Johann
Conrad Fischer, the founder of the company, died in this year.
His son, Georg
Fischer I, inherited the factories in Schaffhausen (Switzerland)
and passed them on to his 23-year-old son Georg
Fischer II. In 1856 the grandson took over management of the
company and reorganized the factories.
From 1850

1854
Death of the founder
1864
Start of production of malleable cast iron fittings
Georg Fischer II (1834 - 1887), son of Georg Fischer I and grandson
of Johann Conrad Fischer, acquired the Schaffhausen works. In 1864, he
was the first in Europe to begin the commercial manufacture of
malleable cast iron fittings (cast pipe connectors).
1865
Early marketing
The first fittings brochure, containing 91 different items for the
gas lighting sector, was published in this year.
1867
Foundation of sickness fund for employees
Georg
Fischer I founded a sickness fund for his employees. In 1897 the
Fund joined the "Association of Swiss Sickness Funds". In
1907, at the initiative of the then Managing Director, Ernst
Homberger, the Family Insurance Plan was created. The national
regulations governing health insurance plans came into effect in 1914.
1868
Construction of the first accommodation for employees
Construction of the first living quarters for employees and purchase
of several other residential buildings. This was the starting point
for the company’s generous policy regarding employee accommodation.
1876
Accident insurance for employees
Georg
Fischer I concluded a private accident insurance contract for
his employees.
1877
Industrial production
In 1877, Georg
Fischer II started the industrial-scale production of cast steel
– a process invented by Johann
Conrad Fischer in 1845.
1880
Canteen
In the Mühlental Valley (Switzerland) the first company canteen
is established. This was an early sign of the founding family's sense
of responsibility for its employees.
Start of production of the Rauschenbach wood-working machines.
1888
Steel casting
Cast steel is produced for the first time in Switzerland.
1895
Plant opened in Singen
Georg
Fischer III(1864 - 1925) started up a fittings factory in the
German town of Singen in 1895. The factory was operated as a
branch of the main works in nearby Schaffhausen. At the same time,
the first company-owned residential colony was built in Singen.
1896
Conversion into a joint-stock company
The growing need for capital prompted Georg
Fischer III to convert the private company into the
"Aktiengesellschaft der Eisen- und Stahlwerke von Georg
Fischer" ("joint stock company of the iron and
steelworks of Georg Fischer").
1898
Old-age pension for employees
Georg Fischer II created the company's old-age pension. At the time, it credited every employee that had worked for the company for more than five years a sum of money from profits to be accumulated every year on a company savings book. Georg Fischer II supported the creation of a works committee whose task was to strengthen relations between management and the workers.