History

Image shows VÖGELE's product portfolio over the past 190 years: from products for railway applications to road pavers and screeds.

The story behind VÖGELE

From a Mannheim blacksmith's shop to the world market leader in road pavers

In 1836, Ulrich Joseph Vögele founded a blacksmith's workshop in Mannheim. At first, the company manufactured products for rail transport. What the founder could not have known at the time: Decades later, the family business would become the market leader in road pavers, trusted by customers all over the world. Learn more about the success story of JOSEPH VÖGELE AG.

Image shows VÖGELE's company founder: Ulrich Joseph Vögele

Blacksmith. Company founder. Visionary.

Who was Ulrich Joseph Vögele?

Ulrich Joseph Vögele came from a long-established Mannheim family. Like his father, he learned the blacksmith's trade. On October 15, 1836, he founded his own workshop in Mannheim near the Heidelberger Tor, in what is now Quadrant Q 6,5. At first, JOSEPH VÖGELE specialized in products for the new and controversial mode of transport: the railway. The company manufactured switches, transfer tables, turntables and shunting systems. Ulrich Joseph Voegele's innovative spirit and determination ensured that the blacksmith's workshop soon became a thriving factory. It was the beginning of a success story that continues to this day.

What you did not know about VÖGELE:

Over 100 years as a railway supplier

Before VÖGELE produced road pavers, its focus was on products for rail transport. In 1890, the company was Europe's largest manufacturer of railway switches. It was not until 1964 that production of railway equipment was discontinued.

A detour into the construction industry

In the 20th century, VÖGELE was very successful in manufacturing machines for producing and laying concrete and asphalt, from small free-fall mixers and truck mixers to large mixing and processing plants for concrete.

First towed spreader

As society became increasingly motorized, roads were needed. VÖGELE recognized the potential. As early as the late 1920s, the company developed and produced the first towed spreader. The predecessor of today's road paver.

Machines used to be called "Junior" and "Senior"

Until the 1980s, our concrete spreaders and pavers were called "Junior" and "Senior". They were used, for example, for road resurfacing and for paving the hard shoulder on highways. The main difference between the "Senior" paving train and the "Junior" lay in its higher output.

Largest VÖGELE paver

The SUPER 3000-3i is the ultimate flagship: The largest VÖGELE paver combines a maximum output of 354 kW with a maximum laydown rate of 1,800 t/h and a maximum pave width of 18 m!

One of the oldest industrial companies

Founded in 1836, VÖGELE celebrates its 190th anniversary in 2026. This makes us one of the oldest industrial companies in Germany that are still active today.

We Often Celebrate a “Wedding”

Here, the tractor unit and the screed are joined together in what is known as a "marriage" to create a road paver.

Company-owned rail siding

Since 2010, VÖGELE has had its state-of-the-art main factory in Ludwigshafen. It was built on a greenfield site, custom-built and with plenty of space. Very practical: its own rail siding for machine transport.

Image shows articulated railway switches that VÖGELE developed in the past.
Image shows that VÖGELE also used to manufacture products such as mixers.
Image shows VÖGELE's first towed spreader in 1928/29.
Image shows the paving of the hard shoulder on a highway.
Image shows the SUPER 3000-3i road paver from VÖGELE paving on a construction site.
Image shows VÖGELE employees in front of the main factory in Ludwigshafen.
Image shows the tractor unit and screed being joined to create a road paver.
Image shows VÖGELE's main factory in Ludwigshafen from above.

Milestones

1836 to 1900

Continuing a family tradition

1900 to 1925

Success in the 3rd Generation

1925 to 1950

Road construction machinery

1950 to 1970

Pavers with a floating screed

1970s

The first extending screed with infinitely adjustable pave width

1980s

Progressive System for Automated Grade and Slope Control

1990s

Innovative and ecological advances

2000s

InLine Pave Paving method

From 2010 Onward

New Plant and Latest Machine Generation

660 Years of Road Construction Experience

In 2021, the Wirtgen Group will celebrate 60 years of Wirtgen. Time to take a look back and a look ahead. Vögele, Hamm, Kleemann, and Benninghoven have also played a leading role in shaping the industry’s technologies.

> Road Construction History