1919

After the retirement of minority shareholders Kirchner and Kuffer, sole ownership of the company is passed onto Georg Schäfer and his associate Hermann Barthel.

1922

Ceramic grinding plates for in-house ball production are manufactured in-house for the first time.

1926

Tapered roller bearing production begins.

1929

A struggle for the company’s independence. While nearly all other German rolling bearing manufacturers are bought up by the Swedish company VKF, FAG Kugelfischer remains independent. Large orders from Russia help the company survive.

1933

FAG purchases G & J Jaeger in Wuppertal, production focuses on railway bearings and large bearings.

1936

The first foreign subsidiary plant is established in Wolverhampton, UK.
The threat of war however, puts an abrupt end to the plant which was off to a good start. The staff have to be called back.

1940

Subsidiary plants are established in Eltmann and Ebern to which sectors of production are transferred in 1943 and 1944.

1943

15 serious bombing raids are carried out on the plant by the Allies from August until the end of the war.
83 percent of the Schweinfurt plant is destroyed where approximately 12,000 people are employed.