History

• 1924 Main workshop founded
• 1958 First caravan produced as make-to-order
• 1973 Bürstner GmbH founded
• 1976 Production expands after acquisition of factories in France and founding of Bürstner S.A. F-Wissembourg
• 1985 Production of 17,000 units (Europe’s largest manufacturer)
• 1995 Complete move to Kehl harbour area
• 1998 Restructured into Hymer Group, annual production of 7,200 caravans & 1,600 motorhomes, total annual sales of 195 million DM
• 2002 Reached highest recorded sales of 200 million euros
• 2004 New customer and transport centre opened
• 2006 Mega Van wins reader’s choice as Motorhome of the Year
• 2007 novalife® upholstery fabric wins Caravaning Design Award
  New record sales (approx. 300 million €)
  New records in production and sales of motorhomes (5,700 units)
  Market leader for motorhomes in France and Norway

"When we brainstorm we focus on quality, fittings and safety. Thanks to this concept of originality and our self-image as an idea supplier, Bürstner has become one of the major manufacturers in the industry."

1924
In Kehl-Neumühl in Baden, Jakob Bürstner’s carpentry and joinery workshops begin production.

1953
The joinery becomes Jakob Bürstner KG. And still it was the end of the 1950s before Bürstner began to build the first make-to-order caravans. This type of mobile accommodation was not exactly new, as the first mobile homes had already been manufactured at the beginning of the 1930s. Interest in Bürstner caravans increased steadily, and as a result in 1961 production expanded and the company took part in “Caravan Salon" for the first time, which took place in Essen.

1973
Bürstner GmbH came about in 1973 when Jakob Bürstner KG changed its name on 01.01.1973. The company’s positive development quickly demanded additional production space, which was not available at the Neumühl site.

1976
Whilst searching for additional production space, in 1976 the company found what they needed in Wissembourg in Alsace, and was able to purchase former joinery and furniture manufacturing premises. The completion of this contract marked the beginning of Bürstner S.A. This is the moment the company’s direction changed from being a purely German to being a European manufacturer. Market success created rapid growth. Whereas in 1977 the company produced 8,500 units (sales: approx. 35.1 million €), this number continued to increase up to 15,000 units in 1982 (sales: 74.3 million €). Site problems in Neumühl, caused by a lack of urgently required production space, forced the company to continue its search for new premises. Soon a facility became available in the Kehl harbour area which had previously been used to manufacture wooden doors.

1986
In 1986 this site and all its equipment was bought and part of the manufacturing business was moved. In 1989 20,000 units were produced by the almost 1,150 staff at both locations. Sales reached above 156 million euros.

A drastic decrease in demand in the general market at the beginning of the 1990s was not without its effects on Bürstner. The only way to save the company from insolvency was an investor takeover and simultaneous departure of the Bürstner family in 1993. The potential within the company and its staff was proven one year later as the company produced 8,500 units and achieved sales of 76.7 million euros (approx. 150 million DM) with around 520 staff.

1996
In 1996 all German business areas were concentrated on the site in the Kehl Rheinhafen. The headland between the Rhine river and the dock proved to be a strategically optimum site. This position more than any other forced the company to adapt its production processes to the ideal material flow.

1998
01.02.1998 - A new chapter begins with the acquisition by Hymer AG. The path of growth turned into a motorway and, two years later, Bürstner production rose to 11,000 units and contributed sales of 148.2 million euros (290 million DM) to the overall results. The number of staff rose to 710. The alcove model A747-2 also represented a huge milestone in production. Bürstner was now moving in the top circles of mobile home construction.

2002
The investments released in both plants over the past few years created the foundations for being able to produce for different markets under competitive market conditions. The model range is ideally designed to meet customer requirements. With the reissue of the integrated range “I-Elegance“ and the introduction of a new motorhome category with the partially-integrated “T-Avantgarde“ model, Bürstner underlines its competence in the upper categories segment. From humble beginnings, the company has developed into one of today’s leading manufacturers in the caravaning industry. Today Bürstner employs more than 900 staff at both sites. At the end of the financial year 2002/03, planned sales were approx. 215 milion €.

2004
At the former production site in Kehl-Neumühl, the two managing directors Klaus-Peter Bolz and Heinz-Werner Breuer open the newly created customer service centre, under the watchful eye of Hymer AG CEO Mr. Hans-Jürgen Burkert. Over an area of around 15,000 square metres, customer support can be provided under completely new conditions.

2006
Every year, specialist magazine “promobil“, one of the largest motorhome magazines in Europe, carries out a reader survey to choose the motorhome of the year. With its Mega Van, a partially-integrated motorhome that set new standards in function and interior design, Bürstner immediately rose to first place. This award is motivation for new projects.