A brief history of the company
1935 - Establishment of the firm
Master cabinet maker Josef Hoffmann first set up a workshop in Kall in the Eifel region in 1935. Initially the operation concentrated on manufacturing bedroom furniture using rented premises. Sales representatives were employed to place the products with furniture dealers.
1937 - Establishment of the family
In 1937 Josef Hoffmann married Elisabeth Krampe. She immediately took over the companys office management and her presence quickly defined the "soul" of the company.
1939 - Relocation to Rheinbach
The business took off very rapidly and it soon became necessary to expand. It was originally planned that a new facility should be built in Mechernich and negotiations for the purchase of the land had already been completed. However, the opportunity then arose to acquire an existing joinery business in Rheinbach from the bank Kreissparkasse Bonn. The operation on Münstereifeler Straße was purchased and the company moved there in the same year.
It was also the year that World War II broke out. It was to be particularly tragic for the company and its employees. Every member of staff was conscripted into military service and not one was to return.
1942 - The closure of the firm
The firm was forced to close due to the war in 1942.
1946 - Re-opening
The confirmation that Josef Hoffmann had survived the conflict and was shortly to be released with other prisoners of war led his wife Elisabeth Hoffmann to reopen the firm. In common with many other companies, deep wounds had resulted from the war and it was a relentless struggle for rebuilding and survival in the years preceding currency reform.
1950 - A new direction
It had become difficult to continue with mass production of bedroom furniture due to worker shortages (the entire staff had fallen in the war). The company still retained its connections and sales outlets, however, and the possibility emerged of maintaining sales by swapping production over to the serial manufacture of tables.
The business continued to grow and this growth was maintained by constant additions to the range.
1968 - The 2nd generation
On completion of his own training as a cabinet maker and joinery craftsman and after undertaking a variety of management jobs at home and abroad, the founder?s son Adolf Hoffmann took over as managing director of the firm in 1968.
1976 - The incorporation of the firm
The company was still being run on a one-man basis, but in 1976 that changed when the company was legally incorporated as a GmbH & Co. KG. The ownership of the business was redefined with the issue of shares to Adolf Hoffmann.
1978 - Death of the founder
Josef Hoffmann died at the age of 70. His son Adolf not only assumed exclusive management of the company but also took control of 100% of the shares.
1980 - Take-over of a subsidiary
The expansion of the business at the Münstereifeler Straße address had reached its liwith. The workshop was now entirely ringed by residential developments and extensions were no longer possible. In 1980 an existing table factory at Rosenblath in Lichtenau, Hessen was purchased and started operation as a subsidiary of the company.
1983 - Relocation
The rebuilding of Rheinbach town centre by the town council made it possible for the company to move from its central location to a new industrial estate on Industriestraße.
After a construction period of 9 months, the company was able to start production at its new facilities in 1983. Possibilities for expanding the range opened up. In addition to an extended range of tables, the company also began to produce and sell chairs.
1989 - Golden jubilee in Rheinbach
At this time the company had approximately 60 employees. The dedicated efforts of each one of them had allowed the firm to carve out its niche as a specialist manufacturer of tables. Today the company is internationally active with over 25% of production going for export.
2008 - The 3rd generation
With completed apprenticeships as bank clerc and business manager Thomas Hoffmann began working in the family business. 2008 Thomas Hoffmann took over the position of managing director from his father Adolf Hoffmann.
2008 - Continued success
The company now has about 85 employees, some of whom have been with the firm for over 40 years.