Franco-German cooperation

It is 180 years since ­Ludwig Sander and Gaspard Dollfus founded Sander’sche Maschinenfabrik – the beginnings of MAN in Augsburg.

It was a bumpy start. Owing to his French citizenship, the Baviaran authorities refused Gaspard Dollfus the license for an engineering works on Augsburg soil. Tobacco manufacturer Ludwig Sander, who had been a resident of Augsburg since 1812, leaped to his partner’s aid and obtained the license, just for himself initially, but Dollfus was also granted a permit shortly afterwards. Together, they founded Sander’sche Maschinenfabrik on 13 November 1840 on the site by the Stadtbach canal where MAN’s workshops stand to this day.  

Keen business acumen

It was around this time that Augsburg developed into a center of the textile industry. Mechanical spinning and weaving mills produced fabric on an industrial scale and there was huge demand for repairs and replacements, not to mention new investments. Serial entrepreneur Ludwig Sander and engineer Gaspard Dollfus had their eye on this gap in the market. Sander in particular possessed keen business acumen. He already had an interest in several of the new spinning and weaving mills, and knew that spinning frames and weaving looms wear out, and that steam engines run down. He wanted to meet this demand locally with his new undertaking. The two partners did not allow what was initially very modest basic equipment at their factory to hold them back. Their machine park consisted of just four lathes, a boring machine, a cupola furnace and four blowers, but it was enough for them to become established as up-and-coming suppliers for the textile industry. The technically accomplished Dollfus had already gained experience with a rival firm, while Ludwig enjoyed excellent connections in Augsburg’s business community.

Ludwig Sander ventured into uncharted waters more than once. He had a feel for new technologies and was a pioneer of groundbreaking innovation that provided a boost and stimulated growth.

In just four years, the partners made Sander’sche Maschinenfabrik a firm fixture in Augsburg, producing steam engines, water wheels, turbines, gears, rolling and hammer mills, steam boilers and printing presses. But there was a rupture in 1844, with Gaspard Dollfus leaving the company and Ludwig Sander handing the management of his firm over to Carl Buz and Carl Reichenbach, who turned it into Reichenbach’sche Maschinenfabrik. In 1857, it became Maschinenfabrik Augsburg, where Rudolf Diesel later developed and built his game-changing new engine.

Ludwig Sander circa 1835

Continuity in change

According to Jana Lösch, Head of Company Archive, the MAN of today still retains some of its founders’ spirit. “Ludwig Sander ventured into uncharted waters more than once. He had a feel for new technologies and was a pioneer of groundbreaking innovation that provided a boost and stimulated growth.” Sander’sche Maschinenfabrik is the foundation stone of MAN in Augsburg – including all the developments and changes that the firm has been through since. The real continuity of our company lies in this change.