Gurtweberei Arthur von Zabern
Heinrich Robert Rathgeber acquired Klöppelei and Gurtweberei Arthur von Zabern in 1933, which at that time produced drive belts for mills, halter straps for horses, and belts for the military. He renamed the company to Jute- und Leinen-Industrie H.R. RATHGEBER and registered the trademark jlira.
Much has changed over the decades. The trademark jlira became ilira, and the drive belts and halter straps were replaced by more than 1000 new and contemporary products. To this day, the company is owned by the Rathgeber family – the 3rd generation, led by Lutz R. Rathgeber.
Challenges are met with ideas and Swabian ingenuity.
Constant renewal of products, processes, and business models – HR Rathgeber –
Between innovation and tradition.
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1933
1933
Heinrich R. Rathgeber purchases the company with 6 employees.
1935
Trademark ®
Registration of the brand name “jlira” and the trademark ®.
1938
Office
Purchase of the residential house at Weberstrasse 12 as an office building.
1940
Adding some color
Expansion for dyeing and storage.
1948
Administration
Construction of the administration building.
1950
Roland Rathgeber
Entry year of Roland Rathgeber.
1951
Elastic
Development of the elastic upholstery belt “ilira-elastic”.
1953
Limited partnership
Change of legal form to a limited partnership (KG).
1953
New managing director
Assumption of management by Roland Rathgeber.
1955
Need for a hall
Construction of a weaving hall.
1959
Getting noticed
First participation in Interzum fair in Cologne.
1963
Roller shutter belts
Roller shutter belts “ilira-roll” become part of the product portfolio.
1965
R+T Stuttgart
First participation in R+T fair in Stuttgart.
1966
RIP
Founder Heinrich Rathgeber passes away this year.
1970
Getting modern
Development of technical articles “ilira-tech”.
1972
Ski catch straps
Establishment of a confectionery department – 1st product: ski catch straps.
1975
Needle tape technology
Completion of the transition to needle tape technology.
1977
Ilira Automotive
Belts for cars and commercial vehicles in the program “ilira-automotive”.
1981
Dyeing facility
Establishment of an in-house dyeing facility.
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1988
Lutz R. Rathgeber
Entry of Lutz R. Rathgeber into the company.
1993
GmbH & Co.KG
Change of the company name to GmbH & Co. KG.
1993
New management
Assumption of management by Lutz Rathgeber.
1998
Wide fabric
Development of knitted wide fabric “ilira-stretch”.
2000
Start of production
Start of production of wide fabric in its own factory.
2007
Acquisition
Acquisition of the weaving mill from Meister and Cie, Switzerland.
2010
Netting mill
Acquisition of Deschner netting mill.
2011
Continuing on
Establishment of Plant 2.
2012
RIP
Death of Roland Rathgeber.
2012
Generations
Entry of Tim and Lea Rathgeber as shareholders.
2013
B2C
Entry into B2C business with new products and distribution channels.