Abus

From a family-owned basement forge to a globally successful security company

In 1924, in the small town of Volmarstein near Wetter an der Ruhr, a success story began that continues to this day. It was a time when people went to cinemas to watch silent films, children played on almost traffic-free streets, and computers were still a vision of the future. In that very year, August Bremicker and his sons achieved a decisive breakthrough: with the padlock “Iron Rock,” they launched a product that laid the foundation for the future of the company and the family.

The development and production of the first padlocks began in the forge located in the basement of the family home. Competition was intense, as many similar forges existed in Volmarstein and the surrounding area. Nevertheless, August Bremicker and his sons were highly successful, and the company quickly grew to around 30 employees. In 1929, the family business acquired a production facility on Hegestraße in Volmarstein, which is still in operation today. By the late 1930s, ABUS already employed around 300 people. After the Second World War, August Bremicker’s sons took a bold step toward a new beginning – a decision that continues to shape the company’s long-term success.