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Westfalia-Werke

Coordinates: 51°50′42.15″N 8°18′28.61″E / 51.8450417°N 8.3079472°E / 51.8450417; 8.3079472
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Westfalia-Werke
Formerly
  • Franz Knobel & Sohn GmbH
  • Fahrzeugfabrik Westfalia
IndustryVehicle customization - Automotive supplier
FoundedOctober 1, 1844; 180 years ago (1844-10-01) in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Germany[1]
FounderFranz Knöbel and Johann Bernard Knöbel
Headquarters,
Area served
International
Key people
  • Jay Samuel Goldbaum
  • Matthew Joseph Meyer
  • Reiner Günter Spatke
ProductsCamping Van Conversion (trailers - towing-cycle carriers)
Brands
Revenue190 Million Euro (2015)
Number of employees
~700[1] (2019)
ParentRapido Group (since 2011)
Subsidiaries
  • Westfalia Van Conversion GmbH. now Westfalen Mobil GmbH
  • Westfalia-Automotive GmbH (trailer couplings, cycle carriers)
  • Westfalia Trailer Group GmbH (close 2002)
Website
Westfalia Franz Knöbel & Söhne in 1920 in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Westfalia-Werke (Westfalia works), now two firms: Westfalia-Automotive GmbH and Westfalen Mobil GmbH, are a manufacturer of automotive camping equipment and trailers.[1] Westfalia-Werke is based in Rheda-Wiedenbrück in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. Westfalia invented the ball head trailer hitch in 1934. Westfalia is best known for Volkswagen Westfalia Campers. Westfalia is a leading manufacturer of trailer hitches for cars and light commercial vehicles. Westfalia also manufactures a line of automotive bicycle racks.[2][3]

History

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Westfalia traces its founding back to Johann Bernard Knöbel, who opened a blacksmith shop in Wiedenbrück on October 1, 1844.[1] The blacksmith shop was passed on to Knöbel two sons Wilhelm and Franz. Wilhelm and Franz added wagon and saddlery products to the business. Near the end of World War I, the two brothers ended their blacksmith partnership. Franz Knöbel changed the blacksmith shop to the manufacture of hunting wagons and horse-drawn sleighs, founding Franz Knobel & Sohn GmbH. In 1918, the company built a self-propelled carriage. In 1922, Franz Knöbel called his new company Westfalia, Fahrzeugfabrik Westfalia (Vehicle factory Westfalia). In the 1920s he start making a line of automobile products, including trailers, truck body, coachbuilding and taxi cab conversions.[4] Before 1932, trailers used only jaw or hook couplings with an eyelet for trailer towing. In 1932, Franz Knöbel developed the trailer hitch with a ball head and socket joint. Franz Knöbel patented the ball head-socket joint trailer hitch invention on March 14, 1934. Westfalia hold a number of towing patents. [5][3][6]

The first camping conversions was the Volkswagen Camping Box, built by request in 1951 on a Volkswagen Type 2 van. The request was for VW van to have a sleeping, living and working space. As cars and truck power increased Westfalia built motorhomes and camping trailers. In the 1960s Westfalia built driver's cab for the Mercedes unimog[3]. In 1966, Westfalia was the first manufacturer to market a removable trailer coupling using bolt on system. In 1987, Westfalia introduced a fully automatically removable trailer coupling.

In 1999, Westfalia-Werke divided into three divisions: [3]

  • Westfalia Van Conversion GmbH (motorhomes), now Westfalen Mobil GmbH
  • Westfalia-Automotive GmbH (trailer couplings, towbars, and cycle carriers.)
  • Westfalia Trailer Group GmbH (Westfalia-Trailergroup). In 2002 went bankrupt.

In 2002, Westfalia introduced an electrically swiveling trailer hitch. In 2006 Westfalia took over trailer coupling manufacturer SIARR in France. In 2007 Westfalia took over of the trailer coupling manufacturer Monoflex in Sweden. In 2008, Westfalia introduced a wide range of bicycle rack systems. [3]

On 28 January 2010, Westfalia-Werke filed for bankruptcy after having a 40 percent drop in sales. Under bankruptcy restructure Westfalia-Werke was able to stay open. In 2011 Westfalia was acquired by the Rapido Group, a French motorhome company.[7][8]

Westfalia-Automotive GmbH now has 1,700 different types of trailer coupling covering almost all vehicle makes. In October 2016, Westfalia-Automotive trailer couplings was sold to the American trailer hitch manufacturer Horizon Global Corporation.[9][10]

Products

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  • Westfalia built complete small camping trailers and has done camper conversions on number of vans.[11]
  • Westfalia built the model Michelangelo on the Fiat Scudo van starting in 2009.[11]
  • Westfalia trailers such as B. Jupiter, Saturn, XXL and Rodeo were manufactured in Rheda-Wiedenbrück. In 2002 the Westfalia-Trailer group went bankrupt. In 2003, former Heinemann employees found Westfalia-Heinemann AG which went bankrupt in 2004.[3] Westfalia Trailer Systems GmbH was founded in 2005. This company acquired the rights of use to the corresponding brands, production tools, etc. of the former Westfalia-Heinemann AG from a South African company, which were purchased by the insolvency administrator in 2005. Today, Westfalia Trailer Systems produces horse and other trailers under the name "Westfalia" in Obergoseln, Saxony.[3][17]
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Company history – Westfalia-Automotive". www.westfalia-automotive.com.
  2. ^ "Westfalia-Automotive". www.westfalia-automotive.com.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Westfalia – Company history | Westfalen Mobil GmbH". westfalia-mobil.de.
  4. ^ a b c "Westfalia - COACHBUILD.com". www.coachbuild.com.
  5. ^ "Trailer coupling".
  6. ^ Westfälische, Neue. "175 Jahre Westfalia: Von Hähnchenknochen und Anhänger-Kupplungen". Neue Westfälische.
  7. ^ "NEW: RAPIDO GROUP FINANCE | Westfalia Mobil GmbH". www.westfalia-mobil.com.
  8. ^ "About us - Our story - Groupe Rapido - Véhicule de loisirs". www.corporate-rapido.com.
  9. ^ "Detail – Westfalia-Automotive". www.westfalia-automotive.com.
  10. ^ "Horizon Global". www.horizonglobal.com.
  11. ^ a b Nelson, Robert (October 3, 2023). "Westfalia Camper Vans - Camper Vans". bosmobil.
  12. ^ "Westfalia". Outside Online. July 30, 2015.
  13. ^ "Westfalia Jules Verne, a quality campervan at a good price". Motor1.com.
  14. ^ "Westfalia's smart, connected Mercedes pop-top camper van pops out as well as up". New Atlas. June 8, 2019.
  15. ^ Nugget on Ford Transit Custom Vans, ford.com
  16. ^ "The New Westfalia Sven Hedin". www.campersales.co.uk.
  17. ^ "Westfalia Trailer Austria".
  18. ^ "Westfalia Camper is returning North America, caranddriver.com".
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51°50′42.15″N 8°18′28.61″E / 51.8450417°N 8.3079472°E / 51.8450417; 8.3079472