Dolezych Group History.

1935-1949

When Franz Dolezych founded the company in Dortmund in 1935, he was just 22 years old – a very young, but also very engaging and, above all, enterprising man. With the production and manufacture of “wire ropes for every purpose and wire rope slings of all kinds”, he won customers in Dortmund and the entire Ruhr region. In 1939, the war interrupted all activities and released Franz Dolezych from his shackles late: he only returned from Russian captivity in 1949 to find Dortmund largely destroyed.

1950s

After his return, he resumed his business in Dortmund-Asseln, but it quickly became too cramped. In the mid-1950s, the Dolezych company therefore moved to its current location in Dortmund harbor (at that time still “Sunderweg” instead of “Hartmannstraße”).

1968

Udo Dolezych joined the company. Demonstrating entrepreneurial responsibility, mastering global economic challenges and showing commitment: Udo Dolezych not only carried on the legacy, but expanded it considerably and is still intensely committed to SMEs today.

1970s

Udo Dolezych also brought new ideas to the company. With the introduction of textile products such as lifting straps and round slings, the company developed into a full-range supplier of lifting and lashing equipment. There was also a change for Udo Dolezych himself in 1979: he became Managing Director of Dolezych.

1988

At the end of the 1980s, Dolezych patented its first product: a pre-tensioning force measuring device for measuring the pre-tensioning force of lashing equipment. That was just the beginning. Thanks to constant striving for improvement and innovation, Dolezych now holds a large number of patents and utility models.

1990

In 1990, Udo Dolezych became the sole managing director. However, the year brings even more changes. The range of services is expanded to include specialist seminars. Wherever lifting and securing is carried out, basic knowledge is a must. Today, Dolezych is one of the leading providers of seminars on lifting and slinging technology and load securing.

1992

From the Ruhr region out into the world. Dolezych's internationalization began with the establishment of the first foreign branch in Katowice, Poland.

1995

There was an artistic highlight in 1995, when Christo and Jeanne-Claude covered the Reichstag with huge lengths of fabric (a total of 109,400 square meters of fabric). The fabrics were held in place by 2,430 Dolezych lashing straps (a length of around 25 kilometers of webbing).

2000s

The first ten years of the new millennium were characterized by progressive internationalization. Three new locations were added in just eight years: the branch in Kunshan (China) in 2002, in Kiev (Ukraine) in 2007 and in Santiago de Chile in 2008.

2010er

75 years of Dolezych – a reason to celebrate! For 75 years, the company has been manufacturing products for safe lifting and transport and can look back on many years of trusting and successful collaboration with customers, partners, and suppliers.

2010s

Tim Dolezych joined the company in 2011 and thus represents the third generation of the family to be active in the family business.

Further international subsidiaries were added in the 2010s as well: in 2013 in Istanbul (Turkey) and, also in 2013, the founding of Doleco USA.

In 2017, Tim Dolezych became Managing Partner, thereby continuing the work of his grandfather.

2021

Christo the second: Dolezych created a special eye-catcher in Paris in 2021. More than 2,600 Dolezych lashing straps held 25,000 square meters of fabric that covered the Arc de Triomphe. The art campaign was a tribute to Christo and Jeanne-Claude.

2022

Dolezych has a new look with a new logo. Fresh, modern, high-quality - the company's self-image is now also made clear visually. The timeless design is an important step in the further development of the company's history and takes a step into a future characterized by digitalization. Core elements of the old corporate identity continue the tradition of the family business.

2025

Dolezych looked back on 90 years of history – from wire rope manufacturing in 1935 to becoming a globally leading provider of rope, lifting, securing, and load restraint technology. What started with the production of simple wire ropes has evolved through innovation, quality, and consistent growth into an internationally operating company with 650 employees across eight countries. The headquarters in Dortmund Harbor has been the center for research, development, and new ideas for over 70 years – always with the motto: "A new solution every day."

For us, success is not just about business performance, but also about our ongoing commitment to strengthening the local community and taking on social responsibility – with the goal of shaping a livable future for generations to come.