Our history

In 1965, our founder Hermann Graser Senior used a tax refund of 500 deutschmarks to set up a stone masonry company on his parents' land in Trossenfurt in the Steigerwald forest.

The company grew steadily, and in 1968/1969 a plant for natural stone processing was erected on an area of 7 000 m² in the neighbouring village of Tretzendorf. This, too, reached the limits of its capacity by the eighties, and therefore in 1985/86 the current premises in Bamberg were built and work there commenced. Since then, we have continued to expand, to keep our state-of-the-art machinery fully up to date, and to pursue innovative solutions.

Our first quarry was also purchased in the eighties to get an independent and reliable raw material supply. At the beginning of the nineties we established branches in the former eastern part of Germany. In 2012 we purchased all the quarries and the machinery equipment of Naturstein Vetter GmbH, and as a result we are now extracting high-quality sandstones and granites from over 20 own quarries.

Since 2009 the company is run by managing directors Hermann Graser Junior and Martin Graser, both sons of Hermann Graser Senior. Hermann Graser Junior concluded his training as a master craftsman in masonry and stone sculpture in 1999 with the Meisterpreis der Bayerischen Staatsregierung, a prestigious award from the Bavarian state government. In May 2000, he qualified as a state-certified conservator in the field of stone masonry and stone sculpture. Martin Graser completed his studies of business administration (with a particular focus on enterprise management) at the Leipzig Graduate School of Management (Handelshochschule Leipzig, or HHL) in 2001 with distinction. So, in the management craftsmanship and business thinking go hand in hand.

The managing directors are supported by the managers Dietmar Finzel, Alfons Schwinn and Peter Hofmann and the company's 130 employees.

1964

1964

Hermann Graser Senior qualifies as a master stone mason

Hermann Graser Senior passes the examinations for his master mason´s diploma in stone masonry and stone sculpture at the age of 26.

1965

1965

Founding of the company

Hermann Graser sets up his stone masonry company in Trossenfurt in the Steigerwald forest.

1966

1966

Creation of ten jobs

After only a year, ten stone masons are working for the company.

1968/69

1968/69

New plant in Tretzendorf

Once a site had been acquired in Tretzendorf in the Steigerwald forest, production halls, a storage area for rough quarry blocks and an office building are erected on an area of 7 000 m².

Until 1983

Until 1983

continued company growth

The number of employees increases to 45 stone masons, mainly as a result of apprentices being trained. The site in Tretzendorf is now too small for the expanding company.

1983 to 1985

1983 to 1985

Acquisition of a site, planning and the start of construction of the new premises in Bamberg

During this period, the next major step is taken. Land in Bamberg's industrial district is acquired, and the construction of one of the most modern stone-processing plants in Germany commences.

1984

1984

Opening of Gereuth Quarry

Extraction of Gereuther Schloss Sandstein (yellow sandstone), which is now abandoned.

1986

1986

Production starts at our Bamberg site

In June 1986 a topping-out ceremony takes place to celebrate the completion of our new office and staff facilities building. At the same time, production in the first finished production hall starts.

1986

Company renamed "Bamberg Natursteinwerk Hermann Graser"

1987 to 1991

1987 to 1991

Expansion of the Bamberg site

The company moves into the office building and increases its processing and storage capacities. One of the most modern plants for processing natural stone in Germany is erected on a site of approx. 30 000 m².

1987

Opening of Kammergrund Quarry

Deposit of Steigerwald Quartzit (light-grey sandstone).

1988

Opening of Hermannsberg Quarry

Deposit of Sander Sandstein (green sandstone).

1989

1989

Opening of Trebgast Quarry

Deposits of Trebgaster Buntsandstein (brown-beige sandstone).

1991

1991

Dresden branch established

1991

Opening of Friedewald Köhlerholz Quarry

Deposit of Friedewalder Sandstein (light-grey and pale-red sandstone).

1992

1992

Potsdam branch established

An office building including workshop and storage facilities is erected.

1994

1994

Opening of Klaubholz Quarry

Deposit of Mainsandstein, weiß-grau (white-grey sandstone).

1997

Company renamed "Bamberger Natursteinwerk Hermann Graser GmbH & Co. KG"

1997/1998

1997/1998

Opening of “Alte Poste” Quarry

Deposit of Postaer Sandstein "Alte Poste" (yellow-brown sandstone).

1996 to 2001

Complete modernisation of machinery pool in the Bamberg plant

Replacement of all bridge saws with new ones, most of it CNC controlled, specifically for the prefabrication of large natural stone workpieces.

2002/2003

Opening of Friedewald Hutweide Quarry

Additional deposit of Friedewalder Sandstein (light-grey and pale-red sandstone).

2003

Acquisition of the Rossberg Quarry

The largest deposit of Mainsandstein, weiß-grau (white-grey sandstone) is taken over from Bayerische Schleifsteinwerke Ankenbrandt, a company founded in 1851.

2004

Entry in the Board of Directors

Hermann Graser Junior (master stone mason and stone sculptor, state-examined stone technician, conservator in stone masonry and stone sculpture) and Martin Graser (business administration graduate, Dipl.-Kaufmann) join the management board.

2007

2007

Installation of Germany's first stone processing robot

In cooperation with Augsburg-based Kuka Roboter GmbH, we test the first robot for stone processing in Germany.

2008

Acquisition of the Rockenau and Gaimühle Quarries

The deposits of Neckartäler Hartsandstein (red and red-white sandstone) are taken over from Karl Schmelzer GmbH & Co. KG, Eberbach.

2009/10

Hermann Graser Junior and Martin Graser become partners

Transfer of operational activities to Bamberger Natursteinwerk Hermann Graser GmbH. Original company renamed Graser Vermögensverwaltungsgesellschaft mbh & Co. KG.

2010

Installation of a photovoltaic system

The third-largest photovoltaic system in the area covered by the utility company Stadtwerke Bamberg, with a peak output of 520 kW, is installed on the roofs of the production halls in Bamberg by Graser Solarstrom GbR.

2011

Installation of two additional stone-processing robots

Our development work in the field of automated natural stone processing leads to the installation of two additional robots for stone processing. We pioneer the automated manufacturing of complex workpieces with robots in Germany.

2011

Construction of a storage building and expansion of the photovoltaic system

Investing in a storage building in Bamberg provides a chance to extend the photovoltaic system, which now has a peak output of 660 kW. Now the complete processing operation, including the production of Grasamit restoration and jointing mortar, can take place in a single location.

2012

Purchase of all quarries and machinery held by Naturstein Vetter GmbH

After Naturstein Vetter GmbH, a local major competitor, shuts down its operative business in June 2012, we purchase all the company’s quarries, its complete inventory and all its stone-processing machinery in September 2012. This resulted in the significant expansion of the resources at our disposal, so that we are now able to quarry also granite. Overall, we now have 21 quarries, from which we extract 15 different materials.

2012

Acquisition of the Leistadt Quarry

Deposit of Leistädter Sandstein (yellow sandstone).

2012

Acquisition of the Röttbach Quarry

Deposit of Roter Mainsandstein, Röttbach (red sandstone).

2012

Acquisition of the Buch/Bischwind Quarry

Deposit of Bucher Sandstein (yellow sandstone).

2012

Acquisition of the Schönbrunn-Hermannsberg Quarry

Deposit of Mainsandstein, weiß-grau (white-grey sandstone).

2012

Acquisition of the Hahnbruch Quarry

A further deposit of Mainsandstein, weiß-grau, Hahnbruch (white-grey sandstone).

2012

Acquisition of the Hermannsberg Quarry

Additional deposit of Sander Sandstein (green sandstone).

2012

Acquisition of the Kellerbruch Quarry

Further deposit of Mainsandstein, weiß-grau (white-grey sandstone).

2012

Acquisition of the Schlossbrunnenbruch Quarry

Deposit of Epprechtstein Granit (grey, grey-yellow and yellow granite).

2012

Acquisition of the Pfalzbrunnen Quarry

Deposit of Kösseine Granit (blue-grey granite).

2012

Acquisition of the Heilgersdorf quarry

Deposit of the Heilgersdorfer Sandstein (yellow sandstone), which is now abandoned.

2015

2015

50th company anniversary