In 1844, Johann Zimmermann took over a factory for spinning machine parts. He ceased production 4 years later and since then only manufactured machine tools. In 1854, a modern new factory building was completed at Rochlitzer Straße 19, Chemnitz, Germany. Zimmermann already employed 50 workers and manufactured machine tools based on his own designs.
Zimmermann was regarded as the father of German machine tool construction, as he was the first in Germany to separate the production of machine tools from general mechanical engineering and mass-produce machine tools based on his own designs.
In 1871, Maschinenfabrik Zimmermann became Chemnitzer Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik vormals Zimmermann-Werke AG, of which Zimmermann was General Director from 1871 to 1878. The stock corporation had a share capital of 2 million thalers. The reason for the sale was probably the constant unrest among the workforce in the Chemnitz area due to the poor social conditions.
The factory continued to develop until the turn of the century. A foundry was built in Emilienstraße. On July 2nd, 1901, Johann Zimmermann died in Berlin. In 1915 the company was renamed in Zimmermann-Werke AG Chemnitz.
In 1919, the company had a production area of 50,000 m² with over 1,000 employees and was able to deliver its 50,000th machine. As a result of the global economic crisis, Zimmermannwerke had to file for bankruptcy in 1929. They were merged with Wotan Werke in Glauchau to form Wotan und Zimmermann AG, Glauchau. The Chemnitz company was dissolved and the company buildings demolished. The city of Chemnitz built the municipal baths on the site in 1930.
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