1921 Foundation of the Gilgenberg & Röttger engineering company and merger with Waffenschmidt & Gazon into Wagiro Dissousgas GmbH. Factories in Beuthen, Hanover, Halle/W., Bochum

1929 Change of name to IGA Industriegas AG with additional factories in Berlin-Hohenschönhausen, Dresden, Duisburg-Wanheim, Saarbrücken, Halle/Saale, Sarstedt

1957 Change of name to IGA Industriegas GmbH & Co. KG. Start of diversification into different business areas

1971 Extension of the welding technology business area by acquiring a 60% shareholding in Alexander Binzel Schweißtechnik, Giessen

1972 Foundation of IBG GmbH & Co. KG focusing on the business areas of welding technology and mechanical engineering

1973 Technical innovation in welding technology thanks to the development and introduction of the mainstream welding socket and connector system, which later became the European norm and global standard

1974 Launch of first-generation liquid-cooled MIG/MAG gas-shielded welding torches

1976 First move towards capturing share in the American welding market by founding a production subsidiary in the USA

1978 Start of robotic welding system development coinciding with the first introduction of robots in automotive manufacturing

1985 IBG GmbH & Co. KG moves to new premises in Cologne, Pferdmengesstr. 1

1986 Acquisition of Kemper Kunststoff und Lackfabrik, Kassel (presently Kemper System GmbH & Co. KG)

100% acquisition of Alexander Binzel Schweißtechnik

1990 Acquisition of Kurt Haufe Schweißtechnik, production site in Dresden, as „gateway to the East“. Start of company network expansion into Eastern Europe

1996 First involvement of IBG in the People's Republic of China by founding its first welding technology production subsidiary ABITEC in Guangzhou

1998 Extension of the construction chemicals business area by acquisition of Coelan Flüssigkunststoffe as new production subsidiary

Entry into first joint ventures (70% IBG-share) in the People's Republic of China, producing tungsten and ceramic components. Further diversification of IBG by building up the component business

Strategic enlargement of core competence in the welding technology business area by acquiring the majority share (80%) in the Thermacut Group

1999 Founding and inauguration of a new welding technology production site in India.

Technical innovation in the construction chemicals business area through market domination by Kemperol 2K-PUR, the sole liquid coating in the world based on PUR (Polyurethan)without solvents

2000 Transformation of the ceramic components joint venture into a Wholly Foreign Owned Company (100% IBG)

Acquisition of the remaining shares in the Thermacut Group.

Acquisition of Alfachem and Alfachem Applications as Italian subsidiaries in order to strengthen the construction chemicals business area, especially in the area of decorative coatings

2001 Entry into a further joint venture (70% IBG-share) producing TIG welding torches in the People's Republic of China.

Transformation of the joint venture for tungsten components production into a Wholly Foreign Owned Company (100% IBG)

Sale of the mechanical engineering business area

2003 Foundation of an additional joint venture (70% IBG-share) manufacturing components for welding technology in China

2004 Transformation of the joint venture producing welding technology components into a Wholly Foreign Owned Company (100% IBG)

2005 Transformation of the joint venture producing TIG torches into a Wholly Foreign Owned Company (100% IBG)

2006 Foundation of IBG representative office in Shanghai, „IBG Shanghai Business Consulting“

2007 Further enlargement of the welding technology production network in Eastern Europe by foundation of a production site in Ryasan, Russia.

2008 Acquisition of Cantesco Corp. USA/Kanada. Expansion of the IBG product portfolio in the area of welding chemicals.

1921 1929 1957 1971 1972 1973 1974 1976 1978 1985 1986 1990 1996 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008