QUALITY SINCE 1778
Like almost every eventful story, our history began with an ambitious and courageous person who dares to create something new. In our case, this courageous man was called Johann Friedrich Dick, son of a modest gunsmith, who dared to take the step into independence in 1778. In doing so, he laid the foundation for the success story of Friedr. Dick. So, as with many family businesses, a crafts business was the origin of our traditional company today. It all began with the production of files. Sharpening steels, knives and machines were added later.
In his work, Johann Friedrich Dick was guided by his vision: He wanted to produce all types of files himself, from the smallest watchmaker's file to the large arm file, “in exemplary workmanship”. Friedr. Dick had a lifelong pursuit of the highest quality, and this is still the highest priority in all areas of the company today. Find out more about the exciting history of the traditional company Friedr. Dick.
1778
COURAGE IN TURBULENT TIMES: JOHANN FRIEDRICH DICK FOUNDS A FILE CUTTER’S WORKSHOP IN ESSLINGEN
After several years of travelling, journeyman file cutter Johann Friedrich Dick returned to his home town of Esslingen and set up his own small workshop. Johann Friedrich Dick's ambition was already evident at the start of his career. His title of journeyman didn't satisfy him and he set off for Nuremberg, where he successfully passed his examination for a master's certificate. Those were turbulent times, because the revolutionary war was raging in the imperial city of Esslingen. This makes the step of founding his own small business seem all the more courageous. Esslingen is blessed to this day with a beautiful old town, and the house in which this first file cutter's workshop was located has also been preserved to this day. Only a short time later, the original workshop became too small, and Johann Friedrich Dick moved his file cutting business to larger premises while still remaining loyal to his home in Esslingen. Unfortunately, he died at the young age of 39 and handed over his workshop to his son, who moved to the Nikolauskapelle 5 years later. This chapel has also been preserved to this day and is located in the middle of the busy pedestrian zone on a bridge over the Neckar.
1875
GROWTH BEGINS
In the meantime, industrialisation had also reached Germany and Paul Friedrich Dick, later a counsellor of commerce, took over the company. He did not master the transition from a craft to an industrial business and the challenges of this time by chance. This achievement was mainly due to the character of Paul Friedrich Dick, who, like many Swabian business leaders, possessed an irrepressible will to create, demonstrated courage and was absolutely gifted in organisation. He also excelled with his enormous expertise and craftsmanship. Shortly after taking over the workshop, he bought a new, larger property in which the Friedr. Dick file and tool factory soon grew into a small, but distinguished company. Under his guidance, the first file-making machine in Germany was constructed. Paul Friedrich Dick was a man of great courage, ambition and above all economic vision. He included other products in his production at an early stage. Sharpening steels appealed to him in particular.
1889
CUSTOMER FOCUS CREATES NEW VISIONS
Paul Friedrich Dick did not ignore a single requirement of his customers. As he had already been successfully supplying sharpening steels to the surrounding butcher's shops for several years, he expanded his product range once again and now also manufactured other tools, cleavers and knives as... Read more
1893
CROSSING THE ATLANTIC – THE WORLD'S FAIR IN CHICAGO
In the spring of 1893, Paul Friedrich Dick set off on a journey across the Atlantic to the USA. At the World's Fair in Chicago he presented his files, sharpening steels, tools and knives, but was also able to establish important business contacts for the distribution of his products. While Paul... Read more
1904
WORLD'S FAIR IN ST. LOUIS, USA
There is no question of how important the American market is for Friedr. Dick. For the upcoming world exhibition in St. Louis, USA, they packed their bags again and presented their products there as well. Further contacts and partnerships were established and Friedr. Dick was honoured with a gold... Read more
1914
THE SETBACKS OF A SUCCESS STORY
With the outbreak of the First World War, Friedr. Dick also faced hard times. Almost a third of the workforce was conscripted into the war and yet the existing supply contracts had to be fulfilled. Files were needed and material was scarce. Paul Friedrich Dick, the son of our counsellor of... Read more
1924
COMPETENCIES ARE EXPANDED: THE TAKEOVER OF WILH. MEEH GMBH, WIERNSHEIM
Friedr. Dick has always been connected to the crafts and cultivated many cooperations with workshops, both small and large. The Wilh. Meeh company, which mainly manufactured circular metal saws, was also among Friedr. Dick's most important partners. After the then owner left the company, Friedr.... Read more
1939
DARK TIMES AND A GLIMMER OF HOPE
Another dark chapter in history did not leave Friedr. Dick unscathed. While production continued normally at the beginning of the war, more and more employees were called up during the war years and fell victim to the war. In April 1945, the factory premises were badly damaged during bombing raids... Read more
1977
FOUNDING OF THE BAYREUTH BRANCH
The course is set for further growth, but there is a shortage of labour in the Swabian town of Esslingen. Large companies such as Daimler and Bosch are operating nearby. As a result, Friedr. Dick decided to set up another factory in Bayreuth in 1977. The branch factory immediately takes on... Read more
1989
WILHELM LEUZE, GREAT-GRANDSON OF PAUL DICK, TAKES OVER MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY
After almost 15 years, another direct descendant of counsellor of commerce Paul Dick has taken over the management of the company: Mr Wilhelm Leuze, great-grandson of Paul Dick, is now pulling the strings and steering the traditional company. Wilhelm Leuze, who had initially worked in a completely... Read more
1992
FRIEDR. DICK GOES USA – FRIEDR. DICK CORP. IS FOUNDED
Once again Friedr. Dick ventures across the Atlantic. In 1992, a sales office was opened in Farmingdale, New York, so as to be able to provide even better service in the land of unlimited opportunities. Over the years, many strategic partnerships have developed in the USA, which now need to be... Read more
1992
ACQUISITION OF VON DEN STEINEN, REMSCHEID: PRODUCTION OF CIRCULAR BLADES AND SAWING MACHINES
With the acquisition of the von den Steinen company in Remscheid, Friedr. Dick further secured its leading position in the circular blade sector. At the time, von den Steinen and Wilh. Meeh were the most important manufacturers of circular tools. Since no successor could be found at von den Steinen... Read more
1993
UNITED WE STAND STRONGER THAN ALONE: FILE PRODUCTION IS RELOCATED TO SWITZERLAND
The move to give up file production in Esslingen was not taken lightly in view of Friedr. Dick's long file-cutting tradition. For many years, Friedr. Dick had already been working together with a Swiss company as manufacturing partner – especially in the field of precision files. Both companies... Read more
1994
A SALES OFFICE IN MILAN, ITALY
Italy has always been an exciting and successful market for Friedr. Dick. This was due not least to an excellent representative who sold Friedr. Dick's products in Italy. However, after this representative had retired, a decision had to be made as to how sales in Italy should be handled in the... Read more
1997
THE MOVE FROM ESSLINGEN TO DEIZISAU
The company premises in Esslingen have been home to Friedr. Dick for over 100 years. This made the decision to leave the premises and move to Deizisau, about 10 km away, all the more difficult. In the meantime, the premises in Esslingen were not only too large, but also impractical and cumbersome... Read more
2010
MODERNISATION USING STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY
The production of chef's and butcher's knives continues to grow. F. DICK products have made a name for themselves worldwide, not least because of their absolutely professional quality. For this reason, knife production has been further modernised and manufacturing upgraded to the latest state of... Read more
2012
THE INTELLIGENT KNIFE FOR THE FOOD INDUSTRY
Another innovation reaches market maturity: the RFID system for the meat and food industry is distributed by the newly founded, 100% subsidiary RFIDICK GmbH. This makes it possible to seamlessly trace tools in production and ensures greater safety. The system has a modular design and can be... Read more
2017
CHANGE AT THE COMPANY'S MANAGEMENT BOARD - STEFFEN UEBELE BECOMES MANAGING DIRECTOR
After almost 30 years at the head of the traditional company, Wilhelm Leuze handed over the management to Steffen Uebele in the course of 2017. Mr. Uebele was already responsible for the international sales of the operating division "Knives and Machines" for several years and now takes over the management of the entire company. Friedr. Dick will still remain in family ownership.