Bielefeld in the mid-19th century: The Industrial Revolution turned this city into an important textile industry base. Sewing machines imported mainly from the United States are used for further processing of fabrics, and these machines are expensive and difficult to maintain. Two mechanics, Baer and Koch, seized this opportunity and founded the first sewing machine factory in Bielefeld in 1860. The success of the enterprise demonstrated the enormous potential of this emerging market to two partners, so Baer decided to create his own independent factory in 1865. Koch continued to operate Koch&Co company and hired two sewing machine mechanics, D ü rkopp and Schmidt. In 1861, D ü rkopp had already designed its first sewing machine and co founded its own D ü rkopp&Schmidt company with Schmidt in 1867. In the following twenty years, Bielefeld developed into one of the most important sewing machine production areas in Germany. By 1880, there were 19 companies in the Bielefeld industry whose products were internationally renowned and sold well in Europe. The competition both domestically and internationally led to a crisis in the industry in the 1880s. After Schmidt's exit, the company changed its name to D ü rkopp&Co and became the first enterprise to seek a new market - bicycle production. The new product sells well, and the company's path to success can be continued. Other companies also followed suit, and Koch&Co followed closely behind D ü rkopp. Soon after, bicycle production became an important component of the city's economy. At the end of the 19th century, D ü rkopp's business continued to flourish with the production of automobiles, trucks, and other motorized transportation equipment. While D ü rkopp constantly tries to develop new business areas for its own enterprise, Koch&Co has been focusing its energy on industrial sewing and garment equipment. Its brand Adler has become synonymous with internationally popular professional sewing machines. Therefore, after renaming to Kochs Adler Sewing Machine Co., Ltd., the company ceased the production of bicycles in 1920. After the death of the founder of D ü rkopp, the company was renamed as D ü rkoppwerke AG. In the late 1920s, the global economic crisis forced the company to cease its already unsuccessful automobile production business. In the late Weimar Republic, the company developed the first generation of conveyor equipment for the textile industry and opened up new markets with it. Until today, the company is still operating this business. After the end of World War II, Kochs Adler Sewing Machine Company also attempted to develop new business areas, such as the production of typewriters and packaging machinery, but soon abandoned these businesses as well as the household sewing machine industry. Since the 1960s, D ü rkoppwerke AG has also focused its business solely on industrial sewing machines and conveyor equipment. In 1962, FAG Kugelfischer acquired a majority stake in D ü rkoppwerke AG. 25 years later, Kugelfischer Group acquired a majority stake in Kochs Adler AG, clearing the way for the merger of these two competing companies in the industry. In 1990, the merged company was renamed D ü rkopp Adler AG and began new operations in the Oldentrup district of Bielefeld. On July 1, 2005, Shanggong Shenbei (Group) Co., Ltd. from Shanghai, China acquired a majority stake in Dukpu Aihua AG from FAG Kugelfischer GmbH located in Schweinfurt, Germany. On July 1, 2010, D ü rkopp Transmission Technology Co., Ltd. was sold to Knapp AG in Graz, Austria. On October 28, 2010, the German subsidiary of China Zoje Sewing Machine Co., Ltd., Zoje Europe Holdings Limited, acquired a 29% stake in Dukep Aihua Co., Ltd. Today, Dukpu Aihua Co., Ltd. provides customers with problem-solving solutions in the field of sewing technology. The group company has a global service and sales network consisting of 11 subsidiaries, 2 joint ventures, and over 80 authorized distributors from around the world. The purpose of the enterprise is to improve the automation of the production process while ensuring highly flexible applications. Extensive consultation and reliable services ensure that the company's products are at the forefront of major segmented markets worldwide. The pioneering and innovative spirit of the company's founder has become an important component of the corporate philosophy, and will continue to be developed through the creative potential of all employees.