LUBING turns 75 - a year to celebrate!
Ludwig Bening founded LUBING in May 1949 – so 2024 is the year of our 75th company anniversary.
At this point, we would like to take a look into the past with you and reveal, piece by piece, how the exciting LUBING story began. In each month of the anniversary year 2024, we will decipher and reveal a piece of LUBING history with a photo from the early days of the company. So it’s worth checking back here often! Over time, the individual contributions will result in a small LUBING story, which will also be available as an anniversary brochure during the anniversary year.
Ludwig Bening with his wife and child after the first successful years of business.
Part 1: How it all began.
Like so many other children of his generation, the war robbed Ludwig Bening of his future even before it had begun: drafted as a recruit at the age of 18 without any higher education, he spent his youth on the front lines of a senseless war.
He returns home in 1945 to a destroyed, hopeless country.
But the young man, who had to grow up so quickly, reclaims his world and begins to work on what he recognises as the greatest opportunity: establishing a functioning agriculture that can feed the local people again.
His ideas are new, technically adept and ambitious and solve pressing issues of our time – so he decides to put all his eggs in one basket.
Title page of the first advertising brochure for the patented LUBING wind turbines.
Foundation
In May 1949, before the currency reform, he founded Ludwig Bening Maschinenbau, LUBING for short (a combination of his first name and surname, the company was not renamed LUBING Maschinenfabrik until 1968).
The purpose of the company was to manufacture wind-powered pumps for use in pastures. The drive for technical optimisation, which has characterised the history of the company to this day, is already evident in them: LUBING wind turbines are equipped with a storm protection system developed in-house, which works on a purely mechanical basis and automatically turns the wheel out of the wind in strong storms to prevent damage.
His success proves him right: from three employees when it was founded, the company grows to almost 20 employees within eight years and continuously expands its business areas.
The successful patent application for the innovative “wind power pumping system” – filed before the company was founded and paid for with DM 10.
Part 2: Inventor years before the German economic miracle
Within a few years, Ludwig Bening succeeds in building up a flourishing company: from the first workshop on his father’s farm in Düste, production moves to Rechterner Straße in 1950, where Ludwig Bening erects a production building that also provides a home for him and his young family on the upper floor.
The small company is barely able to meet the demand for the innovative wind turbines and continues to optimise the product: using the then new material polystyrene instead of metal, it manufactures its own blades, thereby significantly increasing aerodynamics and efficiency.
The first residential and company building on Rechterner street in the mid-50s
Bold investments
Der Erfindergeist Ludwig Benings bricht sich auch auf anderen Gebieten Bahn: Öltanks und wirkungsstarke Warmwasser- und -luftheizungen, weitere Pumpen sowie ein Kartoffelroder werden in kürzester Zeit entwickelt und z.T. nach kurzer Produktionsdauer wieder verworfen. Erfolgreich hingegen ist die neu entwickelte Dickstoff-Kreiselpumpe – ebenfalls eine Erfindung des „Bastlers“ Ludwig Bening – so nennt ihn die lokale Tageszeitung, die seinen erfolgreichen Weg interessiert begleitet.
The now ten-strong team, which also repairs motor vehicles on the side, significantly expands capacity, but no longer fits into the small business premises. Ludwig Bening bravely allows himself to build a new home for himself and his young family next to the company building; the former flat becomes the company’s office. At the same time, a new production hall is built, which can start operations in 1955.
Newspaper clipping from the Diepholzer Kreisblatt
from the year 1957
Success proves Ludwig Bening right
But by 1958, with 30 employees, the next expansion becomes necessary. By the beginning of the 1960s, the number of employees had risen to 35. LUBING has increased its productivity by a factor of 50 in just under 10 years. The average wage of a locksmith has roughly doubled in the same period: from DM 1.20 to around DM 2.50 – per hour.
A look at the “export list” of LUBING’s VAT refund book.
Part 3: Years of consolidation
At the beginning of the 1960s, the now rapidly growing Ludwig Benings company sheds unprofitable product areas – such as oil heaters and tanks – and takes on a new employee who would shape the company’s fortunes until after the turn of the millennium: Egon Schumacher is hired as an engineer on 1 September 1964 after completing his mechanical engineering studies. His starting salary was DM 800 per month.
As he still had to complete his military service, he left the company two years later for 18 months and returned to a changed company in 1968.
The company’s main production area in the 1960s is optimised wind power pumps and systems, which find a stable customer base almost worldwide. 27 employees work at LUBING in 1964.
The newly hired engineer Egon Schumacher in front of a LUBING wind turbine
LUBING presents its wind turbines
A new business division
In the meantime, a fateful encounter takes place: Ludwig Bening meets Josef Meerpohl, the sales representative of the Dutch-American company Big Dutchman, which he would later take over. The two committed entrepreneurs immediately hit it off and recognised each other’s potential. Josef Meerpohl is looking for a manufacturer of drinking valves that can be used in chicken feeders. Ludwig Bening is always on the lookout for a good new idea – and invention. An agreement is reached – on the astronomical figure of 500,000 valves ordered. Per year!
The company’s main production area in the 1960s is optimised wind power pumps and systems, which find a stable customer base almost worldwide. 27 employees work at LUBING in 1964.
Price list of wind power drinkers from LUBING in 1958
LUBING brochure from the sixties
Part 4: From the wind power pump to the drinking valve
LUBING has found a new topic and starts producing drinking nipples – forerunners of the 4001 and 6001 articles still available today. In the meantime, the wind power pumps and systems, which can both pump water and generate electricity, have made a worldwide triumphal march and are exported to Sweden, France and even South America. At the beginning of the 1960s, Ludwig Bening travels to the distant continent himself to establish new business relationships and maintain existing ones. He was fascinated by the exoticism and the opportunities on site – the foundations for the company’s global presence and expansion also stemmed from the company founder’s enthusiasm.
The now 47-year-old company boss is politically active in his constituency of Diepholz and is a candidate of the liberal party for the district and local elections. On election day, September 28, 1968, it happens: On a cross-country journey, he tries to avoid a cyclist, veers off the road and has a serious accident. Ludwig Bening died in the ambulance on the way to Diepholz district hospital.
A shock, especially for the family – but also for the almost 20-year-old company. Ludwig Bening’s wife Bertl Bening continues to run the business herself for the time being and suggests to Egon Schumacher, who has returned after 18 months of military service, that he should manage the company as the new authorized signatory and managing director…
Iconic product: The first drinking nipple with its positioning in the drinking tube. Even then, the company name was stamped as a trademark.
Part 5: Egon Schumacher decides to take over!
Egon Schumacher is faced with an important decision – and makes it very quickly. As the new managing director and authorized signatory, he leads LUBING into the future.
In the following years it becomes clear that the LUBING drinking nipples are unrivaled: Within three years, they revolutionize poultry and pig farming all over the world due to their reliability and hygiene. LUBING exports not only to Europe, but also to the USA, South Africa and Australia. An invitation to a trade fair in Kiev even opens up export opportunities to the Soviet Union, which at that time was located behind the “Iron Curtain”. Egon Schumacher recognizes the signs of the times and diversifies the product portfolio: The Combinipple with plastic housing completes the range and points the way to a new business segment: the development and production of complete drinking systems.
Drinking-Systems: LUBING discovers its unique selling point
Egon Schumacher recognizes that LUBING products will face strong competition in the future. He combines two ideas: on the one hand, systems can make LUBING less dependent on pure nipple production and open up new business areas. Secondly, only with systems is it possible to coordinate all components in such a way that a perfect product is created. His success proves him right: LUBING Drinking-Systems work in all climate zones and parts of the world, regardless of temperature and humidity. LUBING Drinking-Systems are conquering and changing livestock farming worldwide.
Part 6: The seventies: High pace of development despite the economic crisis
The company’s expansion extends to other European countries: In 1971, LUBING’s first foreign agency opens in France, headed by Werner Thur. In 1973, a new business segment is added, which reflects the company’s experience in pump production: Vacuum pumps and equipment parts for groundwater lowering are produced for the Bremen-based company Pollmann. The automatic drinking lines are still the main business: on the company’s 25th anniversary, Egon Schumacher can announce that 10 million drinking nipples have now been sold.
LUBING continues on its successful course without restriction, investing in a new 700 m2 production hall: an almost doubling of the production area and a further expansion of production capacity. Only 8% of the productive output is now accounted for by the wind power pumps, which were once crucial to the company’s success. Now with 68 employees, LUBING primarily produces impregnation lines. Two years later, in 1976, the growing company under the management of Egon Schumacher once again demonstrates its foresight when it makes another, initially small, foray into a completely new area of agricultural production. The first cross conveyor system for egg transport is developed and marketed.
New and launched with great interest: The first LUBING cross conveyor for transporting eggs in poultry houses.
New hall construction on the company premises in Rechterner Straße in Barnstorf.
Part 7: The eighties – inventions for modern agriculture
The Rechterner Straße is already becoming too cramped for the growing company: a new hall with an area of 1,200 m2 is being built to meet the unbroken demand for LUBING products. Increasing international exports to America, Australia and the Arab countries lead to the highest number of employees to date: 70 employees work in offices and halls to manufacture and assemble drinking nipples and accessories and sell them all over the world. The production of Conveyor-Systems gets off to a good start and once again hits a gap in the market – just like the drinking nipples. The time is ripe for a new invention, which is tackled with perseverance and engineering skill. As a supplement to the cross conveyor, LUBING develops the curve conveyor, which uses a round link chain with welded-on rods to allow tight curves in barns without the eggs being crushed between the rods. Much later came the engineering masterpiece of implementing the same for extreme inclines and declines. The steep conveyor, developed in 2003, completes the system and enables damage-free transportation up to 60°!
In the late eighties, LUBING develops the Super-Nipple, which can be easily opened even by day-old chicks by operating it from the side. LUBING consolidates its business operations, introduces a quality management system and finally buys the 13,000 m2 site at Am Kampe 60 in Barnstorf in order to expand further. A 1,000 m2 production hall is initially built there. New patents, e.g. for the ball tank and ventilation, are registered.
In 1980 are now 70 people working at LUBING in Barnstorf, and others at BARKU and in the international branches. Average hourly wages have now risen to DM 11 per hour.
With the curve conveyor completely new and flexible barn layouts could suddenly be realized.
Construction of a new hall on the company premises in Rechterner Straße in Barnstorf.
Part 8: The nineties – The Top-Climate-System complements the product portfolio
In addition to the first major start-ups in Asia – in China and India – the nineties bring the third system to LUBING: Top-Klima systems vaporize water at a pressure of 70 bar and previously unknown, extremely fine distribution in the barn – the litter remains dry. The system cools effectively, especially in hot climates, and is suitable for both poultry and pig houses.
It goes from strength to strength: the Top-Nipple joins the LUBING portfolio at the end of the nineties and cements LUBINGs reputation as a driver of innovation. Seven years after the purchase, additional production halls with 2,500 m2 are built at the new site “Am Kampe” and the entire production is relocated there.
Modern hall design in the nineties: LUBING is now one of the largest local companies in Barnstorf.
With a pressure of 70 bar, the nozzle of the Top-Climate-System atomizes the water so finely that evaporative cooling occurs immediately.
Part 9: The new millennium – Expansion and digitalization
Capacities and production figures grow strongly in the first years of the new millennium, followed by further foreign agencies, including in the Middle East. The product range is further diversified. A new member joins the management team: Markus von der Assen joins LUBING, initially as Deputy Managing Director. In 2006, Markus von der Assen is promoted to regular Managing Director alongside Egon Schumacher. Under his aegis, LUBING receives a new ERP system in 2013 and focuses on in-depth digitalization of all business areas from development to logistics.
Egon Schumacher next to Markus von der Assen: The dual leadership of the company from 2006.
Part 10: New developments despite crises
LUBING ventures into another area and designs the first version of its “AirClean” exhaust air purification system for pig houses. Shortly before the global slump following the financial crisis in 2008, LUBING increased its annual output in nipple production by more than a third within three years.
Despite the economic crisis and a worldwide decline in demand for products, LUBING continues on its positive path and survives the crisis without laying off any employees, even without a single day of short-time working. On the contrary: the company uses the time to push ahead with new developments and expand its operations once again. In 2010 the new TwinClean Line is developed, which relies on the permanent circulation of water in the drinking line – a pioneering innovation that not only takes hygiene into account, but also animal welfare. In addition, the development of the CombiMaster nipple is completed and an ultrasonic chain cleaning system for the Conveyor-Systems is introduced. A new large warehouse is built and new land is purchased (13,000 m2 in total). The street Am Kampe itself is ceremoniously renamed Lubingstraße – a tribute to the importance of the company for Barnstorf and the surrounding area.
In the newly built and inaugurated Research Center, LUBING is able to reposition its development expertise in a modern building with capacity for further growth in 2013. At the same time, digitalization is being driven forward with the introduction of new financial accounting and billing software.
Egon Schumacher celebrates his 50th anniversary at LUBING in 2014 – at the end of the year, he ends his role as Managing Director and joins the company as a consultant. Markus von der Assen continues to run the company as Managing Director. In 2012, Michael Abeln is appointed as the new Technical Manager, succeeding Rudi Fick.
Formerly Am Kampe, then Lubingstraße: Barnstorf recognizes the importance of the company for the town.
Drinking-System „TwinClean Line“ – Perfect hygiene
Part 11: Two new product areas point the way to the future
Digitalization is not only being driven forward internally, LUBING is also developing electronic control units for its Drinking-Systems. The challenges are extensive: like the systems themselves, the digital control units should also have user interfaces that are as internationally applicable and simple as possible, are self-explanatory and enable easy handling. The company was rewarded for its efforts in this area at EuroTier 2016 with a silver medal for the Optima E-Control system.
LUBING has now taken over all the buildings and land on the Lubingstrasse site from BARKU, which is now located entirely on Rudolf-Diesel-Strasse, and will thus have a total of over 70,000 m2 of commercial space with more than 16,000 m2 of hall and production space by 2020.
In 2016, LUBING employes more than 200 people for the first time, including 19 trainees.
Under the new brand name LUBING Greentec, the company is entering the climate control sector, thereby tapping into the CEA (Controlled Environmental Agriculture) segment. The first specialized climate control systems will be installed in greenhouses as early as 2019. The new “AirClean” exhaust air purification system for pig pens is presented for the first time at EuroTier 2018: It cleans the exhaust air of dust and ammonia in line with requirements. The bio stage also actively filters odorous substances as an option. The innovations will develop into independent business areas by 2021.
Ideal for animals and plants: the Top-Climate-System is also making its triumphant entry into greenhouses.
The AirClean exhaust air purification system was officially presented for the first time at EuroTier 2018.
Part 12: LUBING turns 75!
The coronavirus pandemic and the global economic slump are affecting LUBING like any other company and making production conditions more difficult. However, the introduction of compulsory masks, the adjustment of the shift structure and consistent disinfection measures prevent production losses at an early stage. Even during the crisis phase, the company is also working on its own energy balance and independence: Photovoltaic systems are being installed across the board on the roofs of most of the production halls and will provide a significant proportion of the electrical energy required in future.
Egon Schumacher will be able to accept a special honor, which is also a tribute to LUBINGs innovative strength, at EuroTier 2022: He will be awarded the Max Eyth commemorative coin – since 1950 a special honor for personalities who have rendered outstanding services to agricultural technology. In the same year, LUBING receives DLG certification for the AirClean system and in 2022 Michael Abeln is appointed Technical Director.
In this way, LUBING takes account of the growing international challenges and the constant development of the company, and as a management team, Markus von der Assen and Michael Abeln are even more committed to CEA in view of global developments with the Greentec division, without neglecting the traditional business areas. New trade fair presences bear witness to this – for example, LUBING will be exhibiting at Greentech Amsterdam in 2023 with a new, particularly powerful pump station geared towards greenhouse climate control.
The anniversary year 2024 is all about the 75-year history and unbroken innovative strength of a vibrant mechanical engineering company that has made development, constant optimization and an uncompromising commitment to quality its guiding principles from the very beginning.
The development of the drinker nipple, today the standard product in poultry farming worldwide, is a prime example of these values. Here, too, the company can report a major success in 2024. In the fall, just in time for EuroTier, the number of drinking nipples produced since the start of production will break through a significant barrier.
Discussion with the managing directors at the anniversary celebration with business partners and companions – in the background: company founder Ludwig Bening. (left to right: presenter Ludger Abeln, Egon Schumacher, Markus von der Assen, Michael Abeln)
On the second day of the celebrations, Managing Director Markus von der Assen welcomed the employees to the marquee.