Wool Blanket Factory Weil der Stadt
The Wolldeckenfabrik from Weil der Stadt was a traditional company that manufactured high-quality wool blankets and fabrics.
Founded in 1780, Wolldeckenfabrik AG went into insolvency in 1996 after being listed on the Stuttgart stock exchange. At that time, its turnover was approximately 40 million Deutschmarks with up to 250 employees.
It was a fully integrated operation, meaning it had its own woolen spinning mill, weaving mill, darning shop, dyeing facility, finishing, and tailoring.
It was known for its llama hair coat fabrics and natural hair blankets made from wool, camel hair, mohair, cashmere, and cashgora. Its registered brands included World of Wool, Baumwollnest, and Wollnest, as well as the earth radiation-repelling blanket Imuna, the latter of which was developed with Dr. Schweitzer and Dr. Rolf Schnaufer.
Among other things, it held its own patents, such as the Teddyveloursverfahren (teddy velour process), which was developed for Weil der Stadt by Mr. Friedrich Ritter.
Also well-known was the "Restelädle" (remnant shop) of Wolldeckenfabrik Weil der Stadt, where high-quality coats and blankets could be bought at bargain prices.
The Restelädle contributed about 2 million to the company's turnover in the company building.
In the 70s and 80s
the company boomed. Due to very optimistic sales forecasts, extensive and exorbitant quantities of raw materials and high-priced alpaca were purchased during this time to meet and secure future high demand. After the market and raw material prices for these had plummeted, and liquidity was required, the previously expensive raw materials were then resold at very low prices. The Wolldeckenfabrik never truly recovered from this shock.
Reasons for the insolvency also included over-indebtedness (approx. 2 million Deutschmarks in interest/year) and the new investment in machinery for fabrics, which ultimately did not prove successful, as well as investors' focus on the large plot of land or area with the administrative building.
Compared to contract spinning mills in Romania, the company's own spinning mill was not fully competitive. Furthermore, there was considerable cost pressure from fabrics imported from Italy.
The company went into insolvency in 1996 and was then purchased by Mr. Vocke in Stade.
