Our Story.
1924. It Begins.
The backdrop was promising: the ‘Roaring Twenties’ saw an economic upswing. Germany’s first democracy was still in its infancy and fragile.
Johannes Jaeger, a 30-year-old farmer with three children, was dissatisfied with his life on the land. His wife Maria, who came from a family of factory owners, was used to a more comfortable life.
Johannes aspired to become a manufacturer and own his own factory. The idea of setting up a tape weaving mill came from his brother-in-law, who ran a similar factory in the USA. Johannes’ brother Herrmann, an experienced banker, contributed the necessary financial expertise and the funds were raised by family members.
On August 16, 1924, they founded the Jaeger Brothers company in Wuppertal-Ronsdorf. In a region that was already home to numerous tape weaving mills and textile companies, they had to succeed by means of hard work, drive and courage. Innovation played a minor role and it’s not very likely that they had a business plan.
Unusual
requirements demanded
unusual ideas +
Get Go – our DNA!
Challenges.
The company’s founding years saw numerous challenges: limited technical expertise, limited financial resources and hardly any unique selling points for the products. As early as the second year, quality problems led to difficulties that threatened the company’s existence.
However, Johannes and Herrmann learned from these experiences, and by going forward they focused on having qualified employees and providing continuous further training — two key factors to later success.
It was only after four more years that they made their first modest profit. However, the company and its margins remained small. Herrmann therefore decided to leave the company and handed everything over to his younger brother, Johannes.
Perseverance and
staying power became
an integral part of the
corporate culture –
our DNA!
Family Ties.
Generational
Change.
In 1950, Heinrich, Johannes’ second eldest son, became the first member of the second generation to join the company. He was followed five years later by his younger brother Gerhard. His sisters Elisabeth, Maria and Ruth also actively supported the family business until the mid-1950s.
Johannes Jaeger died in December 1968 at the age of 74. Heinrich retired from the day-to-day business in 1985 and passed away in 2012. The third generation took up the reins: Thomas joined in 1980, Tilman followed in 1988, and Philipp in 1995. Thomas and Tilman retired from the operational business in 2021 and 2023, respectively.
Today, the management of Jaeger Holding, which consolidates the operational companies and activities, consists of René Krieger, René Kinle, and Philipp Jaeger. A crucial decision was the establishment of an advisory board in 2021, which includes two external experts and two family members. The company shares are held by five family members.
Jaeger was, is
and remains a
family business –
our DNA!
Jaeger.
International.
From the very beginning, the founders wanted to be close to their customers. Even in the early years, Johannes Jaeger worked closely with sales partners.
But that was not enough. Over the years, Jaeger has established its own subsidiaries and production plants. Today we are represented – with production facilities and sales companies – in Austria, Italy, France, the USA, India, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Spain, South Africa, Türkiye, and now also in Australia.
At several locations, we have redundant production capabilities, which ensures additional security.
Proximity to the
customer and spare
production capacity –
our DNA!
Origin
in Wuppertal.
Jaeger has its roots in Wuppertal, and the site continues to be an important driving force for our company. We coordinate our international activities from here and have invested continuously over the decades, significantly expanding and modernising our production capacities.
In 2011, we founded Jaeger Engineering, our own special engineering company. This was followed in 2018 by the opening of VISITEC, a development and technology centre.
The most recent addition in Wuppertal is Jaeger Components, where we have been manufacturing accessories since 2020.
Constant, organic
growth and
continuous innovation –
our DNA!”
Our great employees.
Our founders recognized early on that qualified employees, continuous training, and fair, respectful interaction with one another are the keys to success. These principles still characterize us today. As a family business, it is deeply rooted in our corporate culture.
At the same time, our international team is a living example of how people from different backgrounds, languages, cultures, religions and ways of thinking can work together harmoniously. Over 30 nations are represented here, and what unites them is their drive to always do their best, as well as their open and uncomplicated way of working together and their mutual respect.
Many of our employees have been with Jaeger for a long time, ensuring stability and continuity. They are at the heart of our success. Modern machines and a well-organised company structure are important, but ultimately it is the people behind the technology who make the difference.
Fairer, more open
and respectful
interaction with
each other –
our DNA!
Last but not least.
Our products.
We began manufacturing woven ribbons in Wuppertal in 1924. Our first products included hat ribbons, underwear ribbons, hair ribbons and silk ribbons.
From 1937, we specialized in edging and reinforcing tapes for the shoe industry. With the addition of coated tapes, wide goods, and punched parts, we fulfill all the needs of the shoe and leather goods industry.
Since 1997, we have been developing and producing waterproofing components and systems for the building materials industry and are private label suppliers for sealing products.
And a new area: With our TEC-IN solutions, we supply demanding customers from the technical industry, such as the automotive and aviation sectors.
True to our DNA – exceptional requirements demand exceptional ideas – we are continuously expanding our portfolio.
Jaeger is and
remains a
manufacturer –
our DNA!
Grateful for 100 years…
Grateful for 100 Years – Looking Forward to the Future!
Focused, full of ideas, and passionate, we are looking to the future and planning our next steps carefully. By constantly redefining our goals, scrutinizing our activities, and adapting our strategy, we are laying the foundations for what’s to come.
For your success and ours.