In 1822, Friedrich Ludwig Röchling founded a coal enterprise in Saarbrücken. After his death in 1836, his four nephews—Theodor, Ernst, Carl and Fritz—were left with the business, which was named Gebrüder Röchling KG. They began industrial coke and iron manufacturing in the mid-19th century. After the death of his brothers, Carl Röchling (1827-1910) managed the company alone for twenty years until the beginning of the 20th century.
