The history of the BWF Group
How it all began and where we stand today

A lot has happened in more than 125 years of company history. From the original main product wool felt to the later production of plastic profiles and industrial filter media - how have we developed since 1892? Here, we share our story with you.

Five generations - more than 125 years

The "Bayerische Wollfilzfabriken KG Offermann, Zeiler, Schmid & Co. KG Offingen Hof" (BWF) came about as the result of a merger between two felt factories in 1962. One was founded in 1892 by Theodor Wilhelm Schmid and his partners in Hof; the other in 1896 in Offingen by the entrepreneurs Silbermann and Lembert. In 1912, Johann Offermann takes over Lembert's shares. Until the merger, both companies are mainly active in felt production.

In 1956, the first "Plexigum" plastic profile is produced by means of extrusion. It is the start date for BWF Profiles. With the founding of BWF Envirotec in 1968, the company becomes Europe's first manufacturer of filter media.

In the decades leading up to the turn of the millennium, the company successfully expands into the USA, Italy and China. The establishment of international production facilities​ in Turkey, India, Russia, Austria, South Africa, Poland and Spain has marked the last two decades of the BWF Group, which today is in its fifth generation of family ownership.

Overview of BWF Group milestones
from 1892 until today

2023
Expansions in Germany and Spain

Inauguration of the new BWF Envirotec production hall with an area of 2,700 m² at the headquarters in Offingen. Spanish subsidiary ACMA takes over the sales company Industri Textil Job S.L.U. in Spain. Change of name from ACMA to BWF Envirotec Spain, S.L.U.

Revenue 2023: approx. € 330 million | employees: 1,800

From left: Dr. von Waldenfels (Managing Partner, BWF Group), Alexander Holzheu (Manager Industrial Engineering), Nikolai Beranek (Managing Director, BWF Envirotec)

Eröffnung der neuen BWF Envirotec Produktionshalle
2022
New production site in Spain

Acquisition of ACMA in Spain by BWF Envirotec.

2021
Change in the Management Board

After 37 years Stefan Offermann will hand over his operational tasks to Maximilian Offermann and Dr. Philipp von Waldenfels with effect from January 1, 2021. On 13 September 2021, Maximilian Offermann took over the function of personally liable partner from his father Stefan Offermann.

125th anniversary of the BWF Group.

from left to right: Maximilian Offermann, Stefan Offermann, Dr. Philipp von Waldenfels

Change in the Management Board
2019
Another production site in Germany

Acquisition of the company HEY-SIGN GmbH in Meerbusch / Düsseldorf; manufacture and design of felt products in the field of interior design and lifestyle.

2018
The next generation takes over

Maximilian Offermann, 5th generation, becomes a Managing Director | Partner.

Innovation as a corporate value: On 1 September 2018 Innotec - the new, independent division for innovation management at BWF Group - officially begins its work.

The Company restaurant 'Johann's' is completely renovated and re-opens.

from left to right: Dr. Philipp von Waldenfels, Maximilian Offermann, Stefan Offermann

The next generation takes over
2017
New production sites in South Africa and Poland

Founding of BWF Envirotec, South Africa.

Acquisition of Orwat Filtertechnik in Poland and Germany by BWF Envirotec.

2016
The 5th generation joins the company

After 34 years, engineer Wolfgang Schmid hands his position on to Dr. Philipp von Waldenfels. The company name changes from BWF Offermann, Schmid & Co. KG to BWF Offermann, Waldenfels & Co. KG.

120th anniversary of the BWF Group.

Jack Filter Entstaubungstechnik becomes BWF Envirotec, Austria.

from left to right: Dr. Philipp von Waldenfels, Dr. Wolfgang Schmid, Stefan Offermann

The 5th generation joins the company
2010
New production site in Russia

Founding of LLC BWF Envirotec in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation.

2008
New production site in India

Foundation of BWF Tec India Pvt. Ltd. in Pune, India.

New production site in India
2005
New production sites in Turkey and Italy

Founding of BWF Endüstri Filtreleri ve Teknik Kece Ltd. sti. in Izmir, Turkey.

Acquisition of BWF FTI S.p.a..

2001
Founding of BWF Profiles, China

Start of production for BWF Profiles in the People's Republic of China.

Founding of BWF Profiles, China
1996
BWF Group's first production site in China

Founding of BWF Environmental and Industrial Technology Wuxi Co. Ltd. in the People's Republic of China.

1990
Felt for the fashion industry

Acquisition of BWF facol s.r.l., Milan, Italy; manufacture of high-quality undercollar materials for menswear.

Felt for the fashion industry
1989
BWF Group conquers a new continent

Founding of BWF America Inc. in the USA; filter bag manufacture.

1988
Production of thermoformed and injection-moulded parts

Acquisition of tkt GmbH & Co. KG, Geretsried; manufacture of thermoformed and injection-moulded parts.

Production of thermoformed and injection-moulded parts
1975
BWF Group goes international

First foreign subsidiary BWC Textiles Ltd., founded in Upperlands, Northern Ireland; production of filter media.

1968
Founding of BWF Envirotec

as the first manufacturer to introduce needle felts as a filter medium.

Founding of BWF Envirotec
1962
Felt factory merger

The two felt factories in Offingen and Hof merge to form the "Bayerische Wollfilzfabriken KG Offermann, Zeiler, Schmid & Co. KG Offingen Hof," with headquarters in Offingen.

1956
Founding of BWF Profiles

Diversification: The first "Plexigum" plastic profile is produced by means of extrusion.

Foundation of BWF Profiles
1912
Councillor of Commerce Johann Offermann

acquires the Lembert shares of the Offingen felt factory.

1896
Founding of the felt factory in Offingen

by the entrepreneurs Johannes and Wilhelm Lembert and Franz Baptist Silbermann.

Establishment of a felt factory in Offingen
1892
The company "Wunnerlich, Schmid & Co." is founded

in Hof by Theodor Wilhelm Schmid, Robert Wunnerlich and Otto Franck. Felt production begins in 1902.