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Danmark
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Kongelig Hofleverandør
sinds 1899
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Hammersten-Busch Fabrik is one of the largest producers of civilian transport and industrial parts in the Kingdom of Danmark with eight separate factories including one in Danish Implaria. Established in 1888, HBF was formed from the merger of Hammersten Fabrik and Henrik Busch A/S. The older company started life as Hammersten Fabrik in 1848 having been built by one of the leading industrial magnates of the day Hr. Tor Hammersten who sought to capitalise upon the nascent growth of rail lines. The first railway, between Christiansborg and Fredrikshavn was laid over the period 1848-1850 from wrought iron produced by the HF works in Christiansborg and became instantly popular with both commerce and civilians, reducing travel times between the capital and the main port, which previously took an average of three days due to a poor road network, down to an average of four or five hours. The success to industry led to the emergence of a network linking all the main cities and towns, as well as mines and foundrys, by a cob-web of rail-lines over the next 10-15 years and the growth in several New Towns along their routes.
With the success of the company over the period from inception til 1888, HF diversified into many product markets but struggled to enter the emerging 'iron horse' market, the popular nickname for the early automobile which had remained a largely recreational fad for the wealthy, due to a lack of technical knowledge and it faced increased competition from its rival Henrik Busch A/S which had made significant inroads into testing and development in this area and had visions of mass-producing the automobile for general use, but which lacked significant abilities to procure metals due to swiftly reducing reserves of money.
Both sensing the potential for a joint venture and both with a keen sense of acumen, the two men and their key staff met at the Hotel d'Espirit at the sea resort of Stromsbyen in Danish Pommerania and agreed to join forces, creating the Hammersten-Busch Fabrik that is still in existence.
From then on, the new conglomerate went from strength to strength and saw a huge increase in sales, production capabilities, exports and, of course, a sixteen-fold surge in profit. Going from their single factory in Christiansborg, they established two more in Fredrikshavn (1892) in Aaabenraa (1896) and the company grew from an initial 2,000 workers to a blossoming towards 11,000.
King Holger IV, with a keen interest in industry and in tune with modernity, visited the Christiansborg works accompanied by Hrs. Hammersten and Busch and was reportedly 'marvelled' at the scale of intensive production and the enthusiasm of the two owners. Unusual for the time, HBF was progressive in its treatment of its work-force in subsisting medical treatment and paying for an annual trip to the coastal resorts. They also established the Worker's Board one of the main creations of which was the building of a special 'Town of the Workers', with 400 neat semi-detached houses, small gardens and running water, including an early version of the flush lavatory, a park and a clinic-hospital. The King, largely impressed, awarded HBF a Royal Warrant as Purveyor of Automobiles to The King, which it still possesses.
MODERN TIMES
With a strong domestic market, international exports have grown consistently over the years, though with a dip brought on by the 'August Catastrophe', exports have since begun to make a steady recovery and HBF has gained government blessing to roll-out a comprehensive push to scour potential foreign markets in a spirit of competition and to position the company and the country as a market of 'responsibile armament' and to satisfy the new demand for modern transport across the globe.
It has published a brochure 'HBF: Strength and Expertise' showcasing the best of the old and the best of the new in a range of civilian and military equipment coal-powered and electric locomotives, trams, trolley buses , automobiles and motorcycles available for procurement upon demand with orders ready to be fulfilled, shipped overland or by sea via the Danish merchant fleet or the Potenzan Merchant Fleet operating from Fredrikshavn.
EXPORT MERCHANDISE
A :: CIVILIAN TRANSPORT
*Inventory to be published
B :: MILITARY INVENTORY
*Inventory to be published