April 2007

100 years on & still innovating!

BOGE is one of the oldest German compressor manufacturers and celebrates its centenary in 2007.

Past: opening doors to compressing air...

With over 550 employees world-wide BOGE has grown massively from modest beginnings in 1907 when Otto Boge began trading in Bielefeld, Germany. BOGE literally opened its doors to supply and install door closing devices and locks, manufactured with his brother Adolf Boge under the trade name BKS - a brand that also remains to this day.

Over the next 18 years the Company moved to manufacturing tools for the repair of automobile engines to manufacturing a range of motorcycles! However, it was in 1925 that Otto Boge began to develop and manufacture piston compressors - originally as water-cooled products but later as air-cooled units.

During the next decade BOGE grew steadily as a manufacturer of compressors for the automobile sector at a time when compressed air was mainly used exclusively by the sector in vehicle workshops and petrol stations to inflate tyres and operate lifting ramps.

Between 1937 and 1938 BOGE Compressors expanded its operations dramatically with the acquisition of land for a new factory and the beginning of World-wide trade. Sadly Otto Boge did not live to see the completion of the new premises and died on 24 December 1937.

As BOGE entered the 1950's there was a complete breakthrough in the industrial use of compressed air which took over from mechanical transmission systems to an ever greater extent. With the success of BOGE's second generation industrial piston-compressor the work force swelled to 250 employees.

The early 70's was a landmark time for the Company heralding a new era. Building began on a much larger modern assembly plant. Alongside logistical advancements, the new product development team were busy creating the first BOGE screw compressors, presented in 1973 at the Hannover Fair. A decade later the offices, as well as the mechanical production process, were both moved to the impressive new facility erected on the outskirts of Bielefeld.

Innovation continued to be the order of the day for BOGE in the 90's. The BOGE screw compressor range was enhanced and developed to create the now established and award winning BOGE S Series product range. The innovatively designed S Series was an entire new range that embodied state of the art thinking with a standard layout throughout the range; a cool (intake) section for the motor and electrical cabinet, the compressor section and the cooling section. The cooling air progresses through the package from bottom to top so utilising the laws of physics in the chimney effect at standstill.

The horizontal pre-separation system was also a big step forward. This assures the lowest possible oil carry-over in all operating phases. There is also the patented GM drive system along with the ingenious multi-function regulation that allows a valve-less oil circuit eliminating the need for oil stop valve or check valve.

When the S Series was launched the industry drew breath! The clean lines and simple uncluttered layout set a standard that has since been imitated but not surpassed.

Following this development, high-tech oil-free screw and piston-type compressors were launched. Generating oil-free air is a prerequisite in a number of industry sectors and whilst downstream drying and filtration is sometimes acceptable there is no real substitute for oil-free generation. The SO Series therefore placed BOGE in an elite club as an oil-free manufacturer.

Present: air at its best

Still a family run business and now in its fourth generation with the Great Grandson of the founder - Wolf D. Meier-Scheuven as Managing Director, BOGE has considerably expanded its world-wide operations over the past few years.

Significantly to the Irish market, BOGE appointed C&L Industrial as the exclusive authorised distributor of BOGE compressed air equipment within the Republic of Ireland some 9 years ago. Colum Whelan has spent over 30 years in the compressed air industry and so provided market knowledge and expertise which matched perfectly with the quality proposition offered by the BOGE brand.

Based in Galway and with a separate Sales and Service Centre also located in County Longford, C&L Industrial has developed the BOGE business in that time to include a bourgeoning team of dedicated nationwide distributor outlets.

Future: The air of possibility

BOGE continues to invest in their worldwide business development and there are further offices planned in even more Countries throughout the coming years. But one thing is certain, wherever a customer purchases a BOGE compressor they will be assured of a quality product and a service to match with the right people at the core of the customer client relationship.

-END-

Editors Notes

C&L Industrial, established in 1998, specialises in the sale, installation and service of a range of quality industrial products including; BOGE compressors, Transair aluminium airline systems, Ambi-Rad energy efficient heating systems, JORC condensate management solutions and Domnick Hunter compressed air treatment.

C&L is the sole authorised distributor of BOGE compressed air equipment within the Republic of Ireland.

With appointed sub-distributors located strategically around the Country, C&L provide a genuine Nationwide Network of professional sales and service centres servicing all industry sectors.

C&L Industrial Ltd.

Unit 1, Liosban Industrial Estate, Tuam Road, Galway

Tel: +353 (0) 91 773422 Fax: +353 (0) 91 773946

E-mail: clind@indigo.ie    Web: www.candlindustrial.com

For editorial and advertising enquiries contact: Beth Taylor

Taylor Marketing Solutions Ltd

PO BOX 1356, Huddersfield, HD1 9ZL, United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 1484 422511 Fax: +44 (0) 1484 559217

E-mail: beth@taylor-ms.co.uk

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