History
From a one-man operation to a global enterprise: A story of success
Our founder and pioneer, Helmut König, came from a Hartberg bakery family with a long and rich tradition behind them. He was familiar with the wishes and problems of the bakery trade from his youth on and designed his first bakery machines to make the hard work in the bakery easier for his parents.
In 1966, during his studies at the Technical University in Graz, Helmut König founded „Maschinenfabrik Helmut König“ as a one-man company. The vision of the future graduate engineer was already clear at that time:
technology must exist to serve people.
The aim of our efforts must be to support bakeries at the production stage. This philosophy has continued to shape the company even after Helmut König’s passing in 1992, and serves as a guarantee that König will maintain its leading position on the global market.
![1966 Helmut König](https://www.koenig-rex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/1966_Helmut-Koenig-500x320.jpg)
Founding
Founding of the machine shop
by Dipl.-Ing. Helmut König.
![1969 Rex-Automat](https://www.koenig-rex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/1969-Rex-Automat-500x320.jpg)
Production Facility
Relocation of the production site to Graz-Andritz and the construction of the first Rex Automat prototype.
![1971 Rex Serienmontage](https://www.koenig-rex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/1971-Rex-Serienmontage-500x320.jpg)
Rex Automat
Patenting & series production of the Rex Automat as well as the opening of the newly built plant in Graz’s Statteggerstraße.
![1980 Wienerstraße 91](https://www.koenig-rex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/1980-Wienerstrasse-91-500x320.jpg)
Oven Production
Opening of an additional location in Graz’s Wienerstraße for the production of ovens.
![1989 Celldömölk Ungarn](https://www.koenig-rex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/1989-Celldoemoelk-Ungarn-500x320.jpg)
Joint Venture
Joint venture with CELBA in Celldömölk, Hungary, which is now the subsidiary company König Kft.
![2004 Backvorführzentrum](https://www.koenig-rex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2004_Backvorfuehrzentrum-500x320.jpg)
Baking Demonstration Centre
Opening of KÖNIG’s baking demonstration centre in Graz’s Wienerstraße.
![2005 König USA](https://www.koenig-rex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2005-Koenig-USA-500x320.jpg)
KÖNIG Inc. / Laminating Technology
Foundation of the sales company König Inc. in the USA and the subsidiary König Laminiertechnik in Dinkelsbuhl, Germany.
![2006 König NED](https://www.koenig-rex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2006-Koenig-NED-500x320.jpg)
KÖNIG BV
Foundation of the sales company König BV in the Netherlands.
![2007 5000x Rex](https://www.koenig-rex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2007_5000Rex-500x320.jpg)
5000 x REX
Delivery of the 5000th Rex divider and rounder.
![2008 König GER](https://www.koenig-rex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2008-Koenig-GER-500x320.jpg)
KÖNIG Germany
Foundation of the sales company König Deutschland.
![2010 Technikum HQ](https://www.koenig-rex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2010-Technikum-HQ-500x320.jpg)
Demonstration Centre Graz
Opening of the new customer demonstration centre in Statteggerstrasse.
![2012 König RUS](https://www.koenig-rex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2021.12.21-Buero_1-500x320.jpg)
KÖNIG Russia
Opening of the Russian face of König in Moscow.
![2015 König ITA](https://www.koenig-rex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2015-Koenig-ITA-500x320.jpg)
KÖNIG Italy
Opening of a König Technology Projekt-management GmbH office
![2016 50 Jahre König](https://www.koenig-rex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2016-50-Jahre-Koenig-500x320.jpg)
50 Years of KÖNIG
König celebrates its 50-year anniversary
![2017 König ITA](https://www.koenig-rex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2017-Koenig-ITA-500x320.jpg)
KÖNIG Italy
New production facility for turn-key projects.
![2018 Metallguss Katz](https://www.koenig-rex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/DSC_1115-500x320.jpg)
Takeover of Metallguss Katz
Expansion of Austrian production through purchase of metal casting firm Metallguss Katz.
![2019 König + Fortuna](https://www.koenig-rex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2019-Koenig-Fortuna-500x320.jpg)
KÖNIG & Fortuna
The bakery machine manufacturer Fortuna becomes part of the König group.
![2021 55 Jahre König](https://www.koenig-rex.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2021-55-Jahre-Koenig-500x320.jpg)
55 Years of KÖNIG
König celebrates 55-years in business.
![Vulganus Oy](https://www.koenig-rex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/VulganusOy-500x320.jpg)
König & Vulganus Oy
The Finnish specialist for cooling spirals, Vulganus Oy, becomes part of the Koenig Group.