Founded in 1834 and steeped in tradition, German mechanical engineering company F. B. Lehmann shut down its operations on December 31st, 2015 and closed its factory in Aalen. F. B. Lehmann was one of Germany’s oldest manufacturers of machinery and mechanical systems for processing cocoa and producing chocolate. The company’s last 48 employees were officially taken over by a transfer company on January 1st, 2016. F. B. Lehmann was purchased in 2010 by Royal Duyvis Wiener. 30 positions were already eliminated at Lehmann one year later and the sales department was moved to Royal Duyvis Wiener in the Netherlands. According to official statements, the parent company was unable to move its German subsidiary into the profit zone and subsequently decided in October 2015, following two consecutive years of losses, to close down F. B. Lehmann. Royal Duyvis Wiener is facing costs in excess of Euro 3.5?m for the transfer company. The former F. B. Lehmann headquarters and buildings in Aalen have already been sold to a shipping company.