Gustav Wolf Celebrates 125 Years

In September 2012, family-owned company Gustav Wolf Seil-und Drahtwerke GmbH & Co. KG (Gustav Wolf Rope and Wire Works GmbH & Co. KG) celebrated its 125th anniversary. More than 500 guests, including employees from all its worldwide locations and local business and political leaders, gathered at the event in Gütersloh, Germany.

The history of the company goes further back than its official 1887 founding year. The first documented mention dates back to 1737, when Johann Christoph Wolf pursued his business as a master rope craftsman. Today, Gustav Wolf is a modern group of companies with seven production sites worldwide in Germany (two sites), France, Hungary, Dubai, China and India. There are also two sales offices – one in the U.S. to serve North America, and one in Spain to serve southern Europe.

The company was founded in 1887 in Bielefeld, Germany, by Karl Gustav Wolf, and in 1912, his successors moved the business to Gütersloh, Germany, where its growth continued. Today, with 800 employees, its product portfolio includes elevator ropes, tire bead wire, steel spring wire, crane ropes for the harbor and oil industries, spring cores for the mattress industry, metal fabric wire, filter screen wire, hose reinforcement wire and more.

Gustav Wolf is one of the largest producers of elevator ropes and tire bead wire in the world. It is a leading supplier to the elevator industry, as well as the rubber, plastics, mattress and automobile industries. Gustav Wolf also specializes in vertical integration through in-house wire production, which, over the years, has provided a strong impetus to R&D. One new product is HyTrac® elevator rope, which is made from a combination of a high-strength synthetic fiber core with steel outer strands. The rope delivers high breaking strength with lighter weight and is intended for elevators in high-rise buildings.

During the celebration Managing Director of Gustav Wolf, Dr.-Ing. Ernst Wolf, expressed his plan to move forward with the internationalization of the company. The goal is based on his belief the company must be globally present, while offering comprehensive local services in order to compete with the world market. Wolf also expressed his commitment to growing the business, especially in the areas of elevator ropes and tire bead wire, where the continuing increase in human mobility leads to growth.