Schmitz-Werke GmbH + Co. KG

Schmitz-Werke GmbH + Co. KG is a medium-sized, internationally active German textile company headquartered in Emsdetten, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was founded in 1921 as the Emsdettener Baumwollindustrie and has since developed into a group of more than 14 national and international companies. The group remains a family business, now led by the fourth generation, and describes itself as committed to the future, focusing on niche markets where it can create added value through special technical solutions. The company's core business areas are the manufacture of awnings, awning fabrics, decorative fabrics, curtains and technical textiles. Its best-known brand is markilux, under which it has produced finished awnings for windows, terraces and conservatories since 1972. markilux is described as the only awning brand in Germany whose awning fabrics are still woven in-house. The product range includes articulated-arm awnings for balconies and terraces, conservatory awnings, window shading, side awnings, interior sun protection systems, outdoor furniture and cushions. A second major production area is contract decorative fabrics under the drapilux brand. Through special finishing, these textiles can acquire properties such as air-purifying, sound-absorbing or antimicrobial effects, and most of the fabrics are flame-retardant. The company also produces technical textiles and outdoor fabrics under the swela name, serving the awning, boat and upholstery sectors, with high-tech fabrics and specially developed finishes made in-house. Production takes place exclusively in Germany. The company operates numerous sales subsidiaries in France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland and Australia, and maintains partnerships and holdings in sales companies in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Luxembourg, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Singapore, Slovenia, Hungary, the USA and Cyprus. The Emsdetten site covers around 120,000 m², of which about 80,000 m² are built upon. According to its official website, the growing group employs around 820 people worldwide and generates a consolidated annual revenue of roughly €120 million, with average annual investments of about €4 million and 21 apprenticeship professions. A more recent initiative is the founding of a start-up, textilwerk.com, intended to implement a completely new business model. The company is a member of various industry and regional associations, including the Association of the Northwest German Textile and Clothing Industry.

Schmitz-Werke traces its origins to 1921, when the company that would become Schmitz-Werke was founded as the Emsdettener Baumwollindustrie. Over the decades, the medium-sized enterprise evolved from its textile roots into a diversified group. By the 1970s it had entered the finished awning business: in 1972, the company began producing finished awnings for windows, terraces and conservatories under the markilux brand, using its own metalworking department and sewing room. This marked a strategic move from fabrics into branded consumer and contract products. The group continued to expand its textile expertise into specialized segments. Under the drapilux brand it produces contract decorative fabrics, many of which are flame-retardant and can be finished to provide additional functions such as air purification, sound absorption or antimicrobial properties. Under the swela name, the company manufactures technical textiles and outdoor fabrics for the awning, boat and upholstery sectors, weaving high-tech fabrics in-house with specially developed finishes and treatments. Internationalization followed through sales subsidiaries and partnerships. The company established sales subsidiaries in France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland and Australia, and formed partnerships and holdings in sales companies in numerous other countries including Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Singapore, Slovenia, Hungary, the USA and Cyprus. Despite this international reach, production has remained exclusively in Germany, at the Emsdetten site, which covers around 120,000 m² with about 80,000 m² built upon. The company has remained a family business, now in its fourth generation. In 2014 it employed around 730 people and generated annual revenue of roughly €100 million. By the time of its current official website, the group reported around 820 employees worldwide, more than 14 companies and holdings, consolidated annual revenue of about €120 million, average annual investments of about €4 million, and 21 apprenticeship professions. A recent initiative is the founding of the start-up textilwerk.com, intended to implement a completely new business model. The group is also a member of industry and regional organizations, including the Association of the Northwest German Textile and Clothing Industry, the support association of the Hermann-Emanuel-Berufskolleg of the Steinfurt district, and the Society for the Promotion of the Westphalian Wilhelms University.

• 2014

  Employed around 730 people and generated annual revenue of roughly €100 million.

• 1972

  Began producing finished awnings for windows, terraces and conservatories under the markilux brand.

• 1921

  Founded as Emsdettener Baumwollindustrie, the predecessor of Schmitz-Werke.

• Founded the start-up textilwerk.com to implement a completely new business model.

Medium-sized family-owned textile group focused on niche markets, technical solutions and in-house German production.

• markilux awnings

  Finished awnings for windows, terraces and conservatories, including articulated-arm awnings, conservatory awnings, window shading, side awnings, interior sun protection systems, outdoor furniture and cushions.

• drapilux decorative fabrics

  Contract decorative fabrics, many flame-retardant, with optional air-purifying, sound-absorbing or antimicrobial finishes.

• swela technical textiles

  Technical textiles and outdoor fabrics for the awning, boat and upholstery sectors, including high-tech fabrics woven in-house.

1. 1Unternehmensgruppe | Schmitz-Werke GmbH + Co. KG | Nordrhein-Westfalenschmitz-werke.com
2. 2Schmitz-Werke – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Schmitz-Werke – Wikidatawikidata.org