1914 to 2014
THE FOU NDERS A ND EN TR EPR ENEUR
4 generations forge the packaging, stationery, and envelope industries
Heinrich Wipf Active 1914 - 1944
Heinrich Wipf sen. Active 1926 - 1974
Heinrich R. Wipf Active 1958 - 1999
Christian H. Wipf Active 1991 - today
PREFACE
Wipf Group – 100 years tradition and innovation
An anniversary is always a welcome occasion to not only review the past but also to look forward. In the past, our culture has repeatedly made it possible for our company to transform itself and adjust to new challenges and developments. The history of the Wipf Group, which now spans 100 years and four generations, has been characterized by traditional Swiss values such as superb quality and dependability as well as awareness of the legitimate needs of our employees and the environment. This combination of traditional values paired with entrepreneurial risk will stay in the focus for the next 100 years. In the course of time, the Wipf Group experienced a continuous change of product innovations, technologies as well as investments in new machines, services and developments. This resulted in the success stories of Wipf AG, a leader in flexible packaging, Elco AG, a firmly established brand in the stationery and envelope market, and Swiss Direct Marketing AG, a recently incorporated specialist in the domain of cross-media multichannel direct marketing campaigns.
My thanks go out to the people who made the Wipf Group what it is today. On one hand, they are our customers, suppliers, and partners. On the other, they are our staff members whose know-how and motivation have been the foundation of our economic success for four generations. I look forward to the challenges ahead, with the assurance that together, we can master them successfully. We remain committed to premium-quality products and high-potential industrial sites in Switzerland ... right in the heart of Europe. With kind regards,
Christian H. Wipf Chairman, Wipf Group
1882 TO 1914
Formative history
Pictures (from left) Production facility on the lower Mühlesteg in Zürich Carl Lüdin First paper bag machine 1890
1882 Carl Lüdin establishes a sole proprietorship for the mechanical production of paper bags. The manufacturing facility is located on the lower Mühlesteg in Zürich and the machines are driven with waterwheels. The houses on the lower Mühlesteg in the Limmat River between the Bahnhofbrücke and Rudolf-Brun-Brücke have long disappeared. Today, a pedestrian bridge connects the lower Limmatquai with the Papierwerdinsel (Coop shopping centre).
1897 Heinrich Wipf (1st generation, born in 1882) joins the company as a commercial apprentice. The bags are printed on a letterpress bed one by one.
1914
Incorporation of Wipf & Feldmann
Pictures (from left) First-year ledger in 1914 Paper bag for dry pet food Wipf & Feldmann factory on Kernstrasse 51/53 in Zürich
1914 Carl Lüdin wants to sell the company because he has no offspring. Heinrich Wipf (1st generation) acquires it together with Hans Feldmann. In the same year, they move to new premises on Kernstrasse in Zürich‘s district 4. A new era begins. The first inline aniline (now flexographic) press is coupled with a web-fed bag machine before the end of the year. World War I erupts in 1914, and the first few years are very difficult for the company. Business starts to expand after the war ends.
Initially confined to the Zürich region, the company‘s market gradually encompasses the entire German-speaking part Switzerland. For hygienic reasons, more and more products such as flour, cereals, fruit, coffee, etc. are packaged in paper bags with attractive graphic designs to stimulate sales.
1926 TO 1939
Production of cardboard boxes
Pictures (from left) Automatic embossing machine for paper plates and cardboard products Folding cellulose films Specialty cardboard products
1926 Heinrich Wipf‘s son (same name, 2nd generation) joins the company after commercial school and sojourns abroad in England and France. The company acquires an additional warehouse on nearby Brauerstrasse. It begins to produce paper plates and cake boxes. 1927 After the death of Hans Feldmann, the company is renamed Wipf + Co. Papierwarenfabrik ZĂźrich.
1934 Wipf introduces the conversion of cellophane and aluminium foil to better protect and more attractively present bagged products. The company now serves customers throughout Switzerland.
1939 to 1950
New factory on Badenerstrasse
Pictures (from left) Offset printing Letterpress department Factory on Badenerstrasse 571
1938 Construction starts on Badenerstrasse in Z端rich-Altstetten; the new factory building is completed just before the 1939 National Exposition and the outbreak of World War II. 1942 Offset printing is introduced. 1945 Soon after the end of the war, Heinrich Wipf travels to Germany to find bag-making machines for eliminating production capacity bottlenecks. The company now has 200 employees, many of them still in manual-labour jobs.
It operates about 20 paper bag machines, a letterpress printing machine as well as an offset press, and a die cutter for the in-house manufacture of cardboard products used for bakery goods and pastries. 1950 Expansion and enlargement of building on Badenerstrasse 571 in Z端rich-Altstetten.
Manual work department
Tacking boxes for pastries and bakery goods
Inserting metal hook fasteners for printed matter and calendar envelopes
Cardboard eyelets for shopping bags and document mailers
Manual typesetting
The large original reels are slit with millimetre accuracy to obtain narrow rolls for the bagmaking machines and printing presses
Die-cutting of printed signatures
Department with automatic paper and cardboard conversion machines
Flat and gusset bag machine
1949 to 1952
Incorporation of Seetal AG envelope factory
Pictures (from left) Seethal canned goods factory in Seon Emmishofen envelope factory Webbased bag machine
1949 Around 1950, Hans Schaller has plans for a new building on Heinrichstrasse in Z端rich, and Heinrich Wipf decides to get into the booming envelope market. In 1949, he acquires 86% of the Emmishofen AG envelope factory in Kreuzlingen from the Landquart paper mill. By 1951, he owns 100%. 1951 Heinrich Wipf buys the premises of Conservenfabrik Seethal AG in Seon from Hero, a Lenzburg-based producer of canned foods. He then moves the machines from the Emmishofen envelope factory to the larger and more centrally located industrial property in Seon.
1952 On 1 January 1952, Heinrich Wipf incorporates the Seetal AG envelope factory in Seon. It manufactures envelopes and printed matter.
1955
Company excursion Wipf & Co. Papierwarenfabrik, Zürich
Newspaper article in “Der Leuefelder” on 9 June 1955
Heinrich Wipf, Sr., celebrated his 50th birthday amid his employees at the time
1958 to 19 62
Focus on primary packaging
Pictures (from left) Typical primary packaging Inspection of pouches, packaging, cardboard items Retail store in Z端rich
1958 Heinrich R. Wipf (3rd generation) joins the company after having studied at the Munich University of Applied Sciences and following sojourns in France and the USA. During this period, Wipf AG is specialized mainly in processing paper and cardboard with flexographic and offset presses. The company produces flat and gusset bags, half-block and SOS bags, as well as paper plates and cardboard boxes. In view of the growing popularity of self-service shopping and the emergence of supermarkets, the focus iof Wipf shifts to primary packaging with protective functions.
1962 Specialization in flexible packaging. Launch of gravure printing and film lamination. Production of sealed pouches and of the first vacuum packages for coffee begins. Discontinuation of cardboard conversion and relocation of offset printing to Seetal Papier AG in Seon.
19 62 to 1970
Brisk growth phase in Seon
Pictures (from left) Seetal Papier AG envelope factory in Seon Die-cutting machine Offset printing
1962 The Seetal AG envelope factory is renamed Seetal Papier AG, Seon. The following years are characterized by brisk economic growth and vigorous competition among the envelope manufacturers.
Concurrently, Seetal Papier AG takes over offset printing from Wipf AG and now produces printed matter. The buildings are enlarged in consecutive phases.
19 6 6 TO 1970
Relocation to new premises in Volketswil
Pictures (from left) New factory in Volketswil, 1970 Various types of paper bags 7-colour rotary gravure press
1966 Incorporation of Wipf Holding AG as the umbrella organization for Wipf AG and Seetal Papier AG. 1968/1969 Planning and construction of a new greenfield factory for Wipf AG due to insufficient space at the premises on Badenerstrasse. 1969 Merger of competitors Frey & Wiederkehr and Schaller, forming Schaller Frewi AG, and relocation to the building of M端hlebach Papier AG in Brugg.
1970 The move to the new factory premises with latest-generation air conditioning equipment takes place in 1970. To prevent interruptions in production, a new gravure press, a new W.&H. laminating machine, and a new roll slitter are commissioned in Volketswil. Thereafter, further machines are gradually transferred from Altstetten to Volketswil.
Milestones at Wipf AG 1970 to date
Executive Committee (from left, extruder in the background): Erwin Hollenstein, COO, Heinrich R. Wipf, Group CEO, Hans Keiser, Head of Finance and Accounting
THE 1970 s
Development of WICOVALVE® valves
Pictures (from left) The Executive Committee at the time Paper and plastic bag samples Valve production
1971 Launch of extrusion coating of paper, aluminium, and polymer films (monofilms). 1972 Development of retortable laminates. 1975 The oil crisis stunts the rapid growth of the economy and the packaging industry. The brisk growth of the “Golden Sixties” is over. In this year, the company is hit with a revenue slump of 20%. Difficult years of consolidation follow an intensive investment phase. The production of shopping bags and paper pouches is discontinued.
1976 Development of and patent registration for WICOVALVE® aroma-protection and pressure-relief valves and introduction of blown film extrusion. 1978 Commissioning of first solvent-free lamination system. Increased specialization in laminates.
THE 19 8 0 s
Added lamination and stand-up pouch capacity
Pictures (from left) Triplex lamination machine Finished side-sealed pouches Blown film coextrusion
1980 Increase of WICOVALVE速 aroma-protection and pressure-relief valves production volumes.
1988 Commissioning of first triplex lamination machine and enlargement of extrusion and lamination facilities.
1986 Introduction of blown film coextrusion for the manufacture of premium polyethylene lamination films. The department for sealed speciality pouches is enlarged in the same year.
1989 Installation of first Japanese machine for the production of retortable side-sealed and stand-up pouches.
THE 19 9 0 s
Capacity expansion abroad
Pictures (from left) Various stand-up pouches 8-colour flexographic press Wipf Austria GmbH factory in Marchtrenk, Austria
1991 The Wipf Group acquires Paka Verpackungen GmbH, later Wipf Austria GmbH, in Marchtrenk, Austria, to strengthen its European market position. The first side-sealed pouches are manufactured in the same year and commissioning of an 8-colour flexographic press. 1993 Commissioning of a further extrusion machine for PE films. 1995 The Wipf Group establishes its Flexible Packaging Division. Wipf AG and Wipf Austria GmbH develop a joint strategy.
Wipf Austria GmbH introduces lamination technology. 1998 Capacity expansion in stand-up pouch production and transition to SAP (group-wide). 1999 Valve production capacity expansion. Christian Wipf (4th generation) takes over the Wipf Group from his father.
20 0 0 to 2011
Investments and repositioning
Pictures (from left) Redesign of company logo and new corporate identity 10-colour gravure press Lid film for Dolce Gusto capsules
2002 New building for pouchmaking unit. 2003 Installation of a new regenerative incinerator with thermal oil and hot water heating system. 2005 Commissioning of a new 10-colour gravure press with washing stations. Addition of an 18-metre high cylinder storage facility.
2009 Installation of a second 10-colour gravure press. 2010 Repatriation of Austrian plant assets to Switzerland and stronger focus on Volketswil site. 2011 New corporate identity and redesign of company logo.
2012 to date
The digital printing era begins
Pictures (from left) HP Indigo WS6600 digital press Pouchmaking unit Digitally printed samples
2012 Commissioning of first HP Indigo WS6600 digital press.
2013 Installation of a lacquering and primering system.
2013 Incorporation of subsidiary: Wipf Doypak A.Ĺž. in Turkey
2014 Commissioning of second HP Indigo 20000 digital press.
Milestones at Elco AG 1970 to date
THE 1970 s
Expansion of envelope operations and launch of mailer production
Pictures (from left) Envelope production at Seetal Papier AG in Seon POLAR trimmer Warehouse in Seon
1974 Seetal Papier AG introduces web offset printing. A new envelope production facility is built. Commissioning of first web envelope machines and start of production with the first web offset press. 1975 Schaller Frewi and Seetal Papier invest in direct marketing and commission a sheetfed press and an inkjet press. The two companies become competitors.
1976 Schaller Frewi AG launches the Optifix adhesive-flap line in the market. 1977 Seetal Papier AG acquires R端egg & Co., a Bern-based envelope maker founded in the 19th century, and relocates production to Seon a few years later. Launch of web mailer production and computer-controlled inkjet addressing.
THE 19 8 0 s
Investment in envelopes, Direct Marketing, and photo mailers
Pictures (from left) Continuous-feed mailer machine Direct marketing products Photo wallets
1982 The first continuous-feed mailer machine represents a further investment in the direct marketing business. 1986 Holzstoff AG sells Schaller Frewi AG to Biber Holding AG.
1989 Seetal Papier AG commissions a variable-format web offset press for printing mailers, high-quality campaign elements, photo wallets, and teaser envelopes.
THE 19 9 0 s
Merger forms Seetal Schaller AG
Pictures (from left) Image campaign of Seetal Schaller AG Seetal Schaller factory in Brugg Reelstand envelope production in Brugg
1991 Christian Wipf (4th generation), son of Heinrich R. Wipf, joins Seetal Papier AG as a member of the Executive Committee. He had completed his studies in business administration and worked for Philips in Z端rich and Canada for nine years. 1994 Biber Holding AG sells Schaller Frewi AG to Seetal Papier AG. The companies merge to form Seetal Schaller AG with headquarters in Brugg. Administration, sales, envelope production, and direct marketing are concentrated at the facilities in Brugg.
Offset printing and some warehousing operations remain in Seon. A high-performance envelope production line is established. 1995 Incorporation of Seetal Schaller GmbH in Marchtrenk to market the photo pocket envelopes manufactured by Wipf Austria GmbH. 1999 Installation of a web offset press at Seetal Schaller GmbH in Marchtrenk for pre printing the photo pocket envelopes.
20 0 0 to 20 07
Promotion of the ELCO brand
Pictures (from left) Fully automated web envelope production in Brugg Development of the ELCO brand Elco property in Wikon
2000 Production at the Seon site is discontinued. The offset presses are purchased by printing house partners. All photo packaging unit operations are transferred to Brugg. The board of directors of Seetal Schaller AG decides to sell the property in Seon. 2005 Investments in a tray erector, an envelope machine with automatic boxing, and a fully automated palletizer in Brugg.
2006 Acquisition of Elco Papier AG in Allschwil and Wikon by Seetal Schaller AG and merger to form Seetal Elco AG in Brugg. Concurrent promotion of the ELCO brand. The new ELCO line includes Ordo organizers, exercise booklets, as well as writing pads and notepads.
2010 to 2011
Logistics initiative in Brugg
Pictures (from left) Modern logistics department in Brugg Fully automatic high-bay warehouse for over 15,000 pallets New paper roll warehouse
2010 Commissioning of the fully automatic highbay warehouse with rack space for over 15,000 pallets. New storage and retrieval capabilities. The warehouse design is a benchmark for Europe and has significantly improved productivity.
2011 Change of company name to Elco AG. The brand logo becomes the company logo. Elco wins the ISPA Award for the most innovative product: “ELCO Proclima�. In the same year, the company acquires the direct marketing activities of the Swissprinters Group.
2012 BIS 2013
Incorporation of Swiss Direct Marketing AG and more proactive positioning of the ELCO brand
Pictures (from left) ELCO POS at Manor in Geneva Website mysdm.ch Canon Océ ColorStream digital press
2012 The Direct Marketing Division is transformed into Swiss Direct Marketing AG, a legally independent company. 2012 Swiss Direct Marketing AG in Brugg broadens its competencies in the Swiss direkt marketing market by acquiring Conzett+Walter AG. ELCO Creative Kids wins the Creative Impulse innovation prize for 2012 as the “most creative product of the year”.
2013 Swiss Direct Marketing AG invests in a Canon Océ ColorStream digital press (4 colours, inkjet) at the end of the year.
Wipf Group management (from left): Hans-Jörg Aerni, head of Envelopes, Stationery & Direct Marketing Division (ESD), Bernhard Feusi, CFO (ESD), Werner Werder, CFO of Flexible Packaging Division (FP division), Christian Wipf, CEO Wipf Group, Hans-Rudolf Schafflützel, head of FP division
2013 to date
Promotion of B2C and online business
Pictures (from left) Current Wipf Group management B2C shop myelco.ch ELCO postcard app and personalised SDM landing page
2013 Elco goes online with the B2C Shop myelco.ch and the ELCO postcard app.
The website is redesigned and the URL changed to elcoswitzerland.ch.
1914 to 2014
100 years Wipf Group History across 4 generations 1914 On 1 January 1914, Heinrich Wipf acquires the mechanical paper bag production facility founded in 1882 by Carl L端din in the centre of Z端rich.
1991 Expansion into the EU. The Wipf Group acquires Paka Verpackungen GmbH in Marchtrenk, Austria. The company is later renamed Wipf Austria GmbH.
1952 Expansion into envelope production and incorporation of Seetal Papier AG in Seon.
1992 Seetal Papier AG: Invention of two-way envelope for voters (patent for double codability).
1962 Wipf AG: Launch of gravure printing and film lamination. First vacuum packs for coffee are manufactured.
1994 Acquisition of Schaller Frewi AG by Seetal Papier AG and merger to form Seetal Schaller AG in Brugg.
1966 Incorporation of Wipf Holding AG.
1998 Group-wide transition of IT to SAP software.
1969 Frey, Wiederkehr & Co. AG and Schaller & Co. AG merge to form Schaller Frewi AG in Brugg.
2002 New building constructed for pouch production of Wipf AG.
1970 Wipf AG and Wipf Holding AG relocate from Z端rich to the new plant in Volketswil. 1976 Wipf AG: Development and start of production of WICOVALVE速 aroma-protection/pressure-relief valves. 1977 Seetal Papier AG: Launch of direct marketing activities. 1988 Wipf AG: Expansion of production hall for extrusion and lamination department.
2003 Installation of a new regenerative incinerator with thermal oil and hot water heating system. 2005 Wipf AG: Expansion of printing capacity with a new latest-generation gravure press with washing stations and a fully automated cylinder management system. 2006 Acquisition of Elco Papier AG by Seetal Schaller AG and merger to form Seetal Elco AG in Brugg. 2009 Installation of a second 10-colour gravure press at Wipf AG.
2010 Repatriation of the plant assets of Wipf Austria GmbH to Switzerland and stronger focus on Volketswil site.
2013 Wipf AG: Incorporation of subsidiary Wipf Doypak A.Ĺž. in Turkey.
2010 Seetal Elco AG: Commissioning of the fully automatic highbay warehouse for over 15,000 pallets.
2013 The Wipf Group develops business outside Europe and incorporates Wipf Asia Pacific Limited with headquarters in Hong Kong.
2011 Seetal Elco AG changes its name to Elco AG. The brand logo becomes the company logo. 2011 Wipf AG adopts a new corporate identity and redesigns the company logo. 2012 Incorporation of Swiss Direct Marketing AG in Brugg. 2012 PE film production of Wipf AG is outsourced. 2012 The Direct Marketing Division of Elco AG is transformed into Swiss Direct Marketing AG, a legally independent company. It acquires the staff and technical competencies of Conzett+Walter AG. 2012 Wipf AG: Launch of digital printing for flexible packaging.
2013 Christian H. Wipf is appointed chair man of the board and CEO of Wipf Holding AG. 2013 Wipf AG: Installation of a lacquering and primering system. 2013 Swiss Direct Marketing AG invests in a Canon OcĂŠ ColorStream digital press. 2013/2014 Elco AG launches the first postcard app as well as the online shop myelco.ch and the website elcoswitzerland.ch. 2014 Wipf AG: Commissioning of second HP Indigo 20000 digital press. 2014 The Wipf Group turns 100 on 1 January 2014.
Images Wipf Holding AG, Switzerland Text Wipf Holding AG, Switzerland Design & concept Wipf Holding AG, Switzerland Copyright Š 2014 Wipf Holding AG
Wipf Holding AG Industriestrasse 29 PO Box 235 8604 Volketswil Switzerland Phone +41 44 947 22 20 Fax +41 44 947 22 26 info@wipf.ch www.wipfgroup.com www.wipfgroup.com/100Years