Over the decades, the name MAUSER has become a synonym for the safe transport of dangerous goods around the globe, providing both economic and environmentally compatible packaging solutions for industrial purposes. In the course of its history, MAUSER innovations have revolutionized industrial packaging, playing a decisive role in much of today’s international standardization of packaging.

A little town in Germany
It all began in 1896, in a small town in the Black Forest in Southern Germany. Dr. Alfons Mauser, son of the inventor of the famous Mauser Gun, decided to leave his father’s company and to start out on his own. His idea would be called material recycling today, only then the word had not been invented: He took scrap steel strips from the local watch-making industry and acquired a patent for manufacturing iron fences out of them.

Pioneer of modern Packaging
In 1898 Alfons Mauser moved his young company to Cologne and responded to the new needs created by the process of industrialization. At the time, the transport of dyes and acids on an industrial scale was a fairly new issue. The chemical industry bought its hazardous freight in large glass bottles, using wicker baskets for transportation. Alfons Mauser decided to develop a less accident-prone transport solution and his idea was an immediate success: He introduced iron baskets to protect the glass bottles, significantly reducing transport damage.

In 1903 MAUSER pioneered the metal drum, an invention that was to lay the basis for the entire MAUSER business and is generally regarded as the beginning of modern industrial packaging. The “Aniline Drum” was made of heavy steel sheet and its advantages in terms of stability and safety made it a worldwide success.

In the years thereafter, Alfons Mauser continued to work on solving the problems of his customers from the chemical industry. Different types and sizes of metal drums were developed and new factories were established. MAUSER also invented new beading and welding machines and introduced new manufacturing processes.

Innovation heyday
After the death of Alfons Mauser in 1927, his two sons continued to develop the business with great success. It was an exciting time for the chemical industries which experienced an unprecedented innovation heyday in the 20s and 30s. MAUSER was quick to react, solving the transport and storage problems of the rapidly growing chemical companies. By World War II, MAUSER had become one of Europe’s leading packaging manufacturers.

Material Revolution
In the 50s, new materials revolutionized cars, homes, fashion - and the world of packaging. MAUSER started the production of fibre drums and decided to enter the field of plastics. Using different types of plastics as raw materials, the company began to experiment with entirely new designs, while also exploring the possibilities of the new blow moulding process.

Designers soon discovered, that new types of machinery were required to implement the creative visions that the new materials and processes promised. Since adequate equipment for profitable mass production was not available on the market, MAUSER went into this new field of business and started engineering its own high-performance blow moulding machinery. This step laid the foundation for MAUSER’s worldwide licence production network, which was established later.

MAUSER “Firsts”
The 60s saw the first man on the moon. The development of products and technologies both in space and on earth was taking place at breath-taking speed. The world of packaging was about to reinvent itself. The first major breakthrough for MAUSER was the introduction of plastic cans for lube-oil and chemicals. As a long-standing supplier of drums to the chemical and mineral-oil industries, MAUSER managed to break the tin-plate monopoly, while also replacing spiral-wound fibre cans.

In 1963 the first all-plastic MAUSER can was introduced, followed by a whole range of cans and bottles for a wide variety of products, from antifreeze agents to pharmaceuticals. 1963 marked another premiere: MAUSER launched plastic bottles crates made by injection moulding. This versatile product swiftly conquered a large market.

New high-molecular polyethylene types, offered by the chemical industry, soon opened up new chances for large-size packaging. In 1967, MAUSER presented its first 120 litre open-top plastics drum. The prize winning invention received many international awards, including the WORLDSTAR of the World Packaging Organisation. This overwhelming market acceptance marked the beginning of a broad range of MAUSER closed-head drums, open-top drums, jerry cans, and the launch of the Fassett®, a drum/jerry can hybrid. In 1971, MAUSER introduced its first 55 U.S. gallon closed-head plastics drum.

Consolidating & Expanding
With international demand for MAUSER plastics packaging growing, the company decided to export its extrusion blow moulding machinery and know-how, which was originally developed for in-house production. Licensing agreements with selected companies in Europe and overseas ensured that MAUSER’s high quality standards were safeguarded.

In 1973, the First International MAUSER Know-how Conference brought together the wide-spread group of international licensees and provided a forum for exchanging ideas, updating knowledge and sharing information.

In 1975, the MAUSER Headquarters and production facilities were moved from Cologne to nearby Bruehl. New high-speed production lines were installed, while the production facilities in Hamburg-Harburg, Neuwied and Bammental near Heidelberg were further extended and modernized.

Focus on the Environment
In the 80s, desasters such as Bhopal, Tschernobyl and the Exxon Valdez shook the world and brought a new focus on safety and environmental protection.

MAUSER developed new products to meet the challenges of the times. In 1977 the MAUSER L-ring drum established new international standards for the safe transport of liquid dangerous goods. Using a brand new technology, it was manufactured in one continuous process, increasing the safety factor significantly.

In 1982, a high-quality polypropylene pallet was developed, its dimensional accuracy being the basis for computerized warehousing.

In 1986 MAUSER started the production of multi-layer co-ex bottles and jerry cans, the following year saw the launch of a 300-liter stainless steel salvage drum.

In the 80s, oil residues in “empty” steel drums were causing serious ecological damage. In 1989 MAUSER tackled this global problem by re-designing the drum top of the standard steel drum (55 US Gallon), bringing residues down to less than 50ml. This solution for optimum draining received a series of international prizes, among them the CEFIC Award of the European Chemical Industry Association.

In 1990 the MAUSER L-ring Plus drum was launched, offering the re-designed drum top for optimum draining. Today, all types of MAUSER packaging include the modified draining feature.

Quality and Service
In the 90s, the economic climate became harsher and competition was strong. MAUSER’s answer to this challenge was a renewed focus on innovation, quality and service.

In 1990, the MAUSER open-top steel drum with PE inner liner received the WORLDSTAR, and in 1992 MAUSER was awarded the internationally renowned Quality Assurance Certificate DIN ISO 9001.

In 1992, the MAUSER International Packaging Institute (MIPI) was formed, a global communication and service network offering significant competitive advantages to customers of MAUSER licensees.

In 1993, the first 1,000 litre composite-IBC, featuring an entirely new pallet and top made of recycled PE, was developed and successfully launched under the name of MAUSER Repaltainer. The same year sees the introduction of Thermo Plus, a water-proof fibre drum with PE-coating, newly developed by MAUSER to meet environmental requirements.

In 1994, the MAUSER Euro-Return Service for the collection and recycling of used IBCs is established in Germany and the neighbouring countries.

In 1995, the MAUSER L-ring Plus Light drum is launched, a flyweight product of 7.2 kg.

“Buy-and-Build”: Getting ready for the 21st century
What was later to be called the MAUSER “Buy-and-Build” strategy, had its beginnings in the early 90s and set the course for the new millennium.

In 1990, MAUSER acquired a majority share of Gallay S. A., a leading French manufacturer of metal containers.
By 1995, the MAUSER group had further grown. MAUSER had acquired shares in the Vanguard Container Corporation USA and in the Turkish Memsan Metal Company (new name: Memsan-MAUSER Metal Mamulleri Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.).

By 1996 the number of licensees had also expanded considerably. MAUSER plastics packaging was manufactured in 53 production facilities around the world, while 21 companies were MAUSER licensees for steel drum technology.


Growth and Internationalization
In 2003, One Equity Partners (OEP), an investment subsidiary of the American Bank One, acquired MAUSER, enabling an enhanced focus on growth and internationalization. The “Buy-and-Build” strategy was defined.

In 2003, MAUSER acquired the blow-moulding packaging business of Hoover Materials Handling Group Inc., bringing the MAUSER Group into the ranks of the largest packaging manufacturers on the US market. The foundation of MAUSER USA Inc. later that year also incorporated the MAUSER US-subsidiary Vanguard Container Corporation.

In 2004 MAUSER strengthened its presence in the growing Asian markets and entered a joint venture with Shanghai Fanshun Industrial Company. At the time, Fanshun had already been producing MAUSER plastic packaging for 8 years under the licensing programme. The new joint venture was designed to produce MAUSER IBCs for the Asian market. Fanshun’s existing sales network of 34 affiliates provided immediate local supply of IBC products and services to the chemical, pharmaceutical and mineral oil industries.

In 2004 MAUSER concluded joint ventures both in India with local market leader TIME Packaging Ltd., and in Malaysia with manufacturer PROTANK to produce MAUSER IBCs for their local markets.

Later that year MAUSER merged with the Italian MAMOR S.p.A., the second largest manufacturer of IBCs worldwide. The MAUSER IBC series TC 1000 was phased out to be succeeded by the Mamor IBC series SM.

In 2005, MAUSER acquired Russel Stanley Holdings Inc, North America’s largest manufacturer of plastic drums and second largest maker of steel drums. This acquisition extended the coverage of MAUSER products to all key locations in the US.

In 2006, MAUSER concluded a joint venture with Pack Delta Public Company Ltd., the national market leader for plastic industrial packaging in Thailand.

Later that year, MAUSER extended its reach to Latin America, acquiring the industrial packaging business of the Brazilian market leader Metalúrgica Barra do Pirai S.A. (MBP) and the majority interest in Tankpool do Brasil, a specialist for IBC recycling. This move made the newly founded subsidiary MAUSER do Brasil the leading company for industrial packaging in South America. Its offering includes the entire value chain from plastic and steel drums to IBCs, including an IBC reconditioning service.

In 2007, a joint venture for reconditioning IBCs in the Benelux region became operative. Partner in the new enterprise is Janus Vaten B.V., a leading service provider in the Dutch market with more than 130 years experience in reconditioning industrial packaging.

Acquisition and Integration
In April 2007, One Equity Partners LLC (OEP) sold its stake in MAUSER AG to Dubai International Capital LLC ('DIC'), the international investment arm of Dubai Holding. The new stakeholder announced that it will support the MAUSER group to continue its growth strategy.

The introduction of the ECO-CYCLE concept in 2007 implements all aspects of “Responsible Care” for the entire life cycle of MAUSER products from raw materials and production processes to recollection and recycling.

July 2007: Mauser acquires the majority interests of Tamlimp, a well-established supplier of new and reconditioned steel drums and of Metplast, a reconditioner of steel drums in Turkey.

August 2007: MAUSER acquires the assets of IDL, Industrial Drums Limited Canada, a well-established supplier of new steel drums.

January 2008: Mauser buys a majority stake in Stanta Metal Drum Sdn.Bhd., one of the largest steel drum manufacturers in Malaysia.

January 2008: Start of the “National Container Group UK”, a joint venture with TDG Plc. to provide collection, cleaning and reconditioning services for IBCs in the UK

May 2008: The new joint venture “National Container Group Buchtenkirchen” complements the existing German NCG site in Erkelenz.

June 2008: With the acquisition of American Fiber Drum Corp., Mauser enters the fiber drum manufacturing business in the United States.

December 2008: MAUSER in Europe has successfully completed the process of its environmental management audit and receives ISO 14001:2004 certification for all European sites.

January 2009: The new joint venture Mauser Reyde Ibérica S. A. is a strategic alliance for the production and sales of IBCs in Spain.

January 2009: NCG opens two new reconditoning sites in Europe: in Bathley near Manchester/UK and in St. Armand near Lille/France.

May 2009: Start of MAUSER Russia. As of October 2009, a new steel drum factory near Moscow will supply the oil and chemical industries in Russia with state-of-the-art MAUSER products and services.
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