More than 140 years of quality

Richard Seidel (weaver) establishes his own weaving mill in Elsterberg/Friedhofstraße. At that time, Elsterberg is a centre of the German textile industry.

War production! Many weaving machines were moved out and stored in adjoining rooms in order to assemble airplanes.

Elsterberg was part of the Russian occupation zone. On 12 April 1948, Hugo Stompe was expropriated by the Soviet Military Administration in Germany (SMAD) for war production and a trustee was appointed.

VEB Textile factory Elsterberg

Establishment of socialist production structures as part of the Association of People-Owned Enterprises (VVB) for Cotton and Linen Weaving Mills. From 1960 onwards, VEB Textile Works Elsterberg became a fully integrated operation following the incorporation of additional facilities, including Netzschkau, Mühltroff, Hohenleuben, Pausa, and Rodewisch.

Established with three subdivisions, some of which were fully integrated

1. VEB BW-factory Mittweida,
2. VEB Damask weaving Oberoderwitz,
3. VEB Textile factory Elsterberg

largest bed linen manufacturer in the GDR with a total of 6,000 employees.

Due to a lack of financial resources for investments to increase productivity, workers from Cuba, Mozambique and North and South Vietnam were employed in some cases.

The Treuhandanstalt is the sole shareholder (100%).

• 1991/92: Uncertainty about liquidation or restructuring capability
• Development of several renovation concepts
• In December 1992, confirmation finally arrived from the Treuhandgesellschaft in Berlin.
• 1993/94: Planning and implementation of the relocation of production from Elsterberg to Rodewisch

• Completion of the relocation of production to Rodewisch and closure of production in Elsterberg, Friedhofstraße plant
• Implementation of the confirmed restructuring concept under the leadership of Schröder und Partner Management GmbH & Co. KG
• Start of production in Rodewisch with 32 weaving machines in a 3-shift system, 4 million euros turnover achieved
• 1995 Introduction of the 4-shift system (rolling week) Annual turnover of 6.4 million euros

Loomdata with real-time display as standard

• Change in the sales structure, production without own bed linen collection, increased entry into raw fabric sales and thus order-related production
• Positive results achieved for the first time
• Start of apprenticeship training with four trainees in the professions of textile machine and plant operator, textile mechanic and industrial clerk (m/f/d)

First capacity expansion by 8 wide and narrow rapier weaving machines (Somet) increasing output by approx. 400 tlfm per year

by investing in modern technologies

Establishment of another production site in Romania on a greenfield site, starting with 64 weaving machines

In Rodewisch, automatic weaving machines built in 1993 are being replaced by the latest air-jet weaving machines (Picanol), increasing capacity by approx. 700 tlfm/year

• Full commissioning of Ertex International (Romania), production with over 30 weaving machines, total revenue increased to approximately 19 million euros
• Fundamental conversion and renovation of the administration building in Rodewisch, including the sanitary facilities in the production departments

In Rodewisch, the air conditioning system is being replaced and old weaving machines are continuously being replaced by new air-jet weaving machines, including some with a nominal width of 3,500 mm

• Construction of a hall providing approximately 4,000 m² of additional production space
• Current expansion stage with 89 air-jet weaving machines and two air-conditioning systems

• 2016: Purchase of commercial property for a new location
• 2017: New-build project for a weaving mill with a production area of 8,500 m²
• 2018: Start of construction
• 2020: Start of production with 52 weaving machines

New sizing machine, new warping system with V-creel

Weaving preparation with two warping systems featuring V-creels and one sizing machine, weaving hall equipped with 104 air-jet weaving machines with the latest-generation Jacquard machines, air-conditioning systems for both the weaving mill and the preparation area