Frichs

Frichs is a Danish company based in Horsens, founded in 1854 in Aarhus. Frichs today produce ship engines but started out in the 19th century producing a long range of farm and industry equipment, ships, church bells, cranes and later through the 20th century locomotives and train carriages. In the early to mid 20th century it was a major company and employer in Aarhus at its height employing some 1000 people. The company was the sole Danish supplier of locomotives for the Danish State Railways from 1919 to the mid 1950s and sold locomotives across Europe and to Siam and New Zealand. In 1980 the company was sold to Kosan and then restructured and rebased to Horsens.

History

Frichs was founded by Søren Frich in 1854 in Aarhus under the name Frich Jernstøberi og Maskinfabrik (English: Frich Ironworks and Machine Factory) focused primarily on farm equipment and cast iron products such as furnaces, ovens and steel girders. In 1855 Frich specialized in parts for the water and windmill industry and the same year produced its first steam engine. The production was varied and the company became the primary supplier when the Ceres Brewery was established in 1856. In 1885 Søren Frich sold the company to his nephew and retired.