BILSTEIN: The ThyssenKrupp Shock Absorber Brand

History

BILSTEIN, the shock-absorber brand now owned by ThyssenKrupp, was founded in 1873 by August Bilstein in Altenvoerde — a town later incorporated into what is now Ennepetal, Germany — initially producing window fittings rather than automotive parts. The company turned toward automotive components in 1927 under August's son, Hans Bilstein, and went on to develop monotube gas-pressure shock absorber technology in 1954, beginning series production for Mercedes-Benz in 1957. The company was reorganized as a group in 1988, taken over by Krupp Stahl AG in 1991 (trading for a time as Krupp Bilstein GmbH), and became a wholly owned subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp — as thyssenkrupp Bilstein GmbH — after the 2005 restructuring that followed the Thyssen–Krupp merger.

It is worth noting explicitly that BILSTEIN is a separate company from febi bilstein (Ferdinand Bilstein GmbH + Co. KG, founded 1844). Both firms originated in the same part of Germany and carry the Bilstein family name — Ferdinand Bilstein founded his business in Ennepetal in 1844, August Bilstein founded his in neighbouring Altenvoerde in 1873 — but published corporate histories treat them as two separate businesses with different founders and no shared ownership today; the shared surname reflects the region's history rather than a current corporate relationship.

What they make

BILSTEIN focuses on suspension damping: shock absorbers and struts for passenger cars, as well as performance and off-road suspension products, using the monotube gas-pressure design the company pioneered in the 1950s. This is a narrower product focus than febi bilstein's broad parts catalogue — BILSTEIN does not sell filters, electrical parts or engine components under its own name.

Where they fit — OE vs aftermarket

BILSTEIN is a genuine original-equipment supplier of dampers to a number of vehicle manufacturers, and its aftermarket range — sold to workshops and enthusiasts — includes both direct OE-equivalent replacement dampers and higher-performance suspension products aimed at drivers looking to upgrade rather than simply replace worn parts.

Buying tips

Because BILSTEIN sells both standard replacement dampers and performance-oriented suspension lines, a buyer should be clear about which is wanted: a straightforward OE-equivalent replacement will restore a vehicle's original ride and handling, while the brand's performance ranges are designed to change that behaviour and may need to be paired with matching springs or other suspension parts to work as intended.