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    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.
    2015
    In June, the largest construction project in the company's history begins for Grube. The new construction of an innovative central warehouse begins at a cost of several million euros.
    2016
    The goods have been moved to the new central warehouse. Since January, incoming and outgoing goods have been handled there. An official opening has been scheduled for April.
    2018
    Official opening of the new power tool shop and the expanded small tool workshop at the headquarters in Hützel.
    2019
    Grube KG takes over all trading activities of Freetree GmbH as well as the Freetree and Timbermen brands with effect from 1 February 2019.
    2020
    75 years of Grube. The Grube Group has 370 employees at 11 locations throughout Europe.