September 2019

25th anniversary of FPM Holding GmbH

May 2019

a new building is added to expand manufacturing capacities

Oct 1, 1994

FPM Holding GmbH starts its business operations, with the objective to develop, produce and sell geodetic and nautical instruments, to provide repair service as well as contract manufacturing for precision parts, with 23 employees at the Freiberg location

Sept. 13, 1994

Liquidation of the Freiberger Präzisionsmechanik GmbH

1993

Privatization of the Privatisierung der Freiberger Präzisionsmechanik GmbH. Various branches of the company are spun off as independent entities

1990

The Treuhand (“Trust agency”) takes over after German reunification ; the company is transformed into a private (limited) company

1972

a new lightweight-construction hall is built for mechanical manufacture

1966

Cooperation begins with Carl Zeiss Jena. The traditional product line is expanded to include instruments for X-ray analysis and metrology

1962

new buildings are added

1958

The buildings are expanded

Oct 28, 1950

The company VEB Freiberger Präzisionsmechanik is founded.

May 8, 1945

The Soviet Red Army occupies the factory, dismantling some of the machinery and equipment. Fifteen workers continue to carry out smaller repairs on surveying instruments.

1912

Walter Hildebrand takes over management of the factory after the death of his father Max Hildebrand

1893/94

a new factory is built at Hainichener Strasse 2a

1873

Lingke sells the business to his master mechanic Max Hildebrand Industrial-scale production of instruments begins, with 80 employees. Quality and accuracy is improved; new instruments are developed

1869

Master mechanic Schramm becomes a partner in the company and places his premises in the “Hainichener Strasse” at the workshop’s disposal

1859

His son August Friedrich Lingke becomes owner of the business. Julius Ludwig Weisbach , Professor at the “Bergakademie Freiberg” (Mining Academy of Freiberg) uses Lingke’s instruments for surface and underground measurements during construction and driving of the famous “Rothschönberg Tunnel” mine

1823

Wilhelm Friedrich Lingke becomes “Bergmechanikus” and expands the workshop

1791

Johann Gottfried Studer assumes ownership of the workshop and starts production of improved and newly developed instruments, including the theodolite.

Sept. 2, 1771

Gottlieb Friedrich Schubert is appointed “Bergmechanikus” (Mining Master Mechanic) by Elector's decree. He establishes an independent business for the production of mining and metallurgy instruments.