Quality - to keep up a tradition

The beginnings in “little Manchester”

In 1922 the chemical engineer Reinhold Rudolf founded the company RUDOLF in Warnsdorf/North Bohemia. At the beginning of the 20th century Warnsdorf was “little Manchester” in the centre of the rising textile region Bohemia. RUDOLF became known as a service-oriented supplier to all areas of the textile chain.

In the 1920s the administrative centre Zittau in Oberlausitz became the centre of the textile industry. RUDOLF reacted by expansion: In Zittau a branch was established where concentrates from the production site at Warnsdorf were processed according to customers requirements. The products ®PERRUSTOL N and NN with wetting, cleaning and desizing properties for bleaching and dyeing were successfully marketed at that time.

Near the end of World War II – the impending reorganisation of Europe was not to be foreseen – the management decided to close down the factory in the Sudetenland. The family-owned company fled from the Red Army to the West and found a new home in Bavaria.

New start in an explosives factory

In December 1947 RUDOLF obtained the authorisation for manufacturing chemicals for industrial use by the state authorities for chemicals in Munich. Already half a year later the company RUDOLF CHEMIE & Co. GmbH, Chemische Fabrik, Wolfratshausen-Geretsried was re-established with a share capital of 50,000 Reichsmark. In the buildings 93 and 94 of a former explosives factory the production of technico-chemical products for the textile and leather industry according to the recipes of the former principal firm in Warnsdorf was started.

In 1949 a dynamic, economic upswing started in West Germany, from which the textile industry too profited. The demand for chemical agents for pretreatment, dyeing and finishing rose. In 1950 RUDOLF developed and marketed the first effect chemicals for the anti-crease finish RUCON®, which still today is successfully marketed.

From Geretsried around the globe

From 1955 until 1980 the producing textile industry relocated abroad: The globalisation of the oldest branch of industry entered into its first phase. RUDOLF reacted immediately and started the international marketing of its products and the expansion of its location. Development and production remained in Germany and were gradually enlarged. In 1968 a production hall for chemical conversions was completed. In 1973 the departments development and service moved into a new laboratory building.

Since the 1960s the textile industry has become a key industry in the developing countries on their way into the 2nd world. The production volumes rose enormously. The location Geretsried alone could no longer meet the demand for textile auxiliaries. RUDOLF had to expand worldwide. In 1984 RUDOLF South Africa was founded, in 1992 RUDOLF Hong Kong, in 1998 RUDOLF DURANER in Turkey, in 2005 RUDOLF Pakistan, in 2007 RUDOLF KIRI in India. In 2008 the RUDOLF GROUP is represented on all continents by production sites and investments in subsidiaries/affiliated companies to be within reach for local customers.

In 2007 laboratories and production in Geretsried were enlarged. In the most modern development, application and service laboratories of the RUDOLF GROUP innovative products for the textile industry are developed and recipes are prepared and checked for our customers.

The history of the RUDOLF GROUP presents an innovative, modern company and a reliable and competent partner of the worldwide textile industry. We develop innovative, tailor-made products for all members of the textile chain: ecological, economic and sustainable.