The origins of today’s FPiN WAPIENICA Ltd. in Bielsko-Biała date back to April 1921. That year, “Polsko-Śląska Fabryka Pił i Narzędzi” Sp. z o.o. was created from the combined capital of three owners – Oskar Fabiny,  Artur Schädel and Wilhelm Riedel. This event marks the beginning of the production of saw tools in Poland on an industrial scale. Production during that time was done in very primitive conditions. A production hall with a size of about 800 m2 had wooden walls, filled with slag, and a wooden roof supported by posts. The hall had no heating or sanitation facilities, and was a workplace for about fifteen workers during summer and about fifty workers during winter.

     Machines were powered using a transmission system, driven by a high-pressure combustion engine, which was replaced by an electric engine in 1935. Production technology in those times was dependent to a large degree on the skills of professional employees. During that time, the company mostly produced tools for cutting wood, fulfilling the needs of forestry workers, sawmills and small carpenter’s shops. The average monthly production was about 500 pieces of frame saw blades, 2000 circular saw blades and 4000 cross-cut saw blades of various sizes. Woodworking blades for sash saws and one-man woodworking saws were also included in the production plan and sold during the 1930s.

     In 1932, Oskar Fabiani’s brother sold his share in the company to Jan Korn, who in turn sold it after 4 years to the new owner, Frederyk Wladarz. During this time, the existing factory has concluded a cooperation contact with “Pokój” steel mill, which also produced saws for wood on a government order.

     Right before the outbreak of World War II, almost 100 people were employed at the factory. During the war, the factory operated under a changed name as “Schlesiche Sägenfabrik Lobnitz, b.Bielitz Beskiden”.

     The post-war history of the factory is in many ways similar to that of most old industrial plants. In the beginning phase after 1945, the company’s development was determined by the difficulties of a country destroyed by war. A dynamic production growth in many fundamental branches of industry has created a need for a supply of cutting tools for woodworking and metalworking, as well as craftsman tools. However, old machines and the cramped conditions of the facilities made it impossible to undertake any enterprising ventures. The only solution was to expand the factory, which happened in 1946, simultaneously with the start-up of production.

     The period 1946-1949 was a time during which the specialization of production was being shaped, which became a sort of preparation for the expansion of the factory which would take place in later years. Basic production during this period included:

• Circular saw blades for wood
• Mill saw blades
• Cross-cut saw blades
• Planer knives
• Chain saw blades
• Woodworking blades in a wide range of sizes and shapes
• Circular saw blades for metal cutting
• Segmental saw blades and replacement segments,
• Drill bits for metal
• Machine saw blades
• Hand saw blades

Employment grew simultaneously with production. In 1946, 33 people were employed, and in 1960 this figure grew to 700 people. Eight tool assortments in 80 type dimensions were being produced in 1946, and in 1960 – 44 assortments in 741 type dimensions.

    The following years brought the dynamic expansion of the company. Between 1967 and 1968, a new production hall was built, along with technical and personnel facilities with an area of 2500 m2 and space with an area of 1500 m2 for the production of drill bits for cast iron and steel with a capacity of 1.5 million PLN/year. The production technology of these drill bits was based on waste-free flute moulding by rolling in rolling mills from the Centralne Laboratorium Obróbki plastycznej (Central Material Treatment Laboratory) in Poznań. This technology was also used for drill bits for cast iron and steel with cylindrical and conic grip in the dimension range Ø 8.5 – Ø 20 mm.

    In 1970, production included 73 tool assortments in almost 1700 type dimensions. Fabryka Pił i Narzędzi operated as a state-owned company subordinate to the Zjednoczenie Obrabiarek i Narzędzi (Automatic Machine and Toll Industry Association) until the end of 1969. The reorganization at the central level has lead, by the decision of the Minister of the Machine Industry, to the creation in December 1971 of a Kombinat Przemysłu Narzędziowego (Tool Industry Complex), which in 1974 was finally renamed to Tool Industry Conglomerate “Vis”, based at the Precision Tools Factory in Warsaw.

    The growing needs of the building and construction industry initiated preparations for the production of drill bits for masonry and concrete. FPiN fulfilled this plan using its own resources, without purchasing any licenses. The beginning of the production of drill bits for masonry and concrete was directly related to the purchase of a license from BOSCH for the production of hammer drills and jackhammers by Electric Machine Company “CELMA” in Cieszyn.

    At the end of the 1970s, the production of some assortments was moved from FPiN to other plants: drill bits for cast iron and steel, planer knives, mill saw blades, band-saw blades for metal and wood, cross-cut saw blades, woodworking blades, various woodworking tools and part of the production of segment saw blades. Product assortment was limited to products with the greatest demand on the domestic and international market. These tools included: circular saw blades for wood, circular saw blades with carbide plates, diamond saw blades for glass and stone, blades for power tools, hand saw blades, segmental saw blades and replacement segments, side milling cutters, machine saw blades, high-speed steel hand saw blades, drill bits for masonry and concrete. The factory in the new organizational structure, i.e. as part of the Tool Industry Complex, went through another intense period of modernizing production through the introduction of the most modern machines into the technological cycle, counting on increasing the quality of products and decreasing the strain on employees working directly in production.
The investment purchases of new machines and devices were inseparably connected with high-quality products designated for export. On average, 25% of the monthly production was sold to the markets of England, USA, Germany, Egypt, Pakistan, Algeria as well as Central and Eastern European countries, with over 30 countries in total. Within the Tool Industry Complex, this was among the leading exporting factories. In the 1970s, new storage warehouses for storing steel were built. 1985 was the year of putting a new production hall into use, with a size of over 4000 m2. This hall held the finished product storage and the department of production of drill bits for masonry and concrete. The technological advance and large investments have placed FPiN in this period among the leading European producers of saw tools.

    The ever-growing needs of domestic as well as international clients have placed new challenges in front of the technology and finance personnel, regarding product modernization and price competitiveness. Modern material cutting technologies which were introduced throughout the world during the 1980s were also implemented at FPiN. As one of the first ones in the country, the factory has implemented the technique of laser cutting in the process of preparing semi-finished products. This took place in 1989.

    The 1990s were a period of proprietary transformations at FPiN. Many investments were also made into modernizing the existing machine park. A second laser cutter and a professional machine for saw blade straightening were purchased in 1995. More investments were directed to increase the quality of the produced carbide circular saw blades by purchasing five of the highest quality grinding machines for grinding carbide in saw blades. The beginning of the 21st century meant a systematic replacement of older models for new machines, including a purchase of a TRIUMF laser cutter and a WALTER grinding machine.

    2004 was a period of very crucial changes in the proprietary structure of the company. At the end of October and beginning of November, the company’s majority ownership was purchased by Koelner S.A. from Wrocław [RAWLPLUG S.A.] – a leader on the market of mounting technology. Koelner S.A. [RAWLPLUG S.A.] is a private company managed by the Koelner family which, besides the production and sale of industrial mounting systems, is also the owner of the MODECO brand, a producer of hand tools and power tools. On 25th May 2005 the company Koelner S.A. [RAWLPLUG S.A.] purchased shares being previously owned by employees. On 20th October 2005 the company Koelner S.A. [RAWLPLUG S.A.] purchased from State Treasury 25% of share capital of Fabryka Pił i Narzędzi Wapienica SA. In the result of the transavtion Koelner's share capital increased from previously owned 74,4% to 99,4% what made Koelner SA the strategic majority shareholder.

On 1st June 2006 there was a change of legal personality and thus a transformation of Fabryka Pil i Narzędzi "Wapienica" in a limited liability company. In the last years a new CNC sharpening machine was purchased what enables a wide range of teeth geometries in circular tools. We also purchased a new production line of automated and fully controlled soldering process. We started using laser (non-contact) disc flatness measurement system the results of which are illustrated in the 3D space. In 2010 we also launched a new project TOP SERVICE. Project TOP SERVICE is a formula of cooperation with external companies that offer professional sharpening and regeneration service of the tools produced by our company.

On October 27, 2017, there was a significant change in the ownership structure of the company. The buyer of 100% of shares in Fabryka Pił i Narzędzi Wapienica Sp. z o.o. and rights to the "Globus" and "Glotech" trademarks from RAWLPLUG S.A. was Mr. Leszek Sobik, running a business under the name: Firma Handlowo-Usługowa "Sobik".

The last 4 years before the period of investment in the machine park, i.a. an automatic and super-precise GERLING grinder, several VOLLMER robots for sharpening high-performance circular saw blades, and the high-performance by JUNKER for the teeth grinding process of HSS circular-saw milling cutters (slitting saw blades).

Today through continuous developments of Globus products, modernisation of tools' construction, reduction of production cost while high quality ensured we are able to and want to meet high demands that the market and tools' users make.