1922

Julius Effgen arranged together with his three sons the company "Julius Effgen & Sons" in Idar-Oberstein. The main business divisions were machining and dealing with gemstones and semi-precious stones.

1928

the company was taken over by son Richard Effgen. Beside handling with gemstones the manufacturing of technical gemstones began.

1944

the production facilities were destroyed by air attack. The production was stopped until summer 1947.

1950

conventional abrasives did no longer fulfill the claims for handling gemstones an newer grinding machines. This was the start of manufacturing diamond tools in the company. Tools with electroplated bond were produced.

1953

due to the success of electroplated tools it was decided to produce tools with different bonds. Soon the first saw blades and cup wheels with metal bond were ready for the market.

1958

diamond tools became a standard in the production of gemstones. There were still some problems in polishing and lapping of high-precision, technical stones. Guenter Effgen, who was responsable for the research of diamond tools, was commissioned to the development of tools with resin bond.

1962

it was started to open a market for new applications of diamond tools in the carbide-, glass- and ceramic industry. A distribution network for germany was established.

1971

the company moved from Idar-Oberstein to the nearby village of Herrstein. 30 workers produced exclusively diamond tools in a new production hall of 1200 m2.

1974

cubic boron nitride, a new synthetic abrasive, was introduced to the market. It allowed an economic machining of tempered steel and casting material.

1975

Guenter Effgen separated the production of diamond tools from the family enterprise.

1985

Ralph Effgen became a shareholder in the "Günter Effgen GmbH". The distribution network was expanded Europe-wide.

1990

the company is still expanding. A new hall for electroplating with 2500 m2 is constructed. Ralph Effgen is now the executive director.

1994

"Günter Effgen GmbH" is the first german producer of diamond and boron tools, who is accredited to the DIN EN ISO 9001.

1996

electroplated grinding tools obtain the DSA-accreditation for cutting speeds up to 180 m/sec and metal bond tools up to 160 m/sec.

1998

150 employees produce high-precision tools for more than 7000 customers all over the world. The production area is now about 6000 m2.

2002

the modification of the production hall no. 5 expands the companies size to a further 1800 m2.

2005

extension of production hall no. 2a. 600 m2 for storage of raw material and an expansion of the computer based turnery and sawmill.

2007

construction works for new hall no. 3a have begun.

2008

completion of the new building no. 3a. The business management, the application technology and the sales department move to the new location. The extension of the electroplated production starts up. Today the "Guenter Effgen GmbH" produces diamond and boron tools with more than 250 employees on an production area of 13000 m2