Dietrich Industries history

The De Dietrich forges were transformed into true factories; by the time of Amélie de Dietrich's death in 1855, the company operated six factories and were award-winning producers of wrought iron and steel products ranging from ornamental railings to bridges.

The company's Bollée-based automobile won the first international automobile race, the Paris-Amsterdam race of 1898.

In 1902, De Dietrich hired a young engineer from Italy, who had already built his first car.

During this time, Gilbert de Dietrich, who had joined the company in 1957, took over as head of the company, helping to unify the company's product strategy.

Dietrich joined his father at Dietrich Industries, Inc. in 1962, which was at the time a small steel warehouse and distribution business located east of Pittsburgh.

To fund growth, particularly beyond France and across most of Europe, De Dietrich went public in 1974.

In 1991, Penn State University Press published his first book, “In the Shadow of the Rising Sun: The Political Roots of American Economic Decline.” Mr.

In 1996, Dietrich Industries was sold to Worthington Industries, Inc., where Mr.

In July 1999, the company boosted its Thermal division with the acquisition of the boiler-manufacturing operations of Schäfer, of Germany.

Dietrich remained a director until 2008.

Dietrich also wrote a series of short, historical accounts of influential Pennsylvania events and personalities that were published in “Pittsburgh Quarterly Magazine.” A book entitled “Eminent Pittsburghers,” containing a collection of these stories, was published in May 2011 by Taylor Trade.