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About us

Hempel Special Metals is an international owner-managed group of companies with many years of experience in the distribution and processing of high-performance metallic materials, especially semi-finished products in stainless steels, nickel alloys, and titanium.
We serve our customers at five locations from our own service centres.

Our Mission Statement

We value our INDEPENDENCE

We are proud of our independence. It enables us to choose the best partners in the industry and offer our customers a wide range of high-quality products that truly meet their needs. Because we are not restricted in our selection, we can deliver both commercial and technical advantages to our customers.

We value our HISTORY and the HISTORY we are creating

With roots connected to Firth Brown of Sheffield, the birthplace of stainless steel, innovation is part of who we are. We have always been at the forefront of metal alloy development and continue to seek the next generation of materials, ensuring our customers benefit from new ideas and emerging technologies.

We value our EXPERIENCED TEAM

Our people bring deep expertise across product forms, special metals, and the many industries we support. We invest in our team through continuous training, guidance, and development. We respect the individuals who come together to create a stronger, more capable organisation.

We value our RELATIONSHIPS

We are committed to building strong and lasting relationships with both customers and suppliers. We act professionally, communicate openly, and work collaboratively - always with the shared goal of achieving success for everyone involved.

We value our ENVIRONMENT

We take our environmental and social responsibilities seriously. We operate ethically, comply with relevant standards, and make choices that protect the world around us. We are committed to preserving the environment and supporting a sustainable quality of life for future generations.

THE CORPORATE HISTORY

Corporate history of Hempel Holding AG, Dübendorf, the parent company of the Hempel Special Metals Group:

1919

Foundation of the Swiss representative office of Firth Brown, Sheffield (GB), the first British producer of stainless steels (patent application 1913) in Lausanne

1924

Move to Höschgasse, Zurich and entry in the Zurich Commercial Register under the name of Firth-Stahl-Verkaufs AG

1947

A small warehouse was installed on Überlandstrasse in Dübendorf

1954

"Staybrite" was entered as a brand name in the Swiss Register of Trademarks

1957

Relocation to offices in Zweierstrasse, Zurich

1968

Warehouse I and offices were built on Zürichstrasse, Dübendorf

1976

Extensions warehouses II and III, offices added

1979

Firth Stahl was acquired by F.W. Hempel & Co. of Düsseldorf

2001

Company name changed to Firth AG Special and Stainless Metals and integrated into the Hempel Special Metals Group

2003

A new office building was erected

2006

A European patent was registered for stainless steel alloys for the Swiss watchmaking industry (1.4435NCu, 1.4521N)

2007

All companies of the F.W. Hempel Group active in semi-product distribution renamed to Hempel Special Metals and integrated into Hempel Special Metals Holding GmbH, Düsseldorf

Subsidiaries in Hong Kong and Poland established

2009

A sales office was opened in Shanghai

2014

Start of the ECONOXX metal trading platform

2016

Firmus Metals Ltd, Dewsbury, bought by the British sister company, integrated as Hempel Firmus Metals Ltd

2017

With acquisition of the Hempel Special Metals companies in Germany, Poland and England, Switzerland becomes the headquarters of the group

Takeover of TK-Fittings GmbH and integration into Hempel Special Metals GmbH, Oberhausen*

André Hempel takes over 100% of the shares of Hempel Special Metals AG, Dübendorf, which becomes a Swiss-based corporate group

2020

The group parent company changes its name to Hempel Holding AG

Spins-off operational business to new subsidiary: Hempel Special Metals AG

Administrative functions, investments, and real estate remain with the Holding

2023

Foundation of Hempel Special Metals SAS, Lyon