Hans Kolb Wellpappe

Hans Kolb Wellpappe is a German manufacturer of corrugated cardboard and packaging materials, founded in 1933 in Memmingen, Bavaria, by Hans Kolb. The business was registered on 7 July 1933 as a cardboard factory (Kartonagenfabrik) and initially produced solid board (Vollpappe), which was gradually replaced by corrugated board. By 1936 corrugated board already accounted for 70 percent of total turnover, and in 1938 the company installed its first corrugated board production line with a working width of 160 cm and a speed of 10 metres per minute. After the Second World War, during which the factory was destroyed by bombing, the company rebuilt its operations. In 1951 it commissioned a paper mill in Kaufbeuren with a daily output of four to five tonnes of paper and a workforce of 60. In 1953 corrugated board production moved to Memmingerberg and a second corrugated board line was built, bringing total employment across the Memmingen, Memmingerberg and Kaufbeuren sites to 100. During the 1960s the company expanded further, installing a new corrugated board machine and additional equipment, opening a plant in Buxheim near Memmingen, and growing corrugated board production employment to 260. A larger paper machine was commissioned at the Kaufbeuren paper mill, a new plant was built in Memmingen's northern industrial area, and the Memmingerberg site was abandoned. The Buxheim plant was expanded in 2011 and the main Memmingen plant in 2012/13. In the 1980s the company acquired new plants. In 1982 it added the sheet-processing operation Helber Verpackungen GmbH in Haiterbach in the Black Forest, and the Kaufbeuren paper mill was expanded with a second paper machine. In 1984 the Memmingen plant was expanded and the company concentrated on folding carton production. Through a stake in Skinetta Pac-Systeme, formerly Josef Kiener GmbH of Ottobeuren, the packaging portfolio was broadened. A new administration building in Memmingen was inaugurated in 1990, and a further series of acquisitions in the United States followed up to 2006. In 2007 Kolb Wellpappe separated from Skinetta Pac Systeme GmbH & Co. KG because of unsatisfactory profits and sold it to Otto Christ AG. At Kaufbeuren two old paper machines were shut down and replaced by a new facility in 2008. The company remains a family-owned German packaging producer headquartered in Memmingen, operating paper mills and corrugated board plants, and is known for integrated paper and corrugated packaging production.

Hans Kolb Wellpappe was founded in 1933 in Memmingen by Hans Kolb. The business was registered on 7 July 1933 as a cardboard factory (Kartonagenfabrik). Production began with solid board (Vollpappe), which was gradually replaced by corrugated board. By 1936 corrugated board accounted for 70 percent of total turnover. In 1938 the company installed its first corrugated board production line, with a working width of 160 cm and a production speed of 10 metres per minute. Towards the end of the Second World War the factory was destroyed by bombing, and reconstruction began after the war. In 1951 the paper mill in Kaufbeuren was commissioned, with a daily production of four to five tonnes of paper, and the workforce rose to 60 employees. In 1953 corrugated board production moved to Memmingerberg and construction of a second corrugated board line began. Total employment at the Memmingen, Memmingerberg and Kaufbeuren plants rose to 100 people. During an expansion phase in the 1960s, a new corrugated board machine and further machines were installed. Another plant was established in Buxheim near Memmingen. Employment in corrugated board production grew to 260. A larger paper machine was commissioned at the Kaufbeuren paper mill. A new plant was built in Memmingen's northern industrial area, and the Memmingerberg plant was abandoned. In 2011 the Buxheim plant was expanded, and in 2012/13 the main Memmingen plant was expanded. In the 1980s new plants were acquired. In 1982 the sheet-processing operation Helber Verpackungen GmbH in Haiterbach in the Black Forest joined the company. The Kaufbeuren paper mill was expanded with a second paper machine. In 1984 the Memmingen plant was expanded and the company concentrated on folding carton production. Through a stake in Skinetta Pac-Systeme, formerly Josef Kiener GmbH of Ottobeuren, the packaging portfolio was broadened. In 1990 a new administration building in Memmingen was inaugurated. A further series of acquisitions in the United States followed up to 2006. In 2007 Kolb Wellpappe separated from Skinetta Pac Systeme GmbH & Co. KG because of unsatisfactory profits and sold it to Otto Christ AG. At Kaufbeuren two old paper machines were shut down and replaced by a new facility in 2008.

• 2013

  Main Memmingen plant expanded (2012/13).

• 2011

  Buxheim plant expanded.

• 2008

  Two old paper machines at Kaufbeuren shut down and replaced by a new facility.

• 2007

  Skinetta Pac Systeme GmbH & Co. KG sold to Otto Christ AG due to unsatisfactory profits.

• 2006

  Series of acquisitions in the United States completed.

• 1990

  New administration building in Memmingen inaugurated.

• 1984

  Memmingen plant expanded; focus on folding carton production.

• 1982

  Helber Verpackungen GmbH in Haiterbach joins the company; Kaufbeuren paper mill expanded with a second paper machine.

• 1960

  Expansion phase: new corrugated board machine and other machines installed; plant in Buxheim established; corrugated board employment grows to 260.

• 1953

  Corrugated board production moves to Memmingerberg; second corrugated board line begun; total employment reaches 100.

• 1951

  Paper mill in Kaufbeuren commissioned; workforce reaches 60.

• 1938

  First corrugated board production line installed (160 cm working width, 10 m/min).

• 1936

  Corrugated board accounts for 70 percent of total turnover.

• 1933

  Registered as a cardboard factory in Memmingen on 7 July; production of solid board begins.

Integrated German paper and corrugated packaging manufacturer with a long family-owned tradition.

• Corrugated cardboard

• Solid board

• Paper

• Folding cartons

• Packaging

1. 1Hans Kolb Wellpappe – Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Hans Kolb Wellpappe – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org