The origin oft the company

The founding of the company was in many ways a natural continuation of a long-standing family tradition. As early as 1750, an ancestor of the current company owner — Reidemeister Dietrich Wilhelm Höver — operated two iron hammers in the Leppetal valley. This location offered ideal conditions: the Leppe River, which still lends its name to the company’s brand “Leppe Stainless Steel,” provided abundant water power. The pig iron was supplied from the nearby Siegerland region, while the charcoal required for heating the furnaces was produced locally from beech wood.

1905

In 1905, brothers Karl and Christoph Höver from Berghausen founded a hammer mill — thus continuing the family’s centuries-old forging tradition.

1915

In 1915, another brother, Peter Höver, joined the company. Two years later, in 1917, the firm was renamed “Gebr. Höver” (Höver Brothers).

1937

After overcoming the global economic crisis, co-founder Christoph Höver left the company “Gebr. Höver” in 1937. Together with his son Ernst Höver, he established a new enterprise on the current company premises — “Chr. Höver & Sohn.”

1949

On October 1, 1949, another son, Paul Höver, joined the company. The turmoil of World War II had kept him in Russian captivity for many years before his return.

1953

In 1953, production with the traditional water-powered hammer was discontinued in favor of larger, more modern, and more productive steam- and air-driven hammers.

1955

Following the death of co-founder Christoph Höver in 1955, the company was passed on to his two sons, who jointly assumed management responsibilities.

1969

In 1969, after a serious illness, Ernst Höver, co-owner and technical director, passed away. From that point on, Paul Höver, the company’s commercial director, continued to manage the business on his own.

1973

In 1973, the heirs of Ernst Höver withdrew from the company, leaving Paul Höver as the sole proprietor. Under his leadership, the company built a strong team of dedicated and reliable employees who successfully guided the business through numerous economic challenges and fluctuations. Thanks to their commitment and expertise, together with Paul Höver’s personal dedication, the company continued to develop and prosper. A balanced mix of experienced long-term employees and ambitious young professionals ensured the ideal combination of tradition, skill, and modern technology.

1977

In 1977, the entire production was converted from oil-fired to the much more environmentally friendly natural gas operation. At the same time, the forging hammers were converted from compressed-air to steam drive. For this purpose, a new steam generation plant was constructed, housed in its own dedicated building.

1981

A new large finishing hall was constructed in 1981, significantly improving the overall production flow and operational efficiency.

1983

In 1983, another large hall was constructed next to the one built in 1981. It was equipped with modern and larger saws for production planning and expanded machining capabilities through the addition of several lathes, as well as a peeling and grinding machine. The production range and dimensional capacities were further extended with the installation of a 2-ton Banning bridge hammer, combined with a computer-controlled forging furnace. This computer-controlled furnace represented a pilot project, jointly developed by Chr. Höver & Sohn and Ruhrgas.

1985

In 1985, a hearth-type equalizing furnace and a new forging furnace were installed. Both furnaces are fully automated, marking another step toward modernized and efficient heat treatment operations.

1987

In its anniversary year 1987, the company proudly commissioned the largest investment in its history: a CNC-controlled radial/axial ring-rolling mill. This development marked a decisive expansion of production capabilities, enabling the plant to manufacture rings more efficiently, economically, and with greater dimensional accuracy.

Heute

Even today, visitors can experience the daily life of a blacksmith — or, as they were once called, a “Reidemeister” — in the more than 200-year-old water hammer known as the Stellershammer. Unlike modern production, the hammer masters of the past followed their own rhythm of work, determined by the available water supply in the pond. After three to four hours of forging, the water level would drop, and production paused until the pond refilled. To allow the smiths to rest, a small sleeping area was built beneath the steep roof of the forge.

Anyone entering the Stellershammer today steps back into the early days of industrial history: small windows let in only dim light, the ceiling is blackened with smoke, and the floor is made of packed clay. At the center stands the large anvil, surrounded by cooling vessels and old tools, with shafts lying about and furnaces to the right and left — where the iron and steel were once heated to a glowing red. To the left, one can still see the space where the large waterwheel was located, while the true eye-catcher at the far end remains the massive oak shaft that once drove the hammer.