From Carpet Factory to International Corporate Group

1883The brothers Carl and Adolf Vorwerkfound the Barmer Teppichfabrik Vorwerk & Co. in Wuppertal on April 21.

1897Carl Vorwerk further develops the Englishlooms and applies for his own patent. Soon after, production commences in the company’s own machine shop. 1907

August Mittelsten Scheid, Carl Vorwerk’sson-in-law, joins the company and becomes sole managing partner.

1909“Vorwerk” becomes a registered carpettrademark, creating serious competitionfor oriental carpets.

1901Vorwerk patents a new, closely woven carpet that Carl Vorwerk “invented” on the chance discovery of a production error.

1903Besides carpets, Vorwerk now also sells its own looms.

1908The company celebrates its 25th anniversary – by this time, Vorwerk provides jobs for some 500 people.

The Vorwerk Group

1880 1890 1900 1910

1886Karl Benz builds the

first automobile.

1887The Statue of Liberty goes up in New York.

The Vorwerk Products

1895Carl Gustav Röntgen

discovers X-rays.

1900The first 100,000 HP steam engine is built.

1903The Wuppertal suspension

railway opens.

1883Production of high-qualitycarpets commences.

Contemporary History

1945The United Nations (UNO)

is founded.

1930Werner Mittelsten Scheid introduces direct sales – marking a new chapter in the history of the company.

1920The 1920s is a period of extremeeconomic fluctuation – between record profits and difficult phases.

1938Vorwerk Folletto, the first international Kobold company, is founded in Italy.

1943The war puts a stop to direct sales. The plant is almost completely destroyed in an air raid. Dr. Erich and Werner Mittelsten Scheid take over management of the company.

1929Vorwerk chief engineer Engelbert Gorissen develops a small, hand-held vacuum cleaner.

1930A patent is taken out on the Kobold vacuum cleaner and salesbegin. Diverse accessories follow, including a hair dryer and a grooming attachment for horses.

1939-45Second World War.

1930First Football World CupChampionship is held in

Uruguay.

1914-18First World War.

1949The one millionth Kobold is sold.

1920 1930 1940

1927Lindbergh makes the first non-stop

flight from New York to Paris.

1920The radio takes the

world by storm.

1953Following the death of his brother, Dr. Erich Mittelsten Scheid heads the company alone.

1968Vorwerk founds the Wuppertal-based akf bank.

1966Dr. Jörg Mittelsten Scheid joins the Executive Board.

1974Vorwerk founds the facility management company HygienicService Gebäudereinigung undUmweltpflege GmbH (today’sHECTAS Gebäudedienste).

Starting 1955Systematic expansion of the product lines floor care and kitchen appliances, refrigerators and washing machines.

1971The “original Thermomix” goes on the market.

1981Market launch of the Tiger cylinder vacuum cleaner.

1953Mount Everest is conquered

for the first time.

1969Neil Armstrong becomes the first human being to

land on the moon.

1975The Peace Movement is formed

in Europe and the USA.

1961The Berlin Wall goes up.

1950 1960 1970 1980

1990Vorwerk opens a branch in China; otherinternational branches follow in easternEurope – internationalization of DirectSales continues apace.

2001Lux Asia Pacific, headquartered in Singapore, becomes part of the Vorwerk group.

2004Since 2004, the U.S.-based JAFRACosmetics has been a member ofthe Vorwerk group. The companyproduces and sells skin care products, cosmetics and perfumes.

2008125 years of Vorwerk – with

some 560,000 sales advisers, representatives, consultants andemployees all around the world. 2007

Vorwerk Direct Selling Ventures starts up.

2001Vorwerk begins selling not only vacuum cleaners, but also water purifiers, washing machines and air purifiers in the Asia-Pacific region.

1991The hard floor polishing appliance, Pulilux, comes out.

2002Sales of the Feelina Ironing System commence.

1996Birth of Dolly the sheep, thefirst mammal to be cloned.

1989Fall of the Berlin Wall.

2004Inauguration of the world’s highest

skyscraper in Taipeh (508m).

1981IBM presents the first PC

to the world.

1990 2000 2008

2007JAFRA Cosmetics launches the Dynamics product line.