Quelltext der Seite BSH Chronologie 1967-1978: Gründung und nationale Konsolidierung/en

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"The European market demands companies of a European dimension. The consolidation of the technical and commercial strengths and activities of the mutual consumer goods segments will significantly improve the competitive strength of the merged segments."<ref>Quote from the preamble of the joint venture contract, BSH Corporate Archives, F-BSH-001, 40 Jahre BSH – Eine Chronik, Munich 2007, page 26.</ref>


<span id="Gemeinsam_aus_der_Krise"></span>
==== Overcoming the crisis together ====

This quote from the preamble to the contract establishing "Interessengemeinschaft Haushaltsgeräte (IGH)", which was the forerunner to Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH (BSHG<ref>BSH was founded in 1967 as Bosch-Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH - BSHG for short. In 1998, the name was changed to BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH, with the short form BSH. Since the sale of the Siemens shares in BSH to Robert Bosch GmbH the company’s name is now BSH Hausgeräte GmbH, but still BSH for short.</ref>), succinctly describes how the planned cooperation was good for all sides. The market for electrical home appliances had recorded increases in production and growth rates of up to 290 percent after the economic miracle. From the mid-1960s, every household was equipped with the necessary appliances, sales were stagnating and growth rates declining rapidly.<ref>Manfred Schwender: Absatzbedingungen und Absatzorganisation für Elektro-Haushaltsgeräte, Nuremberg 1964, pages 9–12.</ref> This development was reinforced by a general downturn, which resulted in a minor recession in 1967.<ref>Also: Susanne Hilger: „Amerikanisierung“ deutscher Unternehmen: Wettbewerbsstrategien und Unternehmenspolitik bei Henkel, Siemens und Daimler-Benz (1945/49-1975), Stuttgart 2004, S. 136–138; BSH Corporate Archives, F-BSH-001, 40 Jahre BSH – Eine Chronik, Munich 2007, page 28. Dieter Spethmann: Deutschland – Die Dritte Industrielle Revolution, Munich 2010, page 72. Hans-Ulrich Wehler: Deutsche Gesellschaftsgeschichte. Fifth Volume. Bundesrepublik und DDR. 1949–1990, Munich 2008, page 59.</ref> In this situation, the benefits of collaboration were obvious: consolidation through cooperation, establishment of common development, shared production and joint sales as well as focus on technical innovations and rationalization.<ref>BSH Corporate Archives, B01-0001, page 6. Hilger: "Amerikanisierung" deutscher Unternehmen, page 139.</ref> IGH wanted to use its strong new market position to stand up to the competition, which was coming primarily from Italy, the U.S. and Japan.<ref>BSH Corporate Archives, B01-0001, Communication from BSH to the Board of Management of Bosch-Haushaltgeräte and Siemens Electrogeräte from 18.12.1968. Siemens: Entfesselter Riese, in: Der Spiegel 9/1966, pages 56-58, page 58. Johannes Bähr/Paul Erker: Bosch. Geschichte eines Weltunternehmens, Munich 2013, page 378.</ref>

<span id="Erste_Schritte"></span>
==== First steps ====

Back in 1963, a commission made up of [[Special:MyLanguage/Robert Bosch GmbH|Robert Bosch GmbH]] and [[Special:MyLanguage/Siemens|Siemens AG]] gave thought to a collaboration in the field of home appliances.<ref>BSH Corporate Archives, Folder II "Quellen Tochtermann-Chronik". Outline sketch of ideas for collaboration between Siemens/B in the area of home appliances by the SE/B commission from November 15, 1963.</ref> Initial specific negotiations between the two companies took place in 1965 with a preliminary contract being inked in June of that year. A "neutral office" in Munich, which was renamed "Studio ELGE" from August 1965, was to take charge of formulating the definitive contract.<ref>BSH Corporate Archives, B01-0001, Gründung und Leitung der Bosch-Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH (BSHG), from page 3.</ref> "Interessengemeinschaft Hausgeräte (IGH)" was founded on December 22, 1965, made up of the following companies: Siemens Electrogeräte AG (SE) and [[Special:MyLanguage/Die Geschichte der Marke Constructa|Constructa-Werke GmbH]], both subsidiaries of Siemens as well as the home appliance group of Robert Bosch GmbH, Blaupunkt and Junkers & Co., subsidiaries of Robert Bosch GmbH. The first meeting of shareholders took place on February 5, 1966 in Munich, with IGH addressing the public in a press release in March. IGH was managed by Dr. Helmut Ohr from Robert Bosch GmbH and Dr. Wilhelm Vox from Siemens AG. 

<span id="Mehrere_starke_Marken_unter_einem_Dach"></span>
==== Many strong brands under one roof ====

Criticism of the planned cooperation came from different sides, including the state. The Federal Cartel Office raised concerns about the cooperation in a resolution from March 17, 1966.<ref>BSH Corporate Archives, B01-0001, Gründung und Leitung der Bosch-Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH (BSHG), page 7.</ref> The contract was thereupon revised and the Cartel Office gave the green light on November 22, 1966. Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH (BSHG) was founded by Siemens AG and Robert Bosch GmbH on January 13, 1967.<ref>BSH Corporate Archives, B01-0001, page 8.</ref> BSHG was run in equal representation by three shareholders from each of the parent companies, Siemens and Bosch.<ref>BSH Corporate Archives, B01-0001, Gründung und Leitung der Bosch-Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH (BSHG), page 8.</ref> The share capital was one million Deutschmark. The products continued to be distributed under the registered trademarks. In the years that followed, BSHG reorganized its sales and production. Structures were standardized based on the Siemens sites in [[Special:MyLanguage/Der Standort Berlin|Berlin]] (specializing in washing machines) and [[Special:MyLanguage/Die Fabrik Traunreut|Traunreut]] (specializing in cookers, ovens, cooktops) and the Bosch site in [[Special:MyLanguage/Die Fabrik Giengen|Giengen]] (specializing in dishwashers and refrigeration appliances) and synergies were sought. 

<span id="Aus_„Siemensianern“_und_„Boschlern“_werden_„BSHGler“"></span>
==== Siemens and Bosch staff join forces as BSHG ====

Bosch and Siemens announced the stepping up of their collaboration in a joint press release on November 28, 1972. BSHG Manager Wolfgang Tochtermann described the consortium agreement negotiated in his "History of BSH" as the second phase of BSHG's integration.<ref>BSH Corporate Archives, Folder II "Quellen Tochtermann-Chronik"</ref> Bosch Hausgeräte, Siemens Electrogeräte GmbH and Constructa GmbH were newly established as operating companies on January 1, 1973. These companies took their instructions from BSHG but remained full subsidiaries of their parent companies. The collaboration with the Robert Bosch GmbH subsidiary Blaupunkt Werke GmbH was secured by BSHG's 25 percent intercompany holding in Blaupunkt. The company Junkers & Co GmbH, likewise a subsidiary of Bosch, was no longer involved. The share capital was increased to 140 million deutschmarks. Functions that had previously been undertaken separately, including financing, auditing, patents and contracting, taxes and insurance, customer service and spare parts supply, warehousing and transportation as well as accounting and market research were converged. The workforce at BSHG expanded to meet the new challenges. At the same time, the company was making efforts to standardize its conditions of employment. Siemens employees of BSHG were formerly remunerated according to Siemens rates and Bosch employees according to Bosch rates. It took until the end of 1977/beginning of 1978 before all of the around 16,000 employees were taken over by BSHG on January 1, 1978 following a renewed transformation of the companies.<ref>Robert Bosch HG and Siemens Electrogeräte are transformed to BSHG and Constructa to Siemens Electrogeräte and then newly established.</ref> The staff received uniform conditions of employment. The plant magazine ''inform'', which had been appearing since 1978, promoted a sense of community among the staff. 

<span id="Neue_Räume"></span>
==== New premises ====

[[File:1980 Dillingen Luftbild rbosch 17874.jpg|thumb|Dillingen aerial view, 1980. (Source: Robert Bosch GmbH - Corporate Archives, signature 6 001 17874)]]
Major changes were also taking place in terms of premises at this time: the new dishwasher plant in Dillingen was inaugurated in 1976 and BSHG acquired its first foreign investment through shares in the Greek market leader Pitsos (now BSH Ikiakes Syskeveses A.B.E.), which was founded originally in 1865. The administration role moved to a [[Special:MyLanguage/Die Konzernzentrale München|new building in Hochstrasse in Munich]] in 1978. The shared, centrally located administration building laid the cornerstone for BSHG's corporate identity and functioned as a clearly visible external sign of the internal amalgamation.<ref>BSH Corporate Archives, Tochtermann Folder: Vortrag zur RB-GPI, dated 16.12.1991 by Dr Wörner.</ref>

The second integration phase ended in 1978. The participating companies, that is Robert Bosch Hausgeräte GmbH, Siemens Electrogeräte GmbH and Constructa GmbH, finally merged in Bosch Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH. BSHG acquired full entrepreneurial sovereignty with respect to its parent companies following conclusion of this phase. The joint venture was a success.

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== Notes ==