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Perfect
fit in two widths
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production
facility in
St. Katharinen/Rheinl.-Pfalz
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production
facility in
St. Katharinen/Rheinl.-Pfalz
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production
facility in
Bernstadt/Sachsen
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L + L
Logisticcenter in
Vettelschoß/Rheinl.-Pfalz
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production
facility in
Schönbach/Sachsen
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Chronicle
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Birkenstock
from 1774 to today
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1774
Johann Adam Birkenstock registered in the church archives as
„vassal and shoemaker“.
1896
Konrad Birkenstock, master shoemaker has two shoe specialty
stores
in Frankfurt and is starting to produce footbed insoles.
1899
For about 16 years Konrad Birkenstock is holding seminars and
lectures to the other masters and guilds to explain his ideas
for a (graphic) custom shoe and to get license contracts for
the production of his footbed shoes. He starts traveling throughout
all of Germany and Austria.
1913
Carl Birkenstock, the oldest son, enters the family business.
1915
During the war, Konrad Birkenstock Sen. is hired by the hospital
Frankfurt-Friedrichsheim's orthopaedic workshop to manufacture
custom orthopaedic footwear for wounded soldiers. Prof.Dr.med.
Ludhoff, hospital director, approves and sponsors these shoes
made by Konrad Birkenstock.
1925
Konrad Birkenstock jr. enters the company. A larger factory
is purchased in Friedberg/Hessen.
The large customer base makes it necessary to work in day and
night shifts. The product: The Blue Footbed®. It is successfully
sold into Austria, France, Denmark, Czechoslovakia, Italy, Luxembourg,
Belgium, Norway, The Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.
1932
Start of the famous Birkenstock classes. More than 5,000 specialists
are trained during the weeklong seminars in the following years.
Leading doctors support the BIRKENSTOCK® system.
1947
The book „Podiatric System BIRKENSTOCK®“ is
published. 112 pages, 55 pictures, 14.000 copies. The most widely
read and published text book on podiatry in its time.
1954
Karl Birkenstock joins the family business.
1966
The self-colouring footprint paper has been successfully developed.
The process is patented in Germany, the U.S. and most European
countries. This new self-coloring footprint paper makes it profitable
to sell Birkenstocks via mail order.
1969
Birko-Cork, a malleable thermal cork, is developed for othopaedic
use.
1972
The „Book about Foot Health“ goes to print. First
edition 30,000 copies.
1973
The first electro-mechanical moulding machine is developed.
This machine uses a single adjustable mould to produce all sizes
and widths in the right proportion. This innovation puts BIRKENSTOCK®
far ahead in the world market.
1974
Leather cutting production begins in St. Katharinen.
1979
St. Katharinen receives additional modern cutting machines,
equipped with 100-ton punch capacities.
1980
The electro-machanical moulding machine of 1973 is replaced
with a new computer controlled system.
This system produces four sizes simultaneously.
1982
After three years of developing the thong sandal, it is introduced
in five styles.
1983
The Birkenstock „Fußfibel“ (foot primer) is
published, first edition 360,000 copies.
Two patents for BIRKENSTOCK® thong sandals are registered.
1984
Alex Birkenstock, joins the company. Six additional patents
for thong sandals and several other patents are registered for
BIRKENSTOCK®.
The patent for „Fußbett“ (footbed) is extended
for another 10 years. Specialty stores order approx. 14 million
consumer brochures.
1985
March 8th marks the first major Junior Meet in Bad Honnef.
New Birkenstock shoes are brought in-line.
A new material, Birko-Cell, is introduced to the orthopaedic
market.
1986
The new Birko Sport insole is offered to stores.
Second Junior Meet with over 200 participants.
1987
The BIRKENSTOCK® branch in St. Katharinen is equipped with
additional leather cutting machines. A warehouse is added. For
the first time ever BIRKENSTOCK® sells large sizes up to
size 50 in two widths. More than 2 million specialty catalogues
are used for advertising purposes.
1988
Christian Birkenstock, the youngest son of Karl Birkenstock,
joins the family business.
Environmentally-friendly glue is introduced in production. The
extra costs (almost twice the price for glue plus the costs
of adapting the large machinery to the new glue) are offset
by the improved quality of the adhesive. Birkenstock takes a
claim for the environment, and sets a world-wide example in
this direction.
The Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl visits the company.
1989
BIRKENSTOCK® takes over ALSA with its sole and footbed production.
A new four-storey building for the production of insoles is
built in addition to a new facility for orthopaedic production
in Asbach.
1990
Stephan Birkenstock, the eldest son of Karl Birkenstock, enters
the family business.
Footwear News labels the Birkenstock sandal „Arizona“
the US „Shoe of the Year“.
Expansion and modernisation of footbed production with a view
to environmental protection. Power consumption is reduced by
over 90%.
Heat recovery units are installed in the ventilation system,
and plants for environmentally sound electricity generation
are built including waste gas purification systems.
Alex Birkenstock founds Tatami Schuh GmbH.
1991
The Papillio® brand with its zesty shapes and always current
colour programmes is developed. Of course the shoes are offered
in two widths.
The president of the German Parliament, Rita Süssmuth,
visits BIRKENSTOCK®.
1992
Birkenstock delivers the first hand stitched comfort shoes.
1993
Construction of a large distribution center in Vettelschoß
has started. Founding of Birki®, CEO Alex Birkenstock.
1994
Christian Birkenstock founds the Betula Schuh GmbH, the brand
which accomplishes a forum of well-being through its continuously
changing range of comfortable shoes. For all occasions - sports,
work, free time or at home - Betula always offers the right
shoe at the right price.
1995
BIRKENSTOCK®'s hand-stitched comfort shoes are now marketed
by the newly founded company Footprints®, which is registered
as an independent brand wordwide.
Construction of a new warehouse in Asbach.
The company also develops a system of incorporating the upper
material into the PU-foam footbed. Birki's® is the first
brand to use this new system to produce sandals without the
use of glues.
1996
New high-rise rack warehouse begins operation in Asbach.
Groundbreaking ceremony for a new shipping facility in Vettelschoß
takes place in July.
1997
The first orders are shipped from the new Vettelschoß
facility in Spring of 1997.
Leading edge technologies in logistics are applied in this new
facility.
1998
The BIRKENSTOCK® administration and sales offices move from
Bad Honnef to Vettelschoß.
In spring of 1998 the Retailer Meetings hosted by BIRKENSTOCK®
are resumed.
In October, the new, fully automatic box storage unit with a
capacity of 10.000 cartons is put into operation. Computer-controlled
processing enables shipping and receiving of 80.000 pairs of
shoes per day.
1999
BIRKENSTOCK® is celebrating its 225th anniversary.
Rising out of a shoemaker's shop in 1774, BIRKENSTOCK® now
supplies customers the world over.
The planning stage of a second L+L Shipping facility in Vettelschoss
is beginning to take shape with the removal of trees on the
proposed site.
The company BIRKENSTOCK® presents itself for the first time
with a Homepage on the Internet: www.birkenstock.de
The second international dealer meeting with more than 200 participants
takes places at the customer service center in Vettelschoss
The company Footprints® extends its programme with a trekking
collection as well as a ladies' and men's dress shoe line. By
way of a specially developed process the company Birki's is
able to produce the world's first super lightweight EVA clog.
2000
The brand Tatami®, founded in 1990 by Alex Birkenstock celebrates
its 10th anniversary.
The brand Footprints® now offers an elegant men's dress
shoe collection.
The brand Birki's® introduces an EVA sandal collection manufactured
without any glue whatsoever.
Future plans include a new automatic box storage system. In
the future, this new system will enable staff to ship individual
pairs of shoes even faster than before. Should an article not
be available in your size or width, we will supply you with
this article or an alternative style as soon as possible!
2001
Our production unit, S.P.P. is celebrating its 10th anniversary
in Bernstadt/Saxony.
The new automatic orderpicking machine has been completed, offering
the possibility for 6000 individual pairs to be added or removed
from warehouse stocks by computer each day and makes it possible
to suppply customers withing 24 hours.
2002
BIRKENSTOCK® celebrates the 25th anniversary of the model
“Boston”.
2003
30 years “Arizona”
BIRKENSTOCK® celebrates the anniversary of one of the most
successful sandals.
We would like to congratulate L+L Lieferservice und Logistik
GmbH on its 10th anniversary. A company which stands for innovation
and state-of-the-art logistics to afford you the best service
possible..
2004
In England, Birkenstock receives the Drapers Award as ”Best
Shoe of the Year”
in acknowledgement of Birkenstock products' timeless design
making them suitable for every age group, any occasion and all
types of people.
2005
A new L+L logistics hall is set up next to the Birkenstock company headquarters in
Vettelschoß Rhineland-Palatinate.
2006
The Birkenstock brand was awarded the Cleo Fashion Award 2006 in the category
“Best Running Shoe” in Singapore.
2007
This year the Birkenstock brand once again won a prize in the “Best Walking
Shoe” category at the Cleo Fashion Award in Singapore.
The three owners Birkenstock Orthopädie GmbH & Co KG, Stephan, Alex and
Christian Birkenstock are taking over their longstanding distribution partner
Birkenstock Distribution USA (BDUSA). Immediately BDUSA will trade under the name
Birkenstock USA, LP. The registered office is at the previous location of BDUSA
Novato (California).
2008
Starting in 2008, SAC Footwear GmbH & Co. KG, which was founded 2007 by the owners
of Birkenstock Orthopädie GmbH & Co. KG, will take over the marketing of
Birkenstock insoles. The company is based in Vettelschoß.
2009
A new and larger footbed manufacturing facility in Görlitz is due to commence
operations in the spring of 2009.
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Old advertisement
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Workshop in 1937
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The Birkenstock
footbed
relieves your feet from all
manner of agony!
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The
reference book
„Podiatric System
Birkenstock“
published
in 1947.
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The blue
Footbed®
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New moulding
machine
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A healthy
way into the Seventies
with BIRKENSTOCK®
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BIRKENSTOCK-Footcare
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The "BIRKENSTOCK®-
foot primer" more than
20 years ago
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