
2006Foundation of Rosenbauer South Africa
2009Russian production joint venture started
2011Biggest-ever order in history - Rosenbauer to supply € 245 million worth of vehicles to Saudi Arabia
 Foundation of Rosenbauer Saudi Arabia Ltd.
201290% acquisition of Slovenian superstructure manufacterer Mettis
2014Foundation of Rosenbauer UK plc
 Opening of the fire industry`s most modern firefighting vehicle plant
2015Change of Metz Aerials GmbH & Co. KG to Rosenbauer Karlsruhe GmbH & Co. KG
2016Expansion of stationary fire protection with acquisition of G&S Group
 Joint venture Rosenbauer Rovereto, Italy for hydraulic firefighting and rescue platforms
2017Foundation of Rosenbauer Australia Pty. Ltd.
2018Foundation of Rosenbauer Polska Sp. z o.o.
2020Foundation of Rosenbauer Italia s.r.l.
 Renaming of the subsidiary in France to Rosenbauer France SARL