Gablonz industry
As Gablonz Industries (historically also Jablonec jewelery ), the mid-19th century created manufacturing and marketing network of mostly small fashion jewelry manufacturer in the Bohemian town of Jablonec nad Nisou referred. Before the Second World War , the loosely organized association comprised up to 4,000 companies . After the expulsion and the regionally focused relocation of the companies in West Germany, the company network was institutionalized through the establishment of the Federal Association of Gablonzer Industry and today stands for 100 remaining manufacturers with a sales volume of around 260 million euros.
history
The Gablonzer industry developed with the production of costume jewelry and glass haberdashery (Gablonzer Bijouterie) to the most important economic factor of the region. Since the end of the Second World War, a center of the Gablonzer industry has been located in and around Kaufbeuren in Ostallgäu. The Gablonz industry is still the spatial center of the German fashion jewelry industry. Fashion jewelry and jewelry components are still manufactured, refined and sold internationally. In addition, supplier components are also produced for numerous other industries. The structural features make the Gablonzer Industrie in Neugablonz an industrial district .
The Gablonz industry originally comes from the Gablonz region in Bohemia . It developed from the 16th century Jizera settled hollow glass industry . Around the middle of the 18th century, glass haberdashery such as chandelier hangings, pearls, and later stones and buttons were produced. Towards the end of the 18th century, the production of costume jewelry and imitation jewelry from base materials was added. With the onset of industrialization, the Gablonz industry experienced strong growth. This can be seen, among other things, in the population development of the city of Gablonz. The tax revenue of the Gablonz industry was correspondingly high. Sales were strongly export-oriented, and the markets for Gablonzer products were on every continent. With the expulsion of the German population after the end of the Second World War, several new Gablonzer industries were founded in West Germany (including in Karlsruhe , Schwäbisch Gmünd and Weidenberg ). The largest new settlement took place in Kaufbeuren and even led to the establishment of a new district, which has been called Neugablonz since 1952.
The State Technical School for Applied Arts was founded as early as 1870, training the next generation in industry up to master craftsman diploma . After the expulsion, the school was re-established as a state vocational school for glass and jewelry in Neugablonz.
Current
The Gablonz industry is best known for the production of costume jewelry and fashion accessories. In addition to the classic business fields, the automotive industry, aerospace technology, medical technology, household appliance industry and sanitary technology are also supplied with precision parts and assemblies.
Industry in Gablonz mostly consists of small and medium-sized businesses, a typical company employs between 15 and 30 people. In itself, the Gablonz industry is very heterogeneous, the companies are often specialized. The competencies include glass production, glass, plastic and metal processing, refinement of materials, services such as tool and mold construction. Several companies are usually involved in the manufacture of finished products. All relevant services and semi-finished products can be provided in and around Neugablonz by various companies. The companies work together, but also compete with one another. Against this background, the Gablonzer industry is referred to as the composite industry. This structure gives the Gablonz industry a high degree of flexibility in terms of current changes and changing requirements.
The Gablonz industry is a regional focus of competence. With its internal structures, it comes very close to the ideal type of an industrial district .
A cross-section of the current product range can be seen in the adventure exhibition of the Gablonzer Industrie. Like the jewelry worlds in Pforzheim , the adventure exhibition is open to both trade visitors and private visitors. Several museums have also been built at the original production site, the largest in Jablonec itself. A better-known representative of the original Gablonz jewelery is now the D. Swarovski company from Austria.
The Gablonzer industry currently consists of more than 100 companies, which have their geographical focus in Kaufbeuren and the surrounding area. In total, the members of the Federal Association of Gablonzer Industry employ around 1,300 employees and several hundred home workers . The latter sometimes operate their own printing works for simple production steps . With a total turnover of approx. 260 million euros (2007), the Gablonzer industry is one of the most important economic factors in the Allgäu.
Federal Association of Gablonzer Industry
The Federal Association of Gablonzer Industry is the organizational umbrella of Gablonzer Industry in Germany. Its predecessor organizations were founded in 1946 (Allgäuer Glas- und Schmuckwaren-Genossenschaft) and 1948 (Association of Gablonzer Industry in the United Western Zones). He currently looks after around 90 member companies. His areas of responsibility as an employers' association include the independent collective bargaining system of the Gablonzer industry, specialist information, representation of interests, sales support.
literature
- Heerdegen, Manfred and Holey, Walter (eds.): Isergebirgler and their glass and jewelry industry in Holstein, Baden and in the Taunus. 2007.
- Rehle, Norbert: Economic and institutional change in Europe's fashion jewelry regions. Dissertation. 2003
- Rössler, Susanne: Gablonzer glass and jewelry. Tradition and present of a handicraft industry. 1979
- In short, Sabine and Packer, Mary Sue: Strass. International costume jewelery from the beginning until today. 1997.
- Weber, Christiane and Möller, Renate: Fashion and costume jewelry 1920–1970 in Germany. 1999.