100 years of WBV
Westdeutscher Bindegarn-Vertrieb Eselgrimm in Oelde
In 2017, WBV – Westdeutscher Bindegarn-Vertrieb Eselgrimm GmbH & Co. KG celebrated its 100th birthday. The company’s history is also a piece of Oelde’s history.
100 years ago, in the middle of the First World War, master wood turner and mill owner Georg Eselgrimm (1859-1923) founded WBV – Westdeutscher Bindegarn-Vertrieb Eselgrimm in Oelde.
The Eselgrimms were already long-standing residents of Oelde at that time. Back in 1851, Georg’s father Christian Eselgrimm had founded his woodturning workshop here. And in 1911, Georg Eselgrimm acquired the tradition-steeped “Siebeneselsmühle”.
WBV – Westdeutscher Bindegarn-Vertrieb Eselgrimm was then founded in 1917.
At the beginning, the company marketed twines
In the first few years, Georg Eselgrimm concentrated solely on the marketing of twines for agriculture in the region. When he died at the early age of 63 on 19th June 1923 following a serious illness, his son Anton Eselgrimm (1896-1966) took over the small company. His siblings Änne and Heinrich were also involved in the company. In the 1930s, the company expanded its range to include technical yarns. However, in light of the global economic crisis and the economic stagnation in those days, the WBV was barely able to develop.
Due to the Second World War and the economic crisis of the first post-war years, the WBV experienced further years of economic stagnation following the end of the war in 1945. But with great foresight, Anton Eselgrimm filled up his warehouses so the WBV was able to expand rapidly during the economic miracle.
Anton Eselgrimm modernised the company in the years that followed. Competent managing directors were appointed, the distribution channels were significantly streamlined and a global procurement system was established. The WBV grew to be of national significance, and more and more jobs were created.
Anton Eselgrimm died in 1966, two years before the opening ceremony of the new WBV building on Wiedenbrücker Straße. His widow, Theresia Eselgrimm, née Burmann (1901-1977), took over.
In 1970, she appointed former authorised representative for sales Oskar Gerloff as managing director and established a professionally outstanding advisory board with his support.
In the following twenty years, the company grew considerably. The WBV has long since had a global presence in terms of procurement and the company has grown throughout Germany and on the European continent when it comes to sales.
Strong growth requires expanded logistics facilities and larger administrative headquarters
When Oskar Gerloff retired in 1989, Joachim Haupt, a great-grandson of the company’s founder, took over as head of the company management team, having already spent a number of years as the assistant of the company management team. In the following years, the company experienced considerable growth spurts again. By the end of the 1990s, the company headquarters on Wiedenbrücker Straße, which had only been opened in 1968, had become far too small. Expanded logistics facilities and a larger administrative headquarters had to be built. Over the course of several construction phases, today’s logistics plant and the “Am Landhagen” administrative building were built in Oelde.
Joachim Haupt handed over management of the company to his son Moritz Haupt in spring 2021. This makes him the fifth generation to run the company.
The “WBV worldwide” is now considered to be a leading importer and exporter of packaging materials and ropes on the European continent.
Success resulting mainly from our competent and committed employees
The basis for the economic success is both the high-quality products, for which the company stands, and its competent and committed employees. The WBV employs about 160 people today, including over 20 apprentices. 25 employees work in the company’s administration department and 27 in logistics, with about 85 employees in customer-facing roles in sales. The company’s customers include agricultural cooperations, ropemakers, sanitation wholesalers, packaging wholesalers, cleaning agent wholesalers, the technical trade, supermarkets, discount stores and industrial consumers.
A successful family-run company for generations
The brief look back through history shows that the successes of today’s “WBV worldwide” would not have been possible without the courage and commitment of generations gone by. Georg and Anton Eselgrimm, in particular, laid the foundations for a solid business policy, which still influences the company today. Thanks and acknowledgement must also go to the tremendous commitment and dedication of the employees on whom the WBV has counted since the very beginning.
In business since 1917
At a glance
2021
Joachim Haupt hands over the management of the company to his son Moritz Haupt. The family business enters the 5th generation.
1999 ff.
Completion of the expanded logistics facilities and the enlarged administrative headquarters "Am Landhagen" in Oelde in several construction phases.
1989
Oskar Gerloff retires and Joachim Haupt takes over managing the company. Joachim, who had previously worked as an assistant to the management, is the great-grandson of the company's founder.
1970
Oskar Gerloff moves from authorized sales representative to managing director and leads WBV through a period of strong growth. WBV's procurement now covers the entire world. Sales continue to expand and soon cover the entire European continent.
1966
Anton Eselgrimm dies. His widow Theresia Eselgrimm, née Burmann (1901-1977), takes over the inheritance.
1950 ff.
It is a period of growth and renewal: Anton Eselgrimm is modernizing the company, hiring managers, optimizing distribution channels and establishing a global procurement system. Soon, WBV was of nationwide importance and a strong employer.
1945
Germany is in the midst of an economic crisis following World War II. The WBV experiences several years of economic stagnation. In the immediate aftermath, Eselgrimm profits from his foresight: he had filled his warehouses in good time - the economic miracle can come, and with it the expansion.
1930
In the 1930s, the company expanded its range to include technical yarns. The global economic crisis forces all companies, including WBV, to hold out.
1923
After Georg Eselgrimm died at the age of 63 after a serious illness, Anton Eselgrimm (1896 - 1966) took over the small business and worked together with his brothers and sisters Änne and Heinrich.
1917
Founding year of WBV Westdeutscher Bindegarn-Vertrieb Eselgrimm. Georg Eselsgrimm concentrates exclusively on the sale of twine for agriculture in the region. He is a master turner and now also the owner of the mill.
1911
Purchase of the traditional "Siebeneselsmühle" by his son Georg Eselgrimm.
1851
Foundation of a turner's workshop by Christian Eselgrimm.