Founding of the company

The actual company founder was Susanna Hesterberg (née Wellenbeck), who set up a hammer mill on the ground of her deceased husband and ran it with a foreman and two journeymen. However, the company name still in use today is attributed to her son Franz, as well as his two sons: Franz Theodor and Carl Leopold.

Initial growth period

Franz Hesterberg and his two sons not only continuously expanded production, but also very successfully increased trade in third-party steel products. Furthermore, exports into the German states and European countries were constantly increased, reaching a share of up to three quarters of turnover.

New location

The sons of Franz Theodor Hesterberg, Otto and Theodor, acquired today’s company premises in order to bring production and trade activities under one roof. At this time, the product range included a wide variety of iron goods which were used in agriculture, construction and household; such as nails, ploughshares and blades.

Second growth period

In addition to harrow teeth, threshing blades and root choppers which were required by an increasingly mechanised agricultural sector, horseshoes in particular were a guarantor of success for Hesterberg. The pigeon was introduced as a trademark and the fifth generation, the cousins Alex and Franz Hesterberg, joined Theodor Hesterberg in managing the company.

Third growth period

Günther Dörken and Dr Rocholl, the husbands of Ilse and Ursula Hesterberg (daughters of Alex and Franz), took over management of the company after the war and organised its re-establishment. Although the first fasteners for commercial vehicles were developed as early as 1930, the big breakthrough in this business came during the years of Germany’s Wirtschaftswunder.

A new era begins

Hesterberg established itself as the leading German manufacturer of fasteners for commercial vehicles and became a wholly owned subsidiary of the international BPW Group based in Wiehl. In light of this, the Dörken family – the last successors of the founder family -left the business.

Specialisation and expansion

Since the takeover by BPW, Hesterberg has consistently focussed on the commercial vehicle industry and has expanded its product range in this sector. In addition to the established product range, aluminium superstructures are now also offered; such as rear portal doors and dropsides, as well as whole vehicle kits.

The future needs tradition

Hesterberg, still with the pigeon logo, is today considered to be one of the leading international manufacturers of fastener and superstructure technology for the commercial vehicle industry. For decades our customers have valued the innovative, high-quality and reliable products manufactured under the HESTAL brand name.