 Johann Conrad Fischer (1773–1854) laid the cornerstones for today's company in 1802 with the acquisition of a mill in Schaffhausen, which he transformed into a foundry.1827 and 1833 followed with the acquisition of two steelworks in Austria, opened by Johann Conrad and son Georg (1804–1888).After Johann Conrad's death in 1854, his son Georg inherited the enterprise; and his grandson, George II (1834–1887) took over the management of the Schaffhauser enterprise in 1856, which had been closed after the death of his grandfather.