Chronicle Table

Chronicle of the Gimmel Tannery:

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

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

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

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

Construction of a new tannery building with barn and stables.

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

The first leather military equipment is produced.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

Cooperation with italian leather manufacturer.

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

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

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

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.