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Chronicle of SFM GmbH, formerly SACHS Fahrzeug- und Motorentechnik GmbH, formerly Nuremberg Hercules-Werke
The precursor of the current SFM GmbH was founded by Carl Marschütz on April 5th, 1886 in Neumarkt as the Nürnberger Hercules-Werke. Initially he manufactured bicycles with eight employees.
Already eight years later the company had grown to a total of 170 employees.
1894 Production of almost 5.000 bicycles
1895 Move of the production facilities from Neumarkt to the Fürther Straße in Nuremberg
1898 Hercules develops an electronic vehicle, capable of 40 kph maximum speed and a radius of 40 kilometres
1905 Production of the first motorcycles and start of the truck production with 1,2 t capacity
1928 Start of the motorcycle production using JAP, Villiers, Moser, Bark, Sturmey-Archer and SACHS engines
1930 Production of three-wheeled automobiles with 200 cc-engines
1945 After the Second World War restart with 30 employees, first producing milk churns, then producing bicycles.Later production of the first motorcycles with a 97 cc-engine and following a motorcycle with a 125 cc-Ilo-engine
1951 World record by Georg Dotterweich on a 50 cc-engine assisted bicycle reaching an average speed of 79 kph
1962 Supply of the SACHS 50/5 – engine Production of the successful model K50
1963 Fichtel & Sachs AG, Schweinfurt takes over the Nürnberger Hercules- Werke GmbH
1964 Great sportive success of 222 factory and private drivers: 1.049 gold-, 151 silver- and 58 bronze-medals
1965 Take over of Zweirad-Union with the brand names Victoria, Express and DKW by Fichtel & Sachs AG, Schweinfurt Development of the predecessor of modern Quads named KRAKA (Kraftkarren). This agile all-terrain vehicle with a total weight of only 528kg, a 400 cc-engine and 18 HP had various functions in public services, forestry and military
1974 SACHS introduces the world's first motorcycle with a Wankel - engine
1987 Introduction of the Saxonette - a bicycle with a 30 cc-wheel-hub engine
1990 Presentation of the first electric moped reaching production status on the IFMA in Cologne
1991 Hercules builds the motorcycle K 180 BW for the German Federal Armed Forces
1995 New shareholder structure: the bicycle department is sold to the Dutch ATAG- group, the motorising department is renamed to SACHS Fahrzeug- und Motorentechnik GmbH
1997 Development and production of a new 125 cc model range
Contract with Daimler-Benz for the production of the Mercedes Hybrid Bike
1998 The SACHS Fahrzeug- und Motorentechnik GmbH is sold to the Dutch Winning Wheels Group
1999 Development of the Roadster 650 and Roadster 800
2000Presentation of the Roadster series with 650 cc- and 800cc- engines and start of production Presentation of the SACHS BEAST 1000 at the world's largest international motorcycle exhibition, the Intermot in Munich
2002 Starting in April SACHS produces a limited edition of the legendary MUENCH MAMMUT 2000, the strongest and most expensive serial motorcycle of the world
2003 Introduction of the first electronic bicycle with energy recuperation reaching a distance of 80 km
2004 Merger of the two traditional two-wheeler companies of Nuremberg SACHS Fahrzeug- und Motorentechnik GmbH and Zweirad Union Grundbesitz AG
2005 100 years serial production of motorised vehicles Re-entry on the US market with MadAss models Foundation of the SACHS Bikes Owners Club
2006 Introduction and serial production of the MadAss 125 Asian investment group invests in SACHS
2007 Move to new facilities in Nuremberg / Katzwang Presentation of the ATV 4rock 450 and 4rock 650 as well as the 400 cc-engine scooter Quattrocento
2008 Name change: "SACHS Fahrzeug- und Motorentechnik GmbH" becomes "SFM GmbH" Introduction of new Speedjet and Speedforce models as well as the 125cc-Scooter "Futuro".