The History of TBWB
TBWB began in 1977 with a single vision: to innovate in control systems. Discover how we've grown into a market leader in intralogistics automation since then.
The Founding
On February 14, 1977, Henk Friederichs took the first step towards what is now TBWB. Against the backdrop of a turbulent decade marked by oil crises and terrorist attacks, Henk, the breadwinner of a young family, started a company specializing in control systems for machines. His son Bart, the current director, was just three months old at the time.
A Difficult Start
The early years of TBWB were not without challenges. Henk received support from family and friends who helped transform an old gas station at Rijksweg 110C in Dorst into an office, warehouse, and workshop. It was primitive: an old oil heater warmed the building but polluted the air so badly that working in the cold was often a better option. Nevertheless, TBWB had a dedicated address and could start operations, even though the phone connection didn't arrive until November.
The Early Years
In the beginning, TBWB worked with electromechanical components such as relays and timers. Despite limited resources, the company slowly but surely grew. The advent of the first Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) in the 1980s marked a significant technological leap. TBWB began writing software for sorting systems and used early PCs for data entry.
The 1990s and the Digital Revolution
After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the world seemed full of possibilities. The Dutch economy boomed, and TBWB embraced digital techniques in automation. PCs were used not only for data entry but also for storage and rapid processing. TBWB grew alongside these technological advancements and expanded its services.
The 21st Century and Further Growth
The 2001 attack on the Twin Towers marked the start of a new reality, but TBWB continued to innovate. The company took on complete projects as a system integrator and developed software for WCS, WMS, and MES. TBWB collaborated closely with universities, colleges, and suppliers to develop innovative solutions such as the Logistacker and the Optical Bin.
A New Generation
In April 2009, Bart Friederichs took over the leadership of TBWB from his father. Under his guidance, TBWB continued to grow and innovate, always seeking new ways to solve the logistical challenges of their clients.
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