History
The Beginning – The Development

January 3, 1968, the Founding: Master metalworker, Herbert Thom, starts his own business in an old blacksmith shop in Kirchlinteln in the County of Verden. He performs metalwork and repairs of all kinds. His wife Erika Thom takes over the office work in 1969. The first apprentice is hired.
1972 New Horizons: Work in mechanical engineering begins and a foremen is hired. The development of special‐purpose machines for the food processing industry begins. The staff continues to grow. The site in Kirchlinteln can no longer handle the ever‐growing space requirements.
1977 Growth Begins: Move to the new facility at Heinrich‐Hertz‐Straße 4 in Verden. 1982 company conversion: The Herbert Thom private company becomes the corporation Herbert Thom GmbH.
1984 Expansion and Extension: Opening of a second factory building and the new office and social wing. The mechanical engineering now has precision machines for metal processing with CNC lathes and milling machines and a CNC machining center. The maintenance work is a part of the overall service range for the food industry.
1996 THOM Continues to Expand: The neighboring property is acquired and another factory building is erected.
1997 THOM Expands his Product Range: The company name is now Thom Metall– und Maschinenbau GmbH.
1998 Quality in Sight: Quality management system certification according to DIN EN ISO 9001. In 2002, the certification as a specialist welding company followed.
2001 Change of Generations: Torsten Thom, graduate engineer. (FH), certified industrial engineer, son of Erika and Herbert Thom, takes over the management of the company in the second generation. Company founder Herbert Thom and his wife Erika Thom retire form the active business on October 1, 1999. Walter Ohrnberger (graduate economist.) was a transitional manager of the company.
{slide=January 1, 2002 Acquisition: ↓} 1974: Founded by Stefan Schmiedbauer in Westen / County of Verden. 1990: Removal to Verden into the newly constructed company building located at Justus‐von‐Liebig‐Straße 2. 1997: Extension of the factory building and certification of the quality management system according to DIN ENISO 9001. 1997: Certification as a specialized welding company in 2000.{/slide}Torsten Thom acquires shares of Schmiedbauer Stahl– und Metallbau GmbH, at Justus‐von‐Liebig‐Straße 2 in Verden.
2005 Completion: The mechatronics department is established. THOM becomes a complete supplier of machines and systems and maintenance.
2006 Merging: The Schmiedbauer Stahl– und Metallbau GmbH operational business merges with Thom Metall– und Maschinenbau Gmbh. Thom Metall– und Maschinenbau GmbH moves its company seat to Justus‐von‐Liebig‐Straße in Verden. There are 90 employees at this location.
2008 Consolidation: After the merger the gradual consolidation of the operations at Justus‐von‐Liebig‐Straße begins. A new factory building is erected, in which the structural and metalworks capacities are concentrated. The administration is also centralized at Justus‐von‐Liebig‐Straße.


