History

1816
Foundation of the family business in Lahr.
Ernst Kaufmann learns the processes of chemical stone printing from Aloys Senefelder. He begins his own business with a library and stone printing company. Shortly afterwards he also becomes involved in publishing.

1852
Breakthrough at the international exhibition in London.
The sons Theodor and Gustav successfully continue the development of the family business. A highlight is the accolade of an award for their work in London. They expand the company to become the largest lithographic institution in Baden.

1880
New York City, Chicago, London, Berlin and Lahr.
Three generations later, Julius and Ernst transform the small family business into a worldwide company and establish subsidiaries in New York City, Chicago, London and Berlin. After Ernst’s death, his brother Theodor joins the company. In Lahr alone the main production unit employs 250 people.

1914/18 - 1945
Difficult times for business.
Eberhard, Julius’s son, and Marie, Theodor’s daughter-in-law, keep the business going after the disastrous consequences of the First and Second World Wars. The subsidiaries in America and England must close down. The banning of publishing activities by the state and closing of the complete production business threatens their livelihood.

1945
Reconstruction from scratch.
Marie sets course for rebuilding the family business once a new publishing license is issued by the French troops. After the currency reform in 1948 the disastrous situation improves. A core of loyal customers returns and machine facilities are once again set up.

1957
A new chapter for success.
The era of modern offset printing is commenced under Rolf Kaufmann with the scrapping of the last remaining stone printing machine. Production focus shifts to the manufacturing of complete books. The efficient operation with over 200 employees is well-known in the region and beyond.

1978
A new location.
Druckhaus Kaufmann relocates to a modern production plant.

1983
Progress with technology.
The installation of the first web offset printer underlines the ambitious goals of the family enterprise.

2000 until today.
The future remains exciting.
In the new millennium all workflows are digital, but the company still places firm belief in the power of print. In the past years Druckhaus Kaufmann has increasingly supplied markets abroad, especially in neighbouring France. Today the brothers Markus and Andreas Kaufmann employ around 300 employees at the West Lahr location.