• Werner Zappel founded the company Zappel KG Maschinen- und Apparatebau in Bad Rappenau-Grombach.
    The first product was the roller shutter casing UNIROLLKA.

  • The product range was widened by construction machinery with hydraulic lifting jacks, band saws and tennis court rollers.

  • The forklift truck shunter WRG was designed as the first product in shunting technology.

  • Change of the company name to ZAGRO Bahn- und Baumaschinen GmbH. The name consists of the family name and company location: Zappel + Grombach = ZA + GRO.

  • ZAGRO took over the RIES road/rail product program and from then on continuously developed the road/rail technology for the Mercedes-Benz Unimog chassis.
    In the same year the railcar mover series MINI and MAXI were designed and launched.

  • The first Unimog was modified for rail operation by ZAGRO and sold to Kraft & Co. Unimog General Agency in Lübeck.

  • ZAGRO concluded the first export order by selling an MBTrac700 to Bharat Earth Movers Limited in India.

  • Wolfgang Zappel took over the company management in second generation.

  • ZAGRO was granted a patent for their track guiding system developed for the new Unimog U 400 series.

  • 2001 to 2003 Track guiding systems for 200 Nissan small trucks were delivered to the South African Railway Company as part of a major international order.

  • Delivery of the first Unimog U 400 with track guiding system for narrow track gauge 1067 mm to Japan.

  • Opening of the Mercedes-Benz Unimog Service Station in Bad Rappenau-Grombach.

  • Another international major order was completed for the delivery of track guiding systems for 66 Actros trucks to the Turkish Railway Company.
    In the same year, the renowned competitor ZWEIWEG International was incorporated in the newly created company alliance ZAGRO Group.

  • ZAGRO developed the battery-driven railcar mover E-MAXI which is fit for shunting work in the most confined areas thanks to its turning radius of 360°. The series includes a version with diesel-electrical hybrid drive as well.
    In the same year, the first double traction with two Unimog U 400 based on master/slave control was developed and put into operation at Metro Lausanne.

  • SRT Schörling Rail Tech GmbH in Sehnde joined the company alliance ZAGRO Group.

  • SHZ Kabinen- und Karosseriebau in Backnang expands the range of the ZAGRO Group..

  • GMEINDER LOKOMOTIVEN GmbH in Mosbach follows as another company of the ZAGRO Group and expands the product portfolio by locomotives.

  • Winfried Kretschmann, Prime Minister, and Dr. Roman Glaser, President of the Cooperative Association of Baden-Württemberg, present the VR Innovation Award to ZAGRO, as an appreciation of the development of the battery-driven shunting vehicle ZAGRO E-MAXI. (YouTube)

  • ZAGRO opened the branch in Mosbach for the series production of the new product line ZAGRO E-MAXI VARIO, new generation of ZAGRO E-MAXI XL.

  • With Wikko Zappel the third generation joins the family company.