Passion for paper
Anniversary The German handmade paper mill Gmund celebrates its 175th anniversary.
Anniversary The German handmade paper mill Gmund celebrates its 175th anniversary. In snowy Gmund am Tegernsee, around half an hour south of Munich and just a few kilometers from the Austrian border, Büttenpapierfabrik Gmund (Gmund) celebrated its 175th anniversary at the end of January. A little late, actually, because strictly speaking the company's anniversary should have taken place in 2004: Büttenpapierfabrik Gmund - the oldest paper mill still in production in Europe - was founded back in 1829 by Johann Nepomuk Haas. But various obligations made this impossible, explained Florian Kohler, Managing Director of Gmund, to over 200 guests from the paper trade and advertising industry, among others, at the Gmund Congress in the Baroque Hall of Tegernsee Castle. Small and fineFor 100 years, the paper manufacturer Gmund has belonged to the Kohler family. When Ludwig Maximilian Kohler, who died last year, took over the factory after the war, he decided that the company should remain small and independent. This strategy is still paying off today. The company employs "only" 100 people - "only" around 5000 tons of ultra-fine paper leave the mill every year. Nevertheless, Gmund has long since developed into a globally active company. From an export share of 3 percent 55 years ago, over 70 percent of the paper produced is now sold in more than 70 countries - mainly to Western Europe, Asia and America. Production takes place directly on the banks of the Mangfall River, which flows out of Lake Tegernsee, with two paper machines: an old machine installed in 1883 and a newer one from 1978.
Haptics and opticsFlorian Kohler has been responsible for the company's fortunes since 2004. He believes that high-quality paper will not disappear, that it is capable of conveying emotions and values. The Internet, on the other hand, mostly "only" provides information.
He is often asked how the many new papers are developed. Kohler explains that the process is very analytical. They deal with haptics ("Paper must feel good."), optics ("Paper must look good."), sound ("This parameter has a lot to do with paper, as paper has a sound that users appreciate."), smell ("We can't/won't put too much smell into the paper.") and taste ("This parameter is not yet an important test criterion.").
Paper design and marketingIn addition to craftsmanship and high-quality raw materials, the company's success factors are creativity and innovative paper design on the one hand and marketing on the other. The combination of these is the recipe for success. Florian Kohler demonstrates this at the anniversary celebration: "If paper feels like leather, then it must be from Gmund." He explains how the feel of Alezan paper was improved again and again until it met his own requirements. The result is a paper that actually feels like leather and is even embossed like leather.
Or the new Gmund Kaschmir collection: the paper manufacturer has reworked this classic. The color range has been supplemented with deep, intense shades. The Kaschmir Cloth paper from this collection, which is available in deep blue, true red and white, has a velvety surface that Gmund achieves using a special process. Kohler allows guests to feel the paper and immediately makes the reference to luxury with a pattern printed on Cashmere True Red for Bulgari: "Paper thus becomes a valuable accessory."
However, Gmund's high design standards do not only extend to the papers themselves, but also run like a thread through the company and its products: The elaborate collections are beautifully designed, regularly receive awards and are among the most sought-after collections. It will be interesting to see what creations and collections the papermakers from Tegernsee come up with next.
Paper marketingGmund masters the art of marketing perfectly - corporate identity through and through. From the written greeting in the hotel room on an original letterhead created for the 100th anniversary celebrations, to printed drink labels on the fruit juices served during breaks, to the printed napkins and beer mats in the Braustüberl: the Gmund logo was omnipresent. But above all "on stage", Gmund knows how to sell paper with emotions and thus also the brand.
The many paper collections - distributed by Baumgartner, Sihl+Eika and Thalo Papier (Antalis) - are also ideal marketing tools. They inspire creative people, but also provide technical information for print shops. (jf)
175 years of Gmund - the most important milestones1829 Johann Nepomuk Haas buys a burnt-down mill, rebuilds the mill and starts producing paper.
1860 The mill burns down and is rebuilt a year later.
1904 The factory is taken over by the Kohler, Pfannenberg and Stahl families.
1921 Ludwig Alois Kohler dies in an industrial accident; the partnership rights pass to his nephew Ludwig Wilhelm Kohler.
1952 Ludwig Maximilian Kohler joins the management.
1984 Ludwig Wilhelm Kohler dies, Florian Kohler joins the management.
1991 The first Silencium brand collection is launched on the market.
1994 Son Korbinian Kohler joins the management.
2000 Gmund founds the company LakePaper.
2004 Ludwig Maximilian Kohler dies, Florian Kohler becomes the fourth generation to take over sole management of the company.
Excerpt from the book "Die Geschichte der Büttenpapierfabrik Gmund" published by Gmund.
The oldest paper machine still in production in Europe is still doing a good job for Gmund.
Gmund presented the renewed cashmere collection at the Gmund Congress.
The Gmund handmade paper mill is still strongly influenced by the Kohler family today.
Jürgen Franck
Haptics and opticsFlorian Kohler has been responsible for the company's fortunes since 2004. He believes that high-quality paper will not disappear, that it is capable of conveying emotions and values. The Internet, on the other hand, mostly "only" provides information.
He is often asked how the many new papers are developed. Kohler explains that the process is very analytical. They deal with haptics ("Paper must feel good."), optics ("Paper must look good."), sound ("This parameter has a lot to do with paper, as paper has a sound that users appreciate."), smell ("We can't/won't put too much smell into the paper.") and taste ("This parameter is not yet an important test criterion.").
Paper design and marketingIn addition to craftsmanship and high-quality raw materials, the company's success factors are creativity and innovative paper design on the one hand and marketing on the other. The combination of these is the recipe for success. Florian Kohler demonstrates this at the anniversary celebration: "If paper feels like leather, then it must be from Gmund." He explains how the feel of Alezan paper was improved again and again until it met his own requirements. The result is a paper that actually feels like leather and is even embossed like leather.
Or the new Gmund Kaschmir collection: the paper manufacturer has reworked this classic. The color range has been supplemented with deep, intense shades. The Kaschmir Cloth paper from this collection, which is available in deep blue, true red and white, has a velvety surface that Gmund achieves using a special process. Kohler allows guests to feel the paper and immediately makes the reference to luxury with a pattern printed on Cashmere True Red for Bulgari: "Paper thus becomes a valuable accessory."
However, Gmund's high design standards do not only extend to the papers themselves, but also run like a thread through the company and its products: The elaborate collections are beautifully designed, regularly receive awards and are among the most sought-after collections. It will be interesting to see what creations and collections the papermakers from Tegernsee come up with next.
Paper marketingGmund masters the art of marketing perfectly - corporate identity through and through. From the written greeting in the hotel room on an original letterhead created for the 100th anniversary celebrations, to printed drink labels on the fruit juices served during breaks, to the printed napkins and beer mats in the Braustüberl: the Gmund logo was omnipresent. But above all "on stage", Gmund knows how to sell paper with emotions and thus also the brand.
The many paper collections - distributed by Baumgartner, Sihl+Eika and Thalo Papier (Antalis) - are also ideal marketing tools. They inspire creative people, but also provide technical information for print shops. (jf)
175 years of Gmund - the most important milestones1829 Johann Nepomuk Haas buys a burnt-down mill, rebuilds the mill and starts producing paper.
1860 The mill burns down and is rebuilt a year later.
1904 The factory is taken over by the Kohler, Pfannenberg and Stahl families.
1921 Ludwig Alois Kohler dies in an industrial accident; the partnership rights pass to his nephew Ludwig Wilhelm Kohler.
1952 Ludwig Maximilian Kohler joins the management.
1984 Ludwig Wilhelm Kohler dies, Florian Kohler joins the management.
1991 The first Silencium brand collection is launched on the market.
1994 Son Korbinian Kohler joins the management.
2000 Gmund founds the company LakePaper.
2004 Ludwig Maximilian Kohler dies, Florian Kohler becomes the fourth generation to take over sole management of the company.
Excerpt from the book "Die Geschichte der Büttenpapierfabrik Gmund" published by Gmund.
The oldest paper machine still in production in Europe is still doing a good job for Gmund.
Gmund presented the renewed cashmere collection at the Gmund Congress.
The Gmund handmade paper mill is still strongly influenced by the Kohler family today.
Jürgen Franck
