History of Düker

Düker – a modern company with a long tradition

There are few companies like DÜKER which can trace back their origin that far. More than 500 years ago - in 1469 - was the origin of a company whose products today are renowned worldwide. 
The second half of the 15th century saw the founding of industries which used the existing wood and timber wealth locally. The glass blowing industry as well as mining arrived in Laufach, which was one of the oldest colonies coming down from Main valley to the valleys of the northern Hochspessart.

Most of the manufacturing industry applies cast iron components within their production lines. Every day we see plenty of objects made of cast iron. However we rarely consider that this material is more than 2000 years old - and still up-to-date. In Europe iron casting became known around the 12th century. In the 16th century iron was still considered as a luxury object of the same category as gold and gemstones. At the time, the industry primarily manufactured bells and guns. The first cast iron pipes for water supply were manufactured around the end of the 15th century. In the following two centuries, the use of cast iron was extended more and more to other areas as well.

The charcoal requirements reduced the forests substantially. But fortunately at the same time, coke was discovered as a profitable fuel in England. That was the beginning of further industrial developments and of products requiring great quantities of cast iron. Upon its complete transformation into an iron foundry in the 19th century, the company introduced countless products for sewing-machines, cookers, pillars, stable equipments etc.

With the opening of an own fitter's shop in 1892, cast iron balconies, verandas, complete halls, bridges, trusses and many other products were added, which we still admire on some historic buildings or railway stations. In 1918 Friedrich Wilhelm Düker - who gave the company its name - introduced his know-how for enamelling, in particular of big objects such as bathtubs. And till this day, enamelling is a speciality of the company DÜKER!