Max Gimmel AG-TECHNOLOGIE-OEKOLOGIE-KONTAKT
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Chronicle Table

Chronicle of the Gimmel Tannery:

1437

First mention of the name of Gimmel in the Citizens’ Archive of Arbon.

   
1690

Johann Jakob Stoffel runs a tannery in the suburb of Arbon.

1736

The Stoffel family builds the Gerbihaus (“The Tanner’s House”) which still stands today at the harbor of Arbon.

   
1848

Tanner Johannes Gimmel (1st generation), son of a butcher, acquires the Stoffel Tannery and a meadow for 4500 gulden.

1860

Construction of a new tannery building with barn and stables.

   
1875

After completing their apprenticeship and itinerant period, Albert and Ernst Gimmel (2nd generation) join the business.

1891

The first leather military equipment is produced.

1918

Entry in the Company Register. Employment of up to 15 workers. A novelty for Switzerland is presented: dyed leathers for leather goods and travel articles.

   
1929

Max Gimmel (3rd generation) takes over the tannery. New products include upholstery and automotive leathers.
As the first company in Arbon, the Gimmel Tannery introduces a retirement scheme with the Foundation for Personnel Welfare.

   
1949

Rudolf Gimmel (4th generation) returns to the family business after completing his studies as a chemical engineer, followed by several years abroad.

1951–1953

As a new product in the leather industry, the washable LACAR leather is developed.

1959

Foundation of the stock corporation MAX GIMMEL AG.
New synthetic leathers on the market force the company to switch to upholstery leather under the brand name of LACAR NAPPA; nearly all the machines must be replaced by wider ones.

1973

Move to larger new premises on the outskirts of Arbon, next to the municipal sewage treatment plant. Tanneries are affected by a world-wide crisis which leads to many shutdowns.

   
1981

Max Gimmel (5th generation), also a chemical engineer, joins the company after several years of work at tanneries in North and South America. As one of the first tanneries world-wide, the Gimmel Tannery produces the first aviation leathers.

1983

Max Gimmel AG to be the first IKEA leather-supplier.

1986

The third production plant is built and allows leather dressing production to be increased.

1987

Takeover of the leather trading company Gut & Co. AG, Glattbrugg which sells LACAR NAPPA upholstery leathers on the Swiss market.

1997

The first chrome-freee upholstery leathers are produced fort he scandinavian market.

1998

Merger with Gut & Co. AG and integration of this company at the Arbon site.

2004

Cooperation with italian leather manufacturer.

2009

Withdrawel of the leather-trade business for the swiss leather-goods market and expansion of the specifique upholstery leather technology.

   
2013

Outsourcen der Produktion zum italienischen Partnerbetrieb, Stillegung der Produktion in Arbon und Verkauf der Liegenschaft. Neuer Standort an der Seestrasse in Horn mit Beratung – Entwicklung – Verkauf von Leder für die nationale und internationale Kundschaft.