Today the site in Rubbestadneset remains the headquarters of Wärtsilä Norway with a repair yard and a museum.
Wichmann Diesel was started by Martines Haldorsen, a local blacksmith in Rubbestadneset on the island of Bømlo in Norway.
The company went bankrupt in 1978, but Norwegian public money ensured that production continued without interruption for a time.
[2] The LO, a Norwegian labour union, supported the company to develop the new model range.
However, they pulled the plug after disagreements and suddenly the renowned manufacturer, which had the biggest engine factory in Norway, was again at the edge of bankruptcy.
Today, the once proud factory which was building the best medium speed diesels in the world is only doing maintenance, repair and upgrade on their motors, but propellers and gears are still built.