Our corporate history tells of the radical changes which took place in the German textile industry, of automation and innovation and it tells of how a family-run business is able to assert itself in the face of strong competition.
Family affairs
The company was founded in 1933 by Anton Wevers and Bernhard Grimmelt as the Velener Textilwerk Grimmelt, Wevers & Co. OHG. In 1934, Josef Spanderen joined the company. These are the three families who made Velener so successful over the next few decades. In 1990, the textile plant was turned into a limited company, and in 2011 it changed its trading name to Velener Textil GmbH. However, we are still a family-run business: since Anton Wevers left the business in 2010 – an heir of the company’s founder – our company is run by Bernd Spanderen and Ernst Grimmelt.
No progress without the drive
Innovations are tightly woven into our corporate history. By means of these, our products are able to continuously maintain their hold: as early as 1956, the weaving mill converted to automatic weaving machines. Two years later, our first self-owned spinning mill was ready. This was followed by the first automatic rapier weaving machines in 1970 and the plant completely changed over to these by 1990. Today we rely on air-jet weaving machines by Picanol.
Little by little, the space in our old textile plant became too small. Therefore in 1980, we built new production halls in Velen’s industrial area, and our entire business moved to the new premises. We took this opportunity to additionally redesign our spinning mill. Here too, we have regularly invested in product development and new machines so that we are able to offer our customers continually improved and innovative yarns. Those who experience success and produce a large range of products also require excellent warehousing and logistics. This is why we have had a high rack storage facility since 2001.
Pointing the way
Sustainability has always been important for Velener, not only for our fabrics and yarns – we also want to ensure that our production processes become increasingly more environmentally friendly and energy efficient: little by little, we installed a heat recovery system, renewed our air-conditioning system in the weaving mill and implemented an energy management system, which is integrated into our existing management system in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001.
And in future we’ll continue to remain how we’ve always been: sustainable, innovative and competent in yarns and fabrics.