History

A Constant in the flow of the Company’s History

Our founder, Forestry District Director Waldemar Grube, was literally a man of the moment. Only a few weeks after the end of World War II he founded Grube’s Forestry Tools on 16th October 1945. After more than 70 years of trading and growth in an ever changing market, success is not something to be taken for granted. If there is a secret to what has been achieved, it goes like this; react to customer demand with great flexibility, offer the best quality, promote innovation and always be able to offer expert advice on forestry matters. The Grube family has always had close links to the land and forest and that continues into the third generation.

1945

Forestry District Director Grube founded Grube’s Forestry Tools

1950

First Catalogue produced; 13 pages of A6 format and 1000 copies

1951

Start of the specialist forestry journal „Die Waldarbeit”, which is still produced by the Euting Press.

1955

Third catalogue produced and this time distributed nationwide. First apprentice taken on.

1959

Grube took a stand at the Forestry and Timber Trade Fair in Freiburg/Breisgau for the first time. Waldemar Grube’s daughter Heidemarie joined the Company.

1960

The start of US imports with Nelson marking paints, Pioneer and Homelite power saws and Lawn Boy mowers. All prove top sellers for decades. Waldemar Grube’s son Heinrich joined the Company.

1965

Grube celebrated its 20th anniversary and opened a new head office.

1970

Grube celebrated its 25th anniversary and turnover reached DM 1 million. The Company took part in the Interforst Trade Fair in Munich and its international reputation grew due to significant foreign aid deliveries to forestry projects in Asia and Africa. New warehouse opened.

1978

Foundation of Grube KG as a limited partnership headed by Waldemar Grube with his son Heinrich and daughter Heidemarie as partners.

1982

Further offices and a second warehouse opened. The Company catalogue was now in A4 format and contained 204 pages. Grube KG became a trustee on Germany’s Board for Woodland and Forestry Technology.

1984

Takeover of a former competitor, Forstkultur GmbH.

1985

On the Company’s 40th anniversary it employed 40 staff and was directed by Heinrich Grube.

1986

Further expansion into exports and international aid deliveries.

1987

The first PC appeared at Grube. Takeover of the traditional Remschied based company, David Dominicus. Fax replaced telex.

1988

Founding of Grube Forst, the first subsidiary in Austria and what was then the European Common Market.

1989

First contacts made in the former DDR (East Germany).

1990

Development of a retail network in eastern Germany (Dominicus Forestry Services).

1991

Founding of the subsidiary company Grube Forest Tools in Eberwalde near Berlin. Third warehouse and more offices built in Hützel.

1993

Founding of a Grube subsidiary company in Poland.

1995

Takeover of Ebermetall GmbH (Ltd) in Eberswald.

1996

Founding of a Grube subsidiary on Slovakia.

1998

The first Nature and Leisure catalogue appeared with 36 pages. Further subsidiaries were founded in Hungary and Denmark.

2000

Takeover of Skogsmateriel Nordforest AB in Sweden and the founding of Handelshuset Skogma.

2001

Founder Waldemar Grube died.

2005

Founding of a Grube subsidiary in Bosnia.

2006

Warehouse capacity enlarged further and the Company employed over 200 staff.

2007

Takeover of Uitookalusto Oy in Finland.

2008

Shop opening and further head office expansion in Hützel. Takeover of Roland Schmid Forestry Equipment in Switzerland and Björnrud & Arnestad AS in Norway. Grube took part in Germany’s Woodland and Forestry Technology Conference with a stand of over 1000 m².

2009

Start of the new Webshop. Grube’s Hunting, Nature and Leisure catalogue appeared for the first time with 272 pages.

2010

At the start of the new decade the Grube Group employed 280 staff.

2012

Grube absorbs Kettner Germany, the oldest German supplier for hunting equipment.