Historic hoists

In 1872, Adolf Bleichert designs his first aerial wire ropeway for a paraffin manufacturer in Saxony. Bleichert's innovative system differs from standard systems of the day by incorporating a separate hauling rope. This hauling rope is lighter than the carrying rope and attaches to individual cargo carriers. This allows the carrying rope to be fixed and establishes the Bleichert system: the bi-cable wire ropeways we know today. By 1874, Bleichert's first wire ropeway -- at 2,242-feet long -- is hauling 13 tons per hour.

Eduard Brandt, a friend and owner of the Bitterfield brickworks, allows Adolf Bleichert to build a facility to test a new aerial wire ropeway design that encompasses lessons learned from the earlier paraffin conveyance system. This new "Teutschenthaler aerial wire ropeway" is built and tested in May of 1874. With help from fellow engineer, Theodor Otto, Bleichert tunes the system until having "disputes" with the foundry. Leaving the facility, Bleichert collaborates with Otto to create a separate "concern for the construction of aerial ropeways." On July 1, 1874 in Schkeuditz the firm, Bleichert & Otto Civil Engineers, is founded. Engineering and practical expertise is the company's initial strength with sub-components bought from other manufacturers.

During the summer of 1876 Bleichert parts ways with Otto. However, he continues on his own to pursue ideas for innovations and inventions and establishes the new firm, Adolf Bleichert & Co.

In 1877, Bleichert rents a small factory in Leipzig-Neuschönfeld, gathering twenty workers for the shop and another six for the technical office. Here he begins the design, manufacture and sale of wire ropeway system components. In October of 1877, Bleichert brings his brother-in-law on board, the businessman Heinrich Piel.

The company wins a large order from industrialist Alfred Krupp for his works in Sayn on the Lahn River. This catches the eye of the largest German industries and Adolf Bleichert & Co. is soon dominating the conveyance market.

Offering a product portfolio of aerial wire ropeways, conveyor systems, and electric trucks and locomotives, the company is able to respond to economic downturns while expanding business.

With new facilities and advanced manufacturing equipment, company has registered over fifty domestic and foreign patents by the end of the nineteenth century.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Adolf Bleichert & Co. is a world-renowned and holds all the world wire ropeway records: highest and longest in Argentina (20.6 miles to altitude of 13,940 feet), longest-over-water in New Caledonia (0.6 miles), highest capacity in France (500 tons per hour), steepest in Tanzania (86% grade), most northern in Norway (79º latitude), and most southern in Chile (41º latitude).

Adolf Bleichert dies from tuberculosis at the age of 56 on July 29, 1901. His will provides for the continuation of the company as an open partnership and family enterprise. The Commercial Registry of October 12, 1901 officially lists the widow Victoria Emilie Bleichert and all six children as, "co-owners of a factory of wire ropeways."

Having groomed his sons Adolf Max and Max Paul to take over management, Bleichert leaves them an efficient administrative organization, skilled engineers and machinists, a supply and distribution network that reaches far beyond Germany, and a company that has a reputation for innovation and quality.

With Max and Paul Bleichert now at the helm, a new division is formed: Bleichert Lifting Equipment Designs. The division combines the conveyance expertise of the company with new electric drive technology and develops innovative designs for intra-factory hoisting and conveyance.
Industrial complexes such as gas works, chemical concerns, foundries and ship coaling stations require the storage, hoisting and movement of large quantities of raw material. Seeking to exploit the niche presented by inefficient man-handling of goods, Bleichert offers long-term savings as a counter to high up-front hardware and installation costs.

A Bleichert Electro-Suspension Way consists of solid horizontal traveling rails that are suspended from cast iron clamps. Running overhead, the rails free valuable factory floor space. Carriers are driven by electric running gear and include a 1,500 kg hoist that is manually or remotely operated. Unlike a wire ropeway, the suspension way is independent of a pulling or traction rope. This allows dramatic track curving and accommodates most switching requirements. However, the track incline is limited to 5% as carriers can not climb under their own power. Therefore, at the base of an incline, a clutch on the carrier grasps a pulling rope. Once at the incline apex, the clutch releases the rope, returning propulsion to the carrier's own electric running gear.

Though a single worker can now operate a large installation remotely, some tasks require an operator on hand and in command. For this type of specialized hoisting and intra-factory conveyance, Bleichert introduces its so-called "man-trolley." These trolleys -- what today we would call an inverted monorail -- consists of an electrically powered carriage that move at high speeds and incorporates a heavy hoist with either hooks or grippers. The operator is located in an integral booth that allows direct supervision and operation; especially useful with irregular hoisting sequences and changing payloads.

Through its offices in Brussels, Leipzig, London, and Paris, Adolf Bleichert & Co. provides an extensive catalog of conveyance and hoisting systems that see wide-spread use in a spectrum of industries.

For the company's contribution to the mobilization, supply and evacuation of German troops during the Great War, King Friedrich August of Saxon raises the Bleichert brothers to nobility, adding a title (von) to the surname.

Founded in 1876, Adolf Bleichert & Co. succumbs to the Great Depression, filing for bankruptcy one year after the 1931 collapse of the German banking system. Though family control is lost, the company and its core competencies continue on; surviving the Second World War and then Soviet control in a variety of forms. Today, several modern companies carry the Bleichert name: Pohlig Heckel Bleichert (PHB) builds wire ropeways, while another, Bleichert Förderanlangen GmbH, manufactures conveyor systems, over-head gantry transfer units and inverted electrified monorail systems.