Rastal

Rastal GmbH & Co. KG is a German glass manufacturer headquartered in Höhr-Grenzhausen in the Westerwald region. The company traces its origins to 1919, when Eugen Sahm founded Sahm-Merkelbach GmbH as a wholesaler for stoneware, glass, and porcelain. After World War II, the business expanded into glass finishing, initially through hand painting and its own tin foundry. In 1959, the company name Rastal was created, derived from the German terms "Rastertechnik" (screen printing technology) and "Kristall" (crystal). Rastal specializes in the design and finishing of drinking glasses, particularly beer glasses, for the beverage industry and gastronomy. The company is known for pioneering the concept of the "Brand Signature Glass" in 1964—an individually designed glass reserved exclusively for a single brand. The first such glass was the Bitburger Pokal, followed by iconic shapes like the Warsteiner Tulpe and the Veltins Pokal. Today, Rastal is considered the market leader in this segment, having realized more than 100 brand-exclusive glass concepts in the last decade alone. With production sites in Höhr-Grenzhausen, Ransbach-Baumbach, Chur (Switzerland), and Gliwice (Poland), Rastal produces approximately 120 million decorated drinking vessels annually. The company has been family-owned for generations; since 2015, Raymond Sahm and his son Maximilian have been the sole owners. Rastal operates internationally, serving established brands worldwide that use its experience and technology to stage their brand identity and offer customers a unique drinking experience. The company emphasizes innovation, having introduced UV technology for glass decoration in 2008, and its design studio has received over 200 awards and design prizes.

The company was founded in 1919 by Eugen Sahm as Sahm-Merkelbach GmbH, a wholesale business for stoneware, glass, and porcelain in Höhr-Grenzhausen. After World War II, the company added glass finishing as a new business segment, primarily through classic hand painting, supplemented by its own tin foundry for producing and attaching tin lids. After the founder's death in 1952, his sons Günter and Werner Sahm took over the management, and the company specialized in glass finishing using manual screen printing and transfer printing. In 1959, the company name Rastal was developed, derived from the terms "Rastertechnik" (screen printing technology) and "Kristall" (crystal). In 1964, Rastal developed the idea of the brand-exclusive glass (Marken-Exklusivglas): an individually designed glass reserved exclusively for one brand. Until then, beverage brands mostly used regional standard glass shapes. The Bitburger Pokal, still used by Bitburger Brewery in gastronomy today, was the first brand-exclusive glass realized by Rastal. Many other well-known glass shapes followed, such as the Warsteiner Tulpe and the Veltins Pokal. Today, Rastal is considered the market leader in this field, having implemented more than 100 concepts for beverage brands worldwide in the last 10 years alone. Since 1984, the company increasingly focused on fully automatic multi-color decoration. In 1992, the third generation, Raymond and Stefan Sahm, took over the management. In 2008, Rastal was the first company to introduce UV technology for glass decoration. In 2015, the company relocated parts of its production from Höhr-Grenzhausen to Gliwice, Poland, further expanding that site. Since 2015, Raymond Sahm (died 12 November 2023) and his son Maximilian have been the sole owners of the company. Even today, the two family branches with their respective companies Sahm and Rastal compete as main rivals. The company operates subsidiaries: a production and sales site in Gliwice, Poland, established in 1995 for the Eastern European market, and a subsidiary in Castel San Giovanni, Italy, founded in 1997 specifically for the Italian market. Rastal has received numerous awards, including the red dot design award (honourable mention 2016), Marken des Jahrhunderts – Stars 2016, iF product design award (1980–2016), and Good Design Award from the Chicago Athenaeum (2005). A documentary film "Der Glas-Primus. Gläser-Design von Rastal in Höhr-Grenzhausen" was produced by SWR in 2016.

• 2023

  Raymond Sahm dies on 12 November 2023.

• 2016

  Receives red dot design award honourable mention and Marken des Jahrhunderts – Stars award.

• 2015

  Parts of production relocated from Höhr-Grenzhausen to Gliwice, Poland; Raymond and Maximilian Sahm become sole owners.

• 2008

  Rastal is the first company to introduce UV technology for glass decoration.

• 1997

  Subsidiary in Castel San Giovanni, Italy, founded for the Italian market.

• 1995

  Subsidiary in Gliwice, Poland, begins operation as production and sales site for Eastern Europe.

• 1992

  Third generation Raymond and Stefan Sahm take over management.

• 1984

  Company increasingly focuses on fully automatic multi-color decoration.

• 1964

  Rastal develops the concept of the brand-exclusive glass; the Bitburger Pokal is the first realization.

• 1959

  Company name Rastal is created, derived from 'Rastertechnik' and 'Kristall'.

• 1952

  After the founder's death, sons Günter and Werner Sahm take over; company specializes in glass finishing.

• 1919

  Eugen Sahm founds Sahm-Merkelbach GmbH as a wholesaler for stoneware, glass, and porcelain in Höhr-Grenzhausen.

Premium, innovative glass design and decoration partner for beverage brands and the hospitality industry; market leader in brand-exclusive glassware.

• Brand Signature Glass

  Individually designed glassware exclusive to a single brand, combining brand identity with a promise of enjoyment.

• Bitburger Pokal

  The first brand-exclusive glass realized by Rastal, still used by Bitburger Brewery.

• Warsteiner Tulpe

  A well-known brand-exclusive glass shape developed by Rastal.

• Veltins Pokal

  Another iconic brand-exclusive glass shape by Rastal.

1. 1Rastal official websiterastal.com
2. 2Rastal - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Rastal - Wikidatawikidata.org