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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.

You want the whole story!

Here you go.

1933

1933

Heinrich R. Rathgeber purchases the company with 6 employees.

1933

1935

Trademark ®

Registration of the brand name “jlira” and the trademark ®.

1935

1938

Office

Purchase of the residential house at Weberstrasse 12 as an office building.

1938

1940

Adding some color

Expansion for dyeing and storage.

1940

1948

Administration

Construction of the administration building.

1948

1950

Roland Rathgeber

Entry year of Roland Rathgeber.

1950

1951

Elastic

Development of the elastic upholstery belt “ilira-elastic”.

1951

1953

Limited partnership

Change of legal form to a limited partnership (KG).

1953

1953

New managing director

Assumption of management by Roland Rathgeber.

1953

1955

Need for a hall

Construction of a weaving hall.

1955

1959

Getting noticed

First participation in Interzum fair in Cologne.

1959

1963

Roller shutter belts

Roller shutter belts “ilira-roll” become part of the product portfolio.

1963

1965

R+T Stuttgart

First participation in R+T fair in Stuttgart.

1965

1966

RIP

Founder Heinrich Rathgeber passes away this year.

1966

1970

Getting modern

Development of technical articles “ilira-tech”.

1970

1972

Ski catch straps

Establishment of a confectionery department – 1st product: ski catch straps.

1972

1975

Needle tape technology

Completion of the transition to needle tape technology.

1975

1977

Ilira Automotive

Belts for cars and commercial vehicles in the program “ilira-automotive”.

1977

1981

Dyeing facility

 Establishment of an in-house dyeing facility.

1981

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1988

Lutz R. Rathgeber

Entry of Lutz R. Rathgeber into the company.

1988

1993

GmbH & Co.KG

Change of the company name to GmbH & Co. KG.

1993

1993

New management

Assumption of management by Lutz Rathgeber.

1993

1998

Wide fabric

Development of knitted wide fabric “ilira-stretch”.

1998

2000

Start of production

Start of production of wide fabric in its own factory.

2000

2007

Acquisition

Acquisition of the weaving mill from Meister and Cie, Switzerland.

2007

2010

Netting mill

Acquisition of Deschner netting mill.

2010

2011

Continuing on

Establishment of Plant 2.

2011

2012

RIP

Death of Roland Rathgeber.

2012

2012

Generations

Entry of Tim and Lea Rathgeber as shareholders.

2012

2013

B2C

Entry into B2C business with new products and distribution channels.

2013