How we became what we are…

Jan. 1971 - Master toolmaker Wilfried Rohlje sets up in business with 3 employees, under the name WIRO, in Kirchhundem, in the central part of Germany. The company's customers are mainly drawn from the local surroundings. Then as now, the motto read: "Quality means to satisfy the customer”.

1975 - Wilfried's son Reiner starts his apprenticeship as a toolmaker within the family business.
In 1985, he becomes a master toolmaker and a shareholder in the firm, which has since gone on to
become a private limited company with a customer base that extends across Germany. Its core expertise: the manufacture of injection moulding tools for technical components for the electrical and automotive industries.

1977 - The first injection moulding machine for the proving of tools. 3 machines with a clamping force of
up to 320 tons are now available for the proving of all tools (mainly 32- to 96-cavity).

1978 - First orders from abroad, in cooperation with injection moulding machine manufacturers.
First tools for the manufacture of closure components. First participation in a trade fair outside Germany.

1979 - The company moves to its current site, not far away, in Olpe. Production of tools for closure components is gradually increased. Export orders grow continually as a result of participation in international plastics trade fairs.

1987 - Expansion of manufacturing capacity through the construction of a new production hall and the putting into service of state-of-the-art machine tools. Concentration on the manufacture of maintenance-free, high-performance tools for closure components, with a cycle time guarantee.

1990 - 1 year after reunification - foundation of the sister company, MIDENA Formenbau, in Schmölln/Thuringia.

1996 - Setting up of a factory in Beijing, China, in conjunction with a business partner from Hong Kong.

2003 - Setting up of a factory in India, together with an Indian business partner.

2006 - High-point thus far in the company's history: over 300 leading machine tool manufacturers from German-speaking countries take part in the respected competition "Excellence in Production".
The overall winner:

"WIRO: Tool Maker of the Year 2006".

2008 - Our consistent progress at top level and in all areas has once again been acknowledged by the esteemed jury who awarded the first prize in this competition to our company:

"WIRO: Tool Maker of the Year 2008".

Last but not least:

WIRO is responsible for setting milestones in tool manufacture, e.g. through the development of new kinds of cooling and demoulding systems, the use of special steels and coatings, guaranteed cycle times, full documentation and a unique, comprehensive service.

Between 80% and 90% of WIRO's production now goes to export, serving customers in over 73 countries, in 9 of which the company maintains a sales office.

Since 1985, the number of people employed at WIRO's head office in Olpe has remained constant, at between 30 and 35.

So far, over 100 junior staff have learnt their craft at WIRO, many of them now forming part of the company's core team.