Böhler was an Austrian trader for steel. It was founded in 1870 by the brothers Albert and Emil Böhler. Following World War II, the company was nationalized in 1946. It was merged with other Austrian steel companies to form the VÃÂEST-Alpine AG, before being restructured into a subsidiary of said VÃÂEST-Alpine AG called Vereinigte Edelstahlwerke (German for 'United Stainless Steel Works'). After considerable losses, the VÃÂEST-Alpine AG and its subsidiaries were restructured again in 1988. The Böhler companies were merged with Uddeholms AB in 1991, following the acquisition of Uddeholm by VÃÂEST-Alpine Stahl AG in 1990.