1872: The Lachenmaier bindery is founded in Reutlingen by Gottlieb Lachenmaier who initially focuses on hymn books.

 

1938: The first books with linen bindings are produced for various German publishing companies.

 

1955: In post-war Germany, Josef Faulhaber sets the decisive course for the future of the Reutlingen-based bindery. He initiates the move into larger production halls at our current location in Reutlingen, expands the range of products and optimises production with the use of modern bookbinding machines.

 

1962: Walter Zendler becomes Joint Managing Director and displays great desire for innovation. He produces sample collection cases and is one of the first bookbinderies in Germany to do so.

 

1970: Under Walter Zendler, the company develops into a leader in quality in the manufacturing and finishing of unique products in the book industry. Lachenmaier becomes the partner of choice for the production of prestige products for well-known publishing companies such as Suhrkamp, S. Fischer or Artemis & Winkler.

1971: Lachenmaier wins the contract to produce Meyer's 25-volume encyclopaedic lexicon. This contract marks the beginning of a cooperation with the revered publishing company, Bibliographisches Institut, which was to merge with F.A. Brockhaus in 1984 – a partnership that exists to this present day.

 

1989: The first artists' edition of the Brockhaus Encyclopaedia, designed by the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, is produced in Reutlingen. Lachenmaier develops a new, special flocking technique for book cases.

 

1990: Lachenmaier, the specialist bindery, consolidates its claim as the leader in quality within the industry. More and more advertising customers and agencies draw on the expertise to be found in Reutlingen when it comes to the production of special products as well as advertising and image brochures.

 

2000: Lachenmaier also wins the contract for the second artists' edition of the Brockhaus Encyclopaedia, this time designed by André Heller. The particular challenge here was to guarantee a durable, resilient binding between the leather spine and the plastic covers. As can be seen, Lachenmaier finds the perfect solution for this.

 

2003: Lachenmaier begins working with The Folio Society, a renowned British publishing company, known for unsurpassed quality standards with respect to embossing, binding and edging. Lachenmaier proves to be an ideal consulting, design and production partner. In 2006, an impressive result of this cooperation is launched on the market: The Shakespeare Gesamtausgabe (Complete Works), bound in half leather, with a deckle edge and cover.

 

2007: Re-establishment of Lachenmaier GmbH by a Munich-based investor group and executives from within the company. In the same year, production of the third artists' edition of the Brockhaus Encyclopaedia gets underway in Reutlingen. For this edition, actor and painter Armin Müller-Stahl was responsible for the design.

 

Today and Beyond: We are systematically pushing ahead with the development and design of new products. In so doing, Lachenmaier is happy to take on the role of the idea generator and innovative development partner.