We are always thinking ahead when it comes to our customers.

Founding of the bookbindery Kolbe by Friedrich Wilhelm Kolbe. Bibles were bound there and distributed throughout the region.

Friedrich August Kolbe, the son of the company's founder, purchases a parcel of land on Berliner Straße 10, where the printing company was located until 1982. He expanded his workshop to include the sale of school books.

The printing company is sold to August Kolbe, who in 1911, purchases the first foot operated printing press. Company and workshop once again expanded.

A large commercial building is added. Werner Kolbe starts his apprenticeship as a book printer and begins working in his father's company. Orders are obtained from Münster, Osnabrück and Bielefeld.

After the war, Werner Kolbe takes over the printing company, which through courage, hard work, and foresight, continues to grow in importance.

The progression from book print to offset print is completed.

Son-in-law Günter Deutschmann joins the company. In cooperation with Claus-Peter Bohlmann the offset capacity and the customer base is increased significantly. The company has 70 employees and revenue of approx. 1.4 million €.

The first 4-color-offset-printing press is installed.

Introduction of the UV-technology in offset printing for which Kolbe-Druck is recognized world-wide as the pioneer.

The number of employees and volume of revenue increases rapidly making relocation necessary. The company moves into a new building with 5000 m². Production is started for safety stickers used in commercial vehicles and development of die-cutting holography begins.

Ute Kolbe takes over management of the company together with Claus-Peter Bohlmann and Wolfgang Wulfmeyer.

Kolbe-Druck obtains a patent for screen print finishing for the production of symbols identifiable by touch.

Introduction of the Kolbe-Employee Profit Sharing Plan.

wo web-fed printing presses for book and flexography are purchased. The company has 140 employees with 12.3 million € of revenue.

Addition of a modern high rack storage area. Electronic image processing is used for the first time in the pre-press stage of printing.

Development of the lenticular grid-technology for depicting lenticular images, movement sequences, and 3-D images. Kolbe-Druck is one of the first printing companies in Germany to obtain certification according to DIN ISO 9001 and validation in accordance with the EG-Öko-Audit-Ordinance.

Introduction of an integrated workflow-system with networked computer structure. 150 m² of floor space is added to house the KOLBE-CENTER with its friendly atmosphere of conference rooms. Kolbe Druck has 175 employees and 18.4 million € of revenue.

Purchase of a 6-color-web fed book printing press in the 400 series width.

Investment in a new 5-color-sheet-offset-press with lacquer unit and UV-dryer. 180 employees generate 21.9 million € of revenue.

A new image/text-processing system, a new final film writer and a new digital printing system are installed. Development of cold-film embossing for label rolls begins. The profit sharing and retirement plan is introduced as a company supported pension instrument.

Kolbe Druck celebrates its 175th anniversary.

Sale of the company to the Invest Equity, Austria.

Sale of the company to the Equita Management GmbH. The Equita Holding is a strong entrepreneurial and long-term oriented holding company with a unique network of investors in Germany.