Company Profile

Desma Schuhmaschinen GmbH

History of DESMA

1946

Founding of "Deutsche Schuhmaschinen &

C0. U. E. Ludwig KG" under the brand name

"DESCO".

Company purpose: Manufacturing of

machinery for shoe production.

1953

Brand changes to "DESMA".

Development of the Direct Soling Process

by means of vulcanization-presses and moulds.

1959

First Direct Soling Machine raised for pasty PVC

and a little later for granules.

1960

Development of further processes in the

fields of Rubber Injection and Foaming

Technology.

1970

DESMA becomes market leader in shoe

machinery and moulds, especially due to

the advanced PU-PVC technologies.

1981

Incorporation of DESMA in the Klöckner-

Ferromatik-Group.

1986

Klöckner-Ferromatik-DESMA-Group

advances to be the worldwide leader in

injection moulding machinery sales.

1993

After re-organization of the Klöckner Group,

DESMA becomes an independent member,

consisting of both firms KLÖCKNER DESMA

Shoe Machinery located in Achim and

KLÖCKNER DESMA Elastomere Technologies

based in Fridingen.

1996

KLÖCKNER DESMA Shoe Machinery makes

big investments in designing technologies

and in the mould shop.

Advanced machine control concepts as well

as new processes for shoe and sole

production are developed.

DESMA celebrates its 50th anniversary.

2000 / 2001

DESMA has confidently started the new

millenium, with one of our best-ever years

behind us. We look forward to building on

our excellent foundations in the years to come.

2003

Based in Guangzhou, a WFOE – Wholly Foreign Owned

Enterprise – DESMA China gets down to work in 2003.

Specialising in the rapid supply of spare parts and provision

of technical service, DESMA China is grounded in tradition

and looking forward to meeting the challenges of the future.

2006

A time to celebrate – and for once, relax! DESMA customers, suppliers, employees and their families take the chance to reflect on 60 years of innovation and service to the footwear industry.

2009

Wolfgang Koliwer retires – new management structure

After impressive 50 years with DESMA, Wolfgang Koliwer leaves the company as of April 2009. He hands over the reins to two young managers who, despite their youth, bring over 30 years combined experience at DESMA.

Klaus Freese and Christian Decker face difficult times but are confident of DESMA’s tradition of excellence: “We know that there will always be a strong market for quality”.