Experience Has Future - History of the VULKAN Group

The VULKAN company has been owned solely by the Hackforth family since 1889. The VULKAN Group companies are committed to a common set of values from the tradition grown out of a medium-sized family business. Our customers requirements for punctual delivery, quality, product safety and eco-friendliness with reduced costs are and continue to be a constantly growing challenge. Our aim is to offer benefits to the user from development and production to the marketing of products and services. All members of the family provide maximum support to reach this goal, now and in the future. Although the 5th generation won't be able to contribute for some time yet.

Black-and-white photo of five people in work clothes sitting and standing in front of a large, round machine component. Various tools and metal parts are scattered around them.
Two people in dark suits with white shirts and red ties are standing next to each other on a balcony or gallery. Large windows and a modern building can be seen in the background.

The Milestones of the VULKAN Group

1889
1898
1918
1926
1930
1941
1945
1951
1949
1967
1971
1976
1977
1978
1982
1997
2001
2005
2011
2013
2014
2015
2020
2022
  • Logo Louis Schwarz & Co Aktiengesellschaft Dortmund
    1889

    The Foundation

    VULKAN’s history began following the foundation of Maschinenfabrik Louis Schwarz in Dortmund. The company initially functioned as a supplier of brewing equipment, tanks and low pressure compressors for the already well-established Dortmund breweries.

  • Patent with the heading Louis Schwarz Civil Engineer
    1898

    The Conversion

    The world’s first clutch, which was capable of being activated under load, was produced for use in lifting machinery, hoists and reversing gearboxes. It was manufactured by Louis Schwarz and it marked the beginning of VULKAN couplings.   

  • Logo with the words “Dortmunder Vulkan” and “Aktiengesellschaft” (Dortmund Volcano and Cast Steel Factory), illustration of a hammer striking an anvil, inside a circular emblem
    1918

    The Renaming

    The merger of Maschinenfabrik Louis Schwarz and the company Heinrich Behrend resulted in the establishment of Dortmunder VULKAN AG.

  • Black-and-white photo of an older man without hair wearing glasses
    1926

    Foundation of the Maschinenfabrik Hackforth & Co.

    Foundation of Maschinenfabrik HACKFORTH & Co. by the engineer Bernhard Hackforth Sr (1871 – 1954) in Herne. The company was primarily involved in repair work and small amounts of contract work for the local mining and foundry industries. 

  • Black logo with the word “Vulkan” in large letters and the addition “Clutch and Transmission Manufacturing” underneath, on a white background
    1930

    The Spin-off

    The flourishing construction of couplings and transmission units for ships was separated from “Dortmunder VULKAN AG” and made autonomous under the name “VULKAN Kupplungs- und Getriebebau GmbH”. 

  • 1941

    The Takeover

    Maschinenfabrik HACKFORTH & Co. took over the production from VULKAN Kupplungs- und Getriebebau GmbH. This resulted in the foundation stone for the co-operation between ”VULKAN” and “HACKFORTH” being laid.

  • Old industrial workshop with several machines and workers. Daylight streams through the windows.
    1945

    The Reconstruction

    All commercial and technical installations of VULKAN (in Dortmund) and HACKFORTH (in Herne) were destroyed during a World War II air-raid. The reconstruction of Maschinenfabrik HACKFORTH & Co. in Wanne-Eickel commenced immediately after the war.

  • Advertisement for Vulkan couplings with text: “Vulkan EZ couplings''.
    1951

    The Highly Flexible VULKAN EZ-Coupling

    VULKAN acquired the sole manufacturing and global marketing rights for a highly flexible coupling, aptly named the “Highly flexible VULKAN EZ Coupling”.

  • Black logo with the lettering ‘HACKFORTH·CO·’ in capital letters and a circular emblem
    1949

    The Change

    Bernhard Hackforth Jr (1914 – 1990) assumed sole responsibility for the business from his father. As a result, Maschinenfabrik HACKFORTH & Co. passed to the second generation.

  • Person sitting at a desk with open documents and a pen in their hand. The person is wearing a suit with a shirt and patterned tie. In the background, there is a shelf and a framed picture on the wall.
    1967

    The Largest

    VULKAN was entrusted with the construction of the largest highly flexible couplings that had ever been built – the EZ 560 – with a nominal torque of 981 kNm.

  • Flat, modern company building with large windows and a white facade, surrounded by trees and a lawn. In the foreground is a sign with the blue “VULKAN” logo. The sky is blue with a few white clouds.
    1971

    The Foundation of VULKAN Corporation

    Foundation of the production subsidiary American VULKAN Corporation in Winter Haven, Florida.

  • Two-story industrial building with a white lower facade and brown upper facade. Large rows of windows are located in the upper section, while a wide gate opens at the bottom. A light-colored vehicle is parked in front of the building, and the word “VULKAN” can be seen above the entrance. The sky is cloudy.
    1976

    The Foundation of VULKAN do Brasil

    Foundation of the production subsidiary VULKAN do Brasil Ltda. in Sao Paulo, Brazil. 

  • A person is sitting at a desk in a room with wood paneling. The person is wearing a dark suit with a shirt and patterned tie and is holding an open book or document in their hand. There are other documents on the table. Framed pictures can be seen on the wall in the background.
    1977

    The Third Generation

    Bernd Hackforth (1949) joined the company as joint owner. This resulted in the third generation of the Hackforth family taking over a share of the responsibility.

  • A row of large industrial machines in a factory hall, all arranged in a line. Each machine is equipped with controls and monitors. One person is standing at one of the machines and working on it. In the background are large windows that let in plenty of daylight.
    1978

    The Foundation of the Company VULKAN Lokring

    Foundation of VULKAN Lokring Rohrverbindungen GmbH & Co. KG, the headquarters of which were and remain located in Herne. The company is engaged in the development, production and marketing of solder free tube connections for air conditioning and refrigeration.

  • Large curved metallic component with several segments stacked on top of each other. The segments are blue and brown in color and have rows of holes along the edges.
    1982

    RATO

    Foundation of VULKAN HAREX Stahlfasertechnik GmbH & Co. KG, the headquarters were located in Herne. HAREX milled steel fibres were used as a substitute for the standard steel reinforcement in concrete buildings. VULKAN Kupplungs- und Getriebebau developed a coupling with an extremely high torsional flexibility, which bore the name RATO. Following this, the manufacturing of the patent-registered RATO S coupling began.

  • Modern, two-story company building with a white facade and large windows. The word “VULKAN” is written on the front, with a smaller sign underneath. In front of the building is a wide driveway with green spaces and young trees. Three flagpoles with different flags can be seen on the roof. The sky is clear and bright.
    1997

    The Foundation of the Manufacturing Location WUXI VULKAN

    Foundation of the production subsidiary WUXI VULKAN Technologies Co., Ltd. in Wuxi, China.

  • Modern company building with a white facade and large blue panels. In front of the building is a well-kept green area with small plants and a wide paved path. To the right is a large green tank. The sky is clear and blue.
    2001

    The Foundation of the Manufacturing Location VULKAN Technologies

    Foundation of the production subsidiary VULKAN Technologies Pvt. Ltd. in Pune, India.

  • Large industrial machine in a factory hall, predominantly blue and gray in color. The machine consists of several vertical metal supports, moving components, and a work surface in the middle. On the right is a control panel with a screen and buttons. Pipes and other technical equipment are visible in the background.
    2005

    Own Vulcanization

    VULKAN Kupplungs- und Getriebebau established an in-house vulcanisation ensuring the control, knowhow and reproducible quality of a core process.

    The merger of VULKAN Harex Stahlfasertechnik GmbH & Co. KG and Krampe Strahltechnik GmbH & Co. KG resulted in the establishment of the joint venture KrampeHarex GmbH & Co. KG; the headquarters were located in Hamm.

  • Two people in suits and ties are standing next to each other. In the background, there are two large portraits of men in dark suits hanging in front of a neutral background.
    2011

    Opening of the 20th VULKAN Subsidiary

    After working with the management of VULKAN Lokring for four years, Sebastian Hackforth (1978), the son of the sole proprietor Bernd Hackforth, was appointed President of the Hackforth Holding GmbH & Co. KG. This meant that the fourth generation had now taken co-responsibility for the VULKAN Group.

    VULKAN Group celebrated the opening of the 20th VULKAN subsidiary located in Istanbul, Turkey. 

  • A sign with the words “HACKFORTH ACADEMY” and a stylized house graphic stands in the foreground. In the background, a building with a gray roof, wooden facade, and a terrace with railings can be seen, surrounded by green lawns and trees.
    2013

    Inauguration of the Hackforth Academy

    Inauguration of the Hackforth Academy in the former residence of Bernhard Hackforth. 

  • A person is working on a large, V-shaped steel support on a construction site. The support is white, and concrete walls and scaffolding poles can be seen in the background. Tools and materials are lying on the ground.
    2014

    A New Office Building Is Built in Herne

    As a fitting tribute to the 125th anniversary of the company a new office building is built at the headquarters in Herne. 

  • Three people in suits stand next to each other holding a blue ribbon and scissors in their hands. In the background, there is a bright room with glass walls and a large white structure.
    2015

    Opening of the New Headquarters' Office Building and Celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the VULKAN Group

    The VULKAN company has been owned solely by the Hackforth family since 1889. On occasion of the 125th anniversary of the company the new headquarters in Herne was inaugurated in September 2015.

  • Technical drawing of a ship with semi-transparent view and color-coded internal components.
    2020

    Hybrid Architect

    VULKAN has entered the market for hybrid and electric drives, offering customized and more efficient solutions as a Hybrid Architect. 

  • Close-up of a cylindrical object with diagonal grooves, mounted on a white flange with four black bolts. Background features blue dots.
    2022

    NEMOS

    Together with the technology company NEMOS, VULKAN presents a world first: the flexible drive shaft N-Flex®.  

    With the patented technology, the required installation space and the mass of the drive train can be significantly reduced.