Herbert Kannegiesser GmbH

Herbert Kannegiesser GmbH is a German medium-sized enterprise based in Vlotho, Westphalia, that manufactures machinery for industrial laundry technology. It is regarded as the world market leader in this sector. The company was founded on 3 April 1948 by Herbert Kannegiesser in the municipality of Valdorf, now part of Vlotho, initially under the name Valdorfer Maschinenfabrik GmbH. It was renamed Kannegiesser & Co. Maschinenfabrik GmbH on 10 May 1949, and Herbert Kannegiesser became sole shareholder in 1951. The company initially produced band-knife and ironing machines for the clothing industry, then specialized in ironing presses for the machine ironing of shirts, selling them abroad as well. By 1961 it had 180 employees and annual sales of around 25 million DM. Herbert's son Martin Kannegiesser became sales manager in 1966, took over management in 1968, and became owner in 1974 after his father's death. He expanded the company into the world market leader for large-scale laundry technology. In 1983 the company presented a "Mangelstraße aus einem Guss" (a one-piece ironer line), the beginning of a complete system solution that was continuously developed. Today the company produces almost all components of industrial laundry technology — from washer-extractors to wash lines to automatic sorting technology — in four divisions: wet area, form parts area, flat linen area, and technical services. This broad range enables holistic integrated solutions covering the entire spectrum of industrial laundry technology. In 2009, the company employed an average of 673 people (excluding subsidiaries), of whom 349 were industrial workers and 324 salaried employees; annual sales in 2009 were 167 million euros, a decline of 17.1 percent from the previous year. At the end of 2020, Martin Kannegiesser handed over management to his daughter Tina and three other managing directors. In 2023, Kannegiesser employed around 2,000 people, about 1,000 of them at the headquarters in Vlotho. In addition, around 80 apprentices and students in practice-integrated degree programs complete their training at the company. The company has eight production sites worldwide: the main plant in Vlotho; Kannegiesser in Sarstedt; Kannegiesser Aue GmbH (formerly Textima) in Aue/Saxony; Kannegiesser Augsburg GmbH (formerly Kleindienst Wäschereitechnik GmbH) in Augsburg; Kannegiesser Hoya GmbH in Hoya (formerly Pharmagg Systemtechnik GmbH); KWK Komponentenwerk Kalletal GmbH in Kalletal; Kannegiesser North America in Minneapolis, USA; and Kannegiesser UK in Banbury, Great Britain. The company has its own sales and service branches in 14 countries and representatives or bases in a total of 54 countries. In 2005, Herbert Kannegiesser GmbH acquired 100% of the British company Ducker Engineering Ltd. (now Kannegiesser UK Ltd., 130 employees, 28 million euros annual sales) with its production site in Banbury. In 2014, the company's shares were transferred 100 percent to a family foundation.

Herbert Kannegiesser GmbH was founded on 3 April 1948 by Herbert Kannegiesser in the municipality of Valdorf, now part of Vlotho, initially under the name Valdorfer Maschinenfabrik GmbH with four employees. Herbert Kannegiesser had been an engineer at Focke-Wulf aircraft works during the Nazi era and fled before the Russian army to East Westphalia. The company was renamed Kannegiesser & Co. Maschinenfabrik GmbH on 10 May 1949, and in 1951 Herbert Kannegiesser became sole shareholder. The company produced band-knife and ironing machines for the clothing industry, which was particularly prevalent in East Westphalia at the time, with great success. It subsequently specialized in ironing presses for the machine ironing of shirts and sold these abroad as well. By 1961 the company had 180 employees and generated annual sales of around 25 million DM. In 1966 Herbert's son Martin Kannegiesser became sales manager. After his father's death, he became owner in 1974, having already taken over management in 1968. He then built the company into the world market leader for large-scale laundry technology. As early as 1983, Herbert Kannegiesser GmbH presented a "Mangelstraße aus einem Guss" (a one-piece ironer line) — the beginnings of a targeted "complete system solution" that was continuously developed. Today the company produces almost all components of industrial laundry technology — from washer-extractors to wash lines to automatic sorting technology — in four divisions: wet area, form parts area, flat linen area, and technical services. This broad range enables holistic integrated solutions covering the entire spectrum of industrial laundry technology. In 2005, Herbert Kannegiesser GmbH acquired 100% of the British company Ducker Engineering Ltd. (now Kannegiesser UK Ltd., 130 employees, 28 million euros annual sales) with its production site in Banbury. In 2009, an annual average of 673 employees (excluding subsidiaries) worked at the company, of whom 349 were industrial workers and 324 salaried employees. Annual sales in 2009 were 167 million euros, a decline of 17.1 percent from the previous year. In 2014, the company's shares were transferred 100 percent to a family foundation. At the end of 2020, Martin Kannegiesser handed over management to his daughter Tina and three other managing directors. In 2023, Kannegiesser employed around 2,000 people, about 1,000 of them at the headquarters in Vlotho. In addition, around 80 apprentices and students in practice-integrated degree programs complete their training at the company. The company has eight production sites worldwide: the main plant in Vlotho; Kannegiesser in Sarstedt; Kannegiesser Aue GmbH (formerly Textima) in Aue/Saxony; Kannegiesser Augsburg GmbH (formerly Kleindienst Wäschereitechnik GmbH) in Augsburg; Kannegiesser Hoya GmbH in Hoya (formerly Pharmagg Systemtechnik GmbH); KWK Komponentenwerk Kalletal GmbH in Kalletal; Kannegiesser North America in Minneapolis, USA; and Kannegiesser UK in Banbury, Great Britain. The company has its own sales and service branches in 14 countries and representatives or bases in a total of 54 countries.

• 2023

  Employs around 2,000 people, about 1,000 at headquarters in Vlotho; around 80 apprentices and students.

• 2020

  Martin Kannegiesser hands over management to his daughter Tina and three other managing directors.

• 2014

  Company shares transferred 100% to a family foundation.

• 2009

  Annual average of 673 employees; annual sales of 167 million euros, down 17.1% from previous year.

• 2005

  Acquires 100% of British company Ducker Engineering Ltd. (now Kannegiesser UK Ltd.).

• 1983

  Presents the "Mangelstraße aus einem Guss" (one-piece ironer line), the beginning of a complete system solution.

• 1974

  After his father's death, Martin Kannegiesser becomes owner.

• 1968

  Martin Kannegiesser takes over management of the company.

• 1966

  Martin Kannegiesser becomes sales manager.

• 1961

  Company has 180 employees and annual sales of around 25 million DM.

• 1951

  Herbert Kannegiesser becomes sole shareholder.

• 1949

  Renamed Kannegiesser & Co. Maschinenfabrik GmbH on 10 May.

• 1948

  Founded as Valdorfer Maschinenfabrik GmbH by Herbert Kannegiesser in Valdorf (now Vlotho) with four employees.

World market leader in industrial laundry technology, offering holistic integrated solutions.

• Washer-extractors

• Wash lines

• Ironing presses

• Flatwork ironers

• Automatic sorting technology

• Form finishing equipment

1. 1COUNTRYSELECTkannegiesser.com
2. 2Herbert Kannegiesser GmbHwikidata.org
3. 3Herbert Kannegiesser (Unternehmen)de.wikipedia.org