1981

As a follow-up to his thesis entitled “Investigation into modern cast metals for structures“, the architect and engineer Dr. Anton-Peter Betschart sets up the “Development Institute for Casting and Construction Technology” (“Entwicklungsinstitut für Giesserei- und Bautechnik”; EGB) as a private initiative in Bad Cannstatt, Stuttgart, Germany.
In his own design and development workshop, he continues with the scientific groundwork on the
application of cast materials in construction, performing mechanical tests on building components.
Apart from the development and realization of cast structures which embody a new formal
language for forward-looking architecture and bridge engineering, he also conducts various
research investigations into load-carrying capacity.
With the same pioneering spirit and innovative energy, Dr.-Ing. Anton-Peter Betschart has since transformed his company, BESISTA International GmbH, into an important global player in the manufacture of high-quality tension and compression rod systems.

1984

“1984 GIFA Special Prize “ awarded by Germany‘s metal casting associations at International
Foundry Trade Fair in Düsseldorf for cast-metal “connecting components for buildings“.

1985

„New Cast Structures in Architecture“, the first textbook on the basics of
designing with cast metals, is published in German and English under the label “Giessen
und Bauen” by EGB and Stehn Buchhandlung, Bad Cannstatt, Stuttgart.
A travelling exhibition entitled “New Cast Structures in Architecture”, developed by EGB and
sponsored by the German Federal State of Baden-Württemberg and the Baden-Württemberg
Chamber of Architects (Architektenkammer Baden-Württemberg), opens at the design centres in
Stuttgart and Karlsruhe.

1986

Betschart develops the world‘s first ever tension rod system with left- and right-handed
threads, invented in the previous year, to series production stage. In line with their function, the castings connecting tension rod and plate are named “rod anchors”.

1987

First utility model for rod anchors.
The first application of tension rod systems is on the new-build scheme for the Biberach
University of Applied Sciences.
Completion of research project: “Use and connection of cast structures in timberwork”, funded
by Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Economy and German Society for Timber Research
(Deutsche Gesellschaft für Holzforschung).
Completion of development project: “Modular support system with castings”, funded through State of Baden-Württemberg innovation promotion scheme.

1989

Betschart receives the world‘s first patent for a rod anchor for tension and compression rod systems with left- and right-handed threads. First type stress analysis for BESISTA 355 tension rod system. Establishment of Cast Metal Information Service for Architecture, Design and Art
(Informationsdienst Guss für Architektur, Design und Kunst), a loose-leaf compilation of resources issued free of charge to over 18,000 designers and construction professionals in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In 1991, financial constraints bring the extremely successful project to a halt, following publication of 31 pages with example applications.

1990

Development work is interrupted for several months due to family reasons. As a result, the marketing campaign for BESISTA^® tension rod systems temporarily loses its head start.
Relocation to Bad Boll. A facility is set up in the Heckenweg to house the administration and development workshop. The series production plant for the BESISTA 355 tension rod system is located in the Seilerstrasse.
After extensive testing, BESISTA^® succeeds in fabricating products with hot-dip galvanized rod threads.

1991

Foundation of the company Gussbau-Betschart.
The name “BESISTA^®”, an acronym of “BEtschart-SIcherheits-STAbsystem” (Betschart safety rod systems), is registered as a trademark.
First type stress analysis with type test for BESISTA 355 tension rod system by structural
engineering control authority (Prüfamt für Baustatik) in Stuttgart.
1991 German Galvanizers’ Award presented by German Industrial Association for Hot-Dip Galvanizing (Industrieverband Feuerverzinken) in recognition of BESISTA’s success in the provision of a high-performance coating to all system components, including rod threads.

1992

1992 German Steel Design Award for conception, design and fabrication of models for castings used in “branch columns” at new Stuttgart Airport.
Completion of research project: “Drilling through timber and cast metal in single operation”, funded by German Society for Timber Research (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Holzforschung).
Completion of research project: “Refinement of cast plate and stud connections”, funded by Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Economy and German Timber Development Association (Entwicklungsgemeinschaft Holz).

1993

The castings for the BESISTA^® tension rod system earn an award in the “Design with Cast Materials” competition staged by Germany’s metal casting associations.

1994

1994 German Steel Innovation Award presented by German Steel Information Centre (Stahl-Informations-Zentrum).

1995

1995 German Galvanizers‘ Award presented by German Industrial Association for Hot-Dip Galvanizing (Industrieverband Feuerverzinken) for exceptional quality of corrosion protection to castings by hot-dip galvanizing.

1997

Foundation of Gussbau-Betschart GmbH.
Production relocated to new factory in Reuteweg, Bad Boll. Extension of administrative and development workshop facility in Heckenweg. Start-up of “express fabrication” for tension rod systems.
BESISTA^® launches the first series-produced tension rod system made from S460N fine-grained structural steel onto the international market.

1998

The BESISTA 460 tension and compression rod system becomes the first such system to be granted a national technical approval by the German Institute for Construction Technology (Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik; DIBt) in Berlin.

1999

BESISTA^® becomes the first tension rod manufacturer to switch from S460N steel to the special, optimized S540N fine-grained structural steel developed from S460N by BESISTA^®. The BESISTA 540 tension and compression rod system also becomes the first system of its kind to be granted a national technical approval.

2001

2001 Innovation Award presented by the Business Promotion Society of the District of Göppingen (Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft Landkreis Göppingen), Germany, for the new BESISTA 540 tension and compression rod system.

2002

Development of BESISTA^® pretensioning system for tension rod systems. The patented BESISTA^® BVS-230 and BVS-500 pretensioning systems permit simple, rapid and controlled pretensioning of the rods.

2004

Renaming of Gussbau-Betschart GmbH to BESISTA-Betschart GmbH.
Continuous refinement of tension and compression rod systems culminating in BESISTA 540 designer rod system with additional patents.

2005

Development of BESISTA^® cross discs for X-braces with extremely flat angles. (Utility model, design protected)
Development of BESISTA^® compression rod connections for steel compression rods with higher-strength threaded pins. (Utility model, design protected)

2008

BESISTA^® is granted a European Technical Approval (ETA) by the German Institute for Construction Technology in Berlin for the BESISTA 460 and BESISTA 540 tension and compression rod systems.
CE certification by Materials Testing Institute at University of Stuttgart (MPA Stuttgart). Periodic external surveillance of manufacturing equipment, internal control and documentation of quality assurance procedures by MPA Stuttgart.
Development of BESISTA^® suspension system featuring special patented “suspension rings” that allow turning and tensioning of installed rods.

2009

Development of BESISTA^® cross anchors for X-braces with extremely flat angles. (Design protected)

2011

Development of BESISTA^® compression rod connections for timber compression rods with higher-strength threaded pins. (Utility model, design protected)
Development of BESISTA^® angle anchors. (Design protected)
Development of BESISTA^® cross plates for X-braces with extremely flat angles. (Design protected)

2012

Renaming of BESISTA-Betschart GmbH to BESISTA International GmbH.
BESISTA^® is celebrating its 25^th anniversary with this new website, which was designed and developed by BESISTA^®. Here too, for the purposes of optimizing user friendliness, BESISTA^® is blazing a new trail.