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Corporate Overview
BÖWE BELL + HOWELL was formed in 2003 through a transaction involving BÖWE SYSTEC Inc. and BELL + HOWELL Company, two respected leaders in the production mail and document processing industries.
At BÖWE BELL + HOWELL, helping customers achieve success is our number one priority. With innovative mailing and document management solutions and a wide breadth of cutting-edge processing and postal solutions, we help customers increase productivity, decrease costs and reduce risk.
Based in Wheeling, Ill., with operational centers in Durham, N.C., and Bethlehem, Penn., BÖWE BELL + HOWELL has more than 70 years of industry experience developing superior equipment and software technologies. We proudly reinforce the value of our offerings with an industry-leading customer service network.
To learn more, including our mission and vision, visit our backgrounder. For information on our management, visit the executive leadership section.
History
BÖWE BELL + HOWELL: A History of Innovation
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2007 |
BÖWE SYSTEC and BÖWE BELL + HOWELL introduce the Turbo Premium inserter, the BBH 400e inserter and Document Fingerprinting at Graph Expo/Converting Expo 2007 in Chicago, Ill. |
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2006 |
BÖWE SYSTEC introduces the Marathon16, with an increased production volume of up to 16,000 insertions per hour. BÖWE BELL + HOWELL introduces JETVision Express, an affordable, versatile vision system designed for a variety of production environments. |
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2005 |
BÖWE SYSTEC completes 100% of BÖWE BELL + HOWELL holdings. BÖWE BELL + HOWELL acquires BCC Software, Inc., a premier developer of mailing software. |
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2004 |
BÖWE SYSTEC presents its first high-speed inserting system, Marathon®plus, with an increased production volume of up to 14,000 insertions per hour. BÖWE SYSTEC acquires the Personalized Technology Solutions (PTS) division of ORGA Systems GmbH and forms BÖWE ORGA Cardtec GmbH. BÖWE SYSTEC combines the activities of the two former subsidiaries Protechno Card GmbH and BÖWE ORGA Cardtec GmbH to form BÖWE CARDTEC GmbH. BÖWE SYSTEC acquires remaining 60% share of its subsidiary, Roll Systems Inc., then enters an equal-share joint venture with Lasermax, a division of Stralfors AB , to form Lasermax Roll Systems AB, supplying high-speed paper handling systems for pre- and post-printing. BÖWE BELL + HOWELL acquires cQuence, Inc., a leading provider of manifesting software, and its cQuencer solution suite. BÖWE BELL + HOWELL acquires Intellitech Innovations Inc., a longtime partner and provider of automated document factory (ADF) solutions, and its JETS and JETVision product lines. |
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2003 |
BÖWE SYSTEC and BELL + HOWELL combine North American operations, forming BÖWE BELL + HOWELL. BÖWE BELL + HOWELL launches the color and bitonal/grayscale scanners, Copiscan® 8000 Spectrum Series. |
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2002 |
BÖWE SYSTEC introduces the Turbo22 inserter, responding to the market's need for output speed. BÖWE SYSTEC acquires a subsidiary share in Protechno Card GmbH. |
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2001 |
BÖWE SYSTEC introduces the high speed cut sheet feeder, 590. BELL + HOWELL establishes an enhanced line of inserters, advanced vision systems for complete document integrity, and job tracking software (JETS). |
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2000 |
BÖWE SYSTEC develops the 380STREAM, a new generation of high performance cutters. BELL + HOWELL launches the Copiscan® 8000 Plus Series scanners with VirtualReScan (VRS). |
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1999 |
BÖWE SYSTEC introduces the Turboplus inserter system, utilizing pinless technology. BÖWE SYSTEC founds BÖWE Mailroom Communication GmbH, a subsidiary dedicated exclusively to software development. |
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1997 |
BÖWE SYSTEC launches its high production level inserter, Marathon. BELL + HOWELL introduces the Copiscan® product line, the first ultrasonic multi-feed detection production scanners BELL + HOWELL acquires COPE Systems Inc., creators of high-speed inserters for handling large page count applications. |
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1996 |
BELL + HOWELL introduces the AccuFeed family of automatic document feeders for the Copiscan® II line of scanners. |
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1992 |
BÖWE SYSTEC becomes a publicly traded company, trading as BÖWE SYSTEC AG. |
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1990 |
BÖWE SYSTEC offers a system for attaching and inserting plastic cards. BELL + HOWELL produces the first sorter equipped with a multi-line optical character reader. 1990 - 1992 BELL + HOWELL introduces the Copiscan® II family of scanners, the first scanners to incorporate image enhancement technology, Adaptive Contract Enhancement (ACE). |
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1982 |
BELL + HOWELL produces the first inserters with computerized weighing, enabling greater postage discounts. |
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1979 |
BELL + HOWELL acquires Stephens Industry of Lenexa, Kan., a manufacturer of mail sorting equipment. |
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1975 |
BÖWE SYSTEC develops the world's fastest inserting system, the Turbo, with a speed of 12,500 insertions per hour. BELL + HOWELL produces the first station-to-station matching system for the banking industry. |
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1971 |
BELL + HOWELL develops the first intelligent inserters by adding reading technology. |
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1960 |
BELL + HOWELL opens a factory in Friedberg, Germany, becoming the first international vendor of mail processing systems. |
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1959 |
BÖWE SYSTEC introduces its first inserter system. |
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1953 |
BÖWE SYSTEC produces its first cutter, laying the foundation for today's Paper Management solutions. |
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1945 |
Max Böhler and Ferdinand Weber found BÖWE SYSTEC. |
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1936 |
Albert Williams, founder of what would become BELL + HOWELL, invents, patents and produces the first automated mailing machine in Tatamy, PA. |