The Firm's history - Wepa Professional Paper Factory
| 2009 |
Assumption of the Kartogroup |
| 2008 |
Majority acquisition of the company Reco Carta Lucca/Italien |
| 2006 |
Takeover of Kimberly-Clark mill in Mainz and Polish sanitary paper manufacturer Fabryka Papieru Piechowice SA (FPP). Founding of distribution company WEPA UK LIMITED and WEPA Professional GmbH+Co.KG as 100% subsidiary of WEPA. Renaming of Kriepa Hygienepapier GmbH into WEPA Sachsen GmbH. |
| 2004 | World’s fastest kitchen paper machine put into production in Giershagen. Completion of fully-automated high rack warehouse in Giershagen (storing space for 37,000 palettes; about 100 m long, 65 m wide and 40 m high). Founding of joint venture GC+WEPA S.L. in Ejea de los Caballeros, Spain. |
| 2003 | Construction of paper machine IX in Kriebethal/Saxony (Andritz AG, Graz; Tissue Flex TM-Super Soft Quality). |
| 2002 | Foundation of WEPA Polska Sp. z.o.o. Warsaw / Poland as 100% subsidiary of WEPA Papierfabrik. |
| 2001 | Takeover of Kriepa GmbH thus becoming 100% subsidiary of WEPA Papierfabrik. |
| 1998-1999 | Extension and conversion of stock preparation in Marsberg-Giershagen and in Arnsberg-Müschede sets new quality standard so that production of DIP (de-inking pulp) possible for own recycled products or as semi-finished product for sale to third party. |
| 1996 | WEPA sets trends in recycling. In cooperation with VEW electricity board in Dortmund an industrial power plant is erected in Giershagen, where the accumulated paper residue is used in the production of steam for the processing and energy for the paper machines. Through this the recycling cycle is fully-closed. Apart from this WEPA invests in the Müschede location. The PM VIII, with a performance of 28,000 t , replaces the first two paper machines. This safeguards workplaces and is a clear declaration of belief in Germany. |
| 1992-1995 | In the first half of the nineties the modernisation of the paper conversion receives the most attention. WEPA invests in new finishing plants for all the production areas: kitchen towels, handkerchiefs, cosmetic wipes and paper towels. |
| 1990 | The foundation of the Kriepa Hygienepapier Verarbeitungs- und Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH (Processing and Distribution) in Kriebethal / Saxony. |
| 1989 | The environment “craze” reaches its peak. The continual investments in the waste paper preparation plant now begin to pay off: WEPA grows with its trading partners and becomes one of the leading manufacturers of environmentally-friendly papers. For this reason a new paper machine (PM VII) is built in Giershagen. At the same time a biological waste water cleansing plant is put into operation. |
| 1983 | The sixth paper machine (PM VI) is built in Müschede. It uses mainly waste paper. |
| 1979-1987 | WEPA grows continuously. The consumers’ wishes begin to change. A high level of environmental-consciousness leaves its’ mark on the eighties. The PM III in Giershagen is changed over to tissue production and still runs today as PM V. |
| 1976 | The administration requirements increase parallel to the growth in the production. In this year the administration building is extended by the erection of a further floor. Extensive logistical investments leave their mark on the seventies. The stores for raw materials and finished goods are extended in Müschede as well in Giershagen. |
| 1974-1978 | The demand for several-layered tissue production becomes bigger and bigger. In 1974 WEPA reacts by building the first tissue paper machine (PM IV) in Giershagen. For the first time ever the production of kitchen rolls is put into the programme. |
| 1970 | March 6th 1970 goes down in the concern’s history as a black day. The mill in Müschede is virtually completely destroyed by fire. Only the administration building can be saved to a great extent. The resulting damages run into the millions. Fortunately nobody is hurt. After only a few months the production in Müschede can be restarted. |
| 1968 | This year brings two important changes for the Giershagen mill. The conversion is extended to cover the production of paper handkerchiefs. And the crepe paper machine, the PM III is installed. With this Giershagen becomes an independent production site no longer dependent on the semi-finished deliveries from the main mill. |
| 1963 | A milestone in the history of the company: the WEPA mill is built in Giershagen. The priority in this mill is first of all the conversion of the paper. At this time the company employs over 150 workers and has an annual turnover of about 12m German marks. |
| 1958-1961 | In 1958 WEPA starts its own paper production with the first paper machine (PM). The second paper machine (PM II) follows as soon as 1961. Crepe toilet paper is produced on both machines. At the same time a second production site comes into being in Marsberg-Giershagen. |
| 1948-1953 |
In the post war years, with people putting the past behind them, Paul Krengel sen. founds WEPA (the Westfalen Paper Mill) in 1948 and runs a wholesaler’s in Arnsberg-Müschede for cupboard, wrapping and gift wrapping paper. In 1953 the green light is given for the conversion of hygiene papers; the paper is cut and packed. Money is invested in an automatic machine that rolls up paper. The range of products is extended. |
WEPA Professional Papierfabrik GmbH & Co. KG | Rönkhauser Str. 26 59757 Arnsberg | Tel. (0 29 32) 30 70 | Fax (0 29 32) 30 71 79