Our History

Traditionelle Papierherstellung
1490
The "Papiermühlin" in the Middle Ages
Papermaking has a long tradition in Gengenbach, dating back to the Middle Ages. From 1490 to 1705, the "papiermühlin beym gutleuthaus" produced paper of the highest quality, which was supplied mainly to printers in Strasbourg, but also to merchants in northern Germany, Holland and Belgium.
1490
Albert Köhler Portrait
1858
Birth of the "Vatter" - Albert Köhler
Albert Köhler, whom his workers will later reverently call the "Vatter", is born on 12 July in Fulda. He completes his apprenticeship in a weaving mill and comes to Strasbourg as a young merchant.
1858
Strohpappenfabrik
1889
Köhler acquires factory
Albert Köhler, together with his partner Jakob Marz, acquires the Gengenbach cardboard factory built in 1873. As the partnership agreement shows, the beginnings are modest. Nevertheless, a strawboard factory is built next to the handmade cardboard factory in the same year.
1889
1490_tradition
1893
Expansion & Modernisation
Jakob Marz leaves the company. Albert Köhler, now the sole owner, determinedly begins to expand and modernise the company.
1893
1490_tradition
1904
Mosaic production
Albert Köhler takes up the production of luminous metal-glass mosaics in order to be able to make economic use of the months when cardboard drying is not possible due to bad weather. However, the company does not achieve the hoped-for financial success and production is discontinued.
1904
Söhne Köhlers
1920
Sons take over company
Albert Köhler dies at the age of 62. First his wife Katinka becomes personally liable partner, then his sons Julius and Franz Köhler, who had both passed their exams as paper machine engineers in Köthen, take over the management of the company alone.
1920
Mitarbeiterwohnungen
1925
Flats for employees
The Köhler company builds company flats for its workers, unusual for the time.
1925
Traditionelle Papierherstellung
1944/45
Lack of raw materials during the war
During the Second World War, production initially continued. One after the other, straw and handmade cardboard production had to be discontinued in 1944/45 due to a lack of coal, raw materials and labour. On 18.04.1945 Gengenbach is occupied by the French. In 1946/47, cardboard production is resumed.
1944/45
Traditionelle Papierherstellung
1962/66
Günther Junk takes over management
After the death of Franz Köhler (1962) and Julius Köhler (1966), Günther Junk, Julius Köhler's son-in-law, takes over the sole management. He has been part of the company since 1949.
1962/66
Traditionelle Papierherstellung
1969
The end of strawboard
Strawboard production is completely discontinued. Strawboard no longer meets the demands of customers.
1969
Strohpappenfabrik
1986
New, larger production hall
A new, larger hall is being built over the old automation hall before the old building is demolished. This way, the machines remain protected and production can continue almost unhindered despite the reconstruction.
1986
Köhlerfabrik Museum
1995
The Köhler Factory Museum
A small museum is being set up in the former turbine house of the Köhler company, housing documents, pictures and objects from the company's long history.
1995
Hans Henning Junk
1996
Son Hans-Henning Junk becomes managing director
Dipl. Ing. Hans-Henning Junk, Günther Junk's son, joins the company in 1986 as a further managing director and has been the sole managing director since his retirement in 1996.
1996
Mode aus Papier
1997
Project: Fashion made of paper
The Köhler Company supports the art project "Forms of Hierarchy" of the Fashion Design Department of the University of Applied Sciences Trier, which is realised in cooperation with the Association of German Paper Factories. The fashion made of paper and cardboard will be presented at a show in Frankfurt am Main in November 1997. The "Warrior" and "High Priest" models made from Köhler products are exhibited in the Köhler company museum.
1997
Kläranlage
2010
Own wastewater treatment plant to protect the environment
In order to protect the environment and reduce the increased wastewater costs, we invested in a new wastewater treatment plant in 2010. With Siemens Industrie Solutions, we had a competent partner and developer at our side. A completely new type of water treatment plant was created for the cardboard industry worldwide, which had to be integrated into the running cycle and the existing plant.
2010
Nicola Turri
2018
Nicola Turri (Dipl. Betriebswirt FH) appointed as additional Managing Director
The management is now formed by Mr. Hans-Hennig Junk and Mr. Nicola Turri.
2018
Koehlerpappen_9120_2019
2019
New angular circular shear
In the course of renewals in the company, the old angular circular shear 1 was dismantled. The new angular circular shear (WKS 3) from the Kolbus company was put into operation on 04th October 2019.
2019
2020_klimaneutrale_energieversorgung
2020
Change of partners
The partners Ms. Ines Wirthner, Mrs. Annette Wohlleben, Mr. Harald Wohlleben, Mrs. Claudia Junk-Hettler as well as Mr. Holger Junk as limited partners leave Albert Köhler GmbH Co KG. Their limited partner shares were taken over by Mr. Nicola Turri and Mr. Christian Geiger, who are now partners together with Mr. Hans-Henning Junk and Mr. Wolfgang Junk.
2020
Dörfer_8820_web
2021
Thomas Dörfer receives procuration
The technical manager Mr. Thomas Dörfer receives procuration and is a member of the management.
2021
Geiger_8872_web
2021
Change of corporate form
Albert Köhler GmbH & Co. KG becomes Köhlerpappen GmbH. In the course of the change of corporate form, the previous managing director Mr. Hans-Henning Junk leaves the company. He remains loyal to the company and will act as consultant and managing director of Köhler & Co. GmbH. Mr. Geiger is appointed managing director and manages the company together with Mr. Turri.
2021
IMG_0368
2021
Dismantling and last production on gluing machine 2
With the dismantling of gluing machine 2 on 17th September 2021, a long-standing and successful production field will come to an end for us. Köhlerpappen GmbH is thus reacting to current market developments. However, our adhesive products will remain in the range and will be produced for us by an adhesive specialist.
2021
2022
Last roll production
Last roll production on the fourdrinier machine and dismantling of the reel on the fourdrinier machine.
2022

Sustainable into the future

Our planet Earth obliges us to be sustainable. We cannot continue to rigorously exploit nature, we must begin to understand and to respect it. Köhlerpappen accepts this environmental challenge.

our goals