The story of Fe Støberiet A/S
Fe støberiet A/S was founded by Frantz Egon Johannesen in 1949 in Herning under the name Midtjysk Jernstøberi A/S.
Frantz Egon Johannesen was a trained hand molder and originally came from Randers. He decided to become an independent iron foundry. Since there was no iron foundry in Herning at that time, he chose to move from Randers to Herning and founded an iron foundry in Herning in 1949.
The foundry was located at the southern end of Herning, which was largely just industry at the beginning.
Over the years, the foundry grew and they gradually got automatic molding lines. The foundry was built so that it could make small and medium-sized series. At that time, a lot of castings were made for agriculture and other industries.
Slowly, opportunities for export to Sweden and Germany began to emerge. The name Midtjydsk Jernstøberi did not sound very good in foreign languages – and it was decided to change the name.
In 1981 the name was changed to Fe Støberiet A/SFe is the chemical name for iron – but also the initials of the foundry's founder, Franz Egon.
In 1986, Claus Johannesen took over the operation of the foundry when Franz Egon passed away at the age of only 68. Claus Johannesen was educated as a hand molder at the foundry in Herning, and then as an engineer from Odense Teknikum.
Gradually, the foundry in Herning was no longer located in an industrial district – the city was slowly expanding into the southern part of the city – and it became a bit of a problem that there was heavy industry at that end of the city.
The city council of Herning decided that heavy industry should leave the city.
In August 1994, acquired Fe Støberiet buildings and machinery from the former Holstebro Jernstøberi A/S and moved the entire production to Holstebro. This was a costly move and it was difficult to get money for the daily operations.
The foundry therefore went into receivership in 1995 and a solution was sought with new investors. A German customer of the foundry chose to inject capital into the company and operations in Holstebro were able to continue.
In 1998, the third generation – Jesper Johannesen trained as an engineer and joined the company full-time with responsibility for production. The foundry could still only make grey iron – and gradually there was a greater and greater demand for ductile iron. To produce ductile iron, it was necessary to invest in electric melting furnaces – a very large investment that did not succeed.
In 2000, Jesper Johannesen chose to try his hand outside the family business and gained experience from production in the wood industry, but quickly returned with a few years as director of a bronze foundry and as production manager at an aluminum foundry.
It gradually became more and more expensive to produce castings in Denmark, and in September 2003 production in Denmark was closed down when Fe Støberiet A/S could no longer operate profitably.
It was decided to keep a department in Denmark that could serve customers, and production would then be primarily in Germany via the foundry's German investor. This meant Fe Støberiet A/S part of a smaller group with foundries in Germany and China and could now offer a much larger product range within metal casting.
In 2004, Jesper Johannesen returned to Fe Støberiet A/S and threw himself into the sale of castings. In 2005, Jesper Johannesen took over the management and a larger share of the company and Claus Johannesen retired after more than 40 years in the industry. In 2006, he moved Fe Støberiet A/S back to Herning, where modern warehouse and office facilities are now available.
In 2019, Jesper Johannesen chooses to buy out the German investor. Fe Støberiet A/S and from having 40% of the company, Jesper Johannesen owns it today Fe Støberiet A/S 100%.
Fe støberiet A/S has more than 70 years of experience, with optimal solutions within casting, manufacturing, processing and surface treatment of quality castings.
Fe Støberiet A/S provides the customer with professional advice within casting.
Fe Støberiet A/S is the customer's total supplier within castings.
The story of Fe Støberiet A/S - Holstebro 1995
The story of Fe Støberiet A/S - Lind 2006
A little about the past of the foundry industry in Denmark
The foundry industry in Denmark has a long history, stretching back to the 19th century, but its development and importance have changed significantly since the year 1900.
In the 20th century, foundries in Denmark experienced a number of changes due to technological advances, globalization, and changes in the market. At the beginning of the 20th century, foundries played an important role in the Danish industrial
development. They were primarily focused on metal casting and the manufacture of components for various industries such as machine building, automobile production and tool making. These
Foundries were often located near sources of raw materials and had a significant role in supplying essential parts to industry.
After World War II, the foundry industry in Denmark experienced a period of growth and expansion. Foundries adapted to new technologies and production methods to improve the efficiency and quality of their products. The manufactured cast components for a variety of sectors such as transportation, machinery, construction and more. During the 20th century, the foundry industry faced challenges such as global competition and changes in demand for different materials and components.
Globalization led to increased competition from low-wage countries, which pressured some Danish foundries to close or adapt their business models to remain competitive.
Furthermore, technological advances and automation have changed the way foundries operate. Advanced production methods such as computer-aided casting and advanced materials have changed the landscape of the foundry industry, with the focus shifting towards more specialized and advanced products.
Today, the foundry industry in Denmark is still present, but the number of foundries may not be as large as in the past due to restructuring, mergers and technological advances. The foundries that are still active often focus on specialized casting techniques, precision and high quality to meet the needs of the industry and compete in the international market.
It is important to note that the industry has always been subject to market dynamics, technological changes and global competition, which have shaped its development and transformation over the years.