ThyssenKrupp boasts a strong and lasting presence in North America, particularly in the
United States. In addition to operations in Canada and Mexico, there are 70 companies in
the United States accounting for approximately 25,000 employees in all the states.
ThyssenKrupp sales in the United States are approximately $9.7 billion annually.
Through its predecessor companies, ThyssenKrupp has been part of U.S. historical
landscape for more than 170 years. Thyssen and Krupp and its related companies pioneered
significant inroads in the automotive, shipbuilding, machine tool, railway, elevator,
materials processing and foundry industries.
1837: Krupp Delivers Coin Minting Machine Prototypes to the U.S.
In 1837, Alfred Krupp, founder of predecessor company Krupp, based in Essen,
Germany, sent his company’s prototypes or “makes” for coin minting machines to the
U.S. Twelve years later, in 1849, Krupp delivered the “National Coin” to the
Philadelphia Mint at a price of $1,011.06.
1848: First Use of Krupp Steel: Pennsylvania Railway
The first use of Krupp steel occurred in 1848 when the Pennsylvania Railway Company tested two Krupp-made rail axles. After 80,000 miles of testing, the Buffalo and New York Railway Company acquired those used axles instead of buying new ones. America was discovering the strength of Krupp steel.
1893: Thyssen Enters U.S. Market
The first entry into the U.S. market for Thyssen occurred in 1893 when Henschel & Sohn, an eventual Thyssen company, received the first prize for locomotive design at the Chicago World’s Fair. Eleven years later in 1904, Henschel & Sohn earned the first prize for an aerodynamically streamlined train. It was the first high speed train of the century.
1929 and 1931: Stainless Steel Used in Chrysler Building and Empire State Building
Not many people know that Krupp’s Nirosta stainless steel sheet panels were used in the construction of the Chrysler Building (1929) and the Empire State Building (1931) in New York City.
1959: Founding of Thyssen Export Corporation in New York
Thyssen establishes a trading office in New York as the company’s presence continues to grow in the U.S.
1978: Thyssen Acquires The Budd Company, Headquartered in Troy, Michigan
The Budd Company, a leading U.S. automotive supplier, becomes part of the Thyssen Group.
1998: Thyssen Elevator Acquires Dover Elevator
The acquisition of Dover Elevator makes Thyssen Elevator the third biggest elevator manufacturer in the world.
1999: Merger of Thyssen and Krupp
Through the merger of Thyssen and Krupp, ThyssenKrupp was formed in 1999 as one of Germany’s largest technologies companies.
