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FROM A ONE-MAN BUSINESS TO A GLOBAL PLAYER

A look at the 85-year history of our family business shows: GEHR’s success has always been the result of a healthy “expansion in small steps”. The fact that a small celluloid factory in Mannheim could develop into a globally active plastics manufacturer is based on a simple insight inherited from generation to generation: only a balanced mixture of entrepreneurial willingness to take risks and technical know-how can lead to long-term success. This entrepreneurial conviction continues to guide our actions.

1932
Eduard Gehr Celluloidwarenfabrikation is founded by Eduard Gehr on 1st May in Mannheim, Schwetzinger Vorstadt
Production of door protectors, spatulas and water stream regulators from celluloid
1936
Move to Mannheim Neckarau Hangstraße 2
First employee is hired, later 3 employees
1939
7 employees at the outbreak of the war
1943
Mechanical workshop is destroyed during the war
1946
New beginning after the war with the same range plus collar stiffener
Son Werner Gehr joins the company
1950
Eduard and Werner Gehr found a OHG (registered partnership)
1954
Purchase of 2 extruders
Start with the production of PVC-tubes and soft PVC hand rails
Eduard Gehr leaves the company, takeover by Werner Gehr
1955
Start with the production of PVC refill tubes and PVC solid rods for knitting needles
1956
Move to our current location in Mannheim-Casterfeld
1967
Production of GEHR PVC hexagonal tubes with edge lines for Schwan STABILO
Production of PVC solid rods up to Ø 70 mm
1969
GEHR PVC solid rods up to Ø 100 mm
1972
Introduction new GEHR logo
1973
Death of Eduard Gehr
1974
Death of Werner Gehr
Assumption of running the company by Irene and Helmut Gehr
1975
GEHR PVC solid rods Ø 300 mm
1976
Name of the company changed to GEHR-Kunststoffwerk KG
1979
Irene Andres (née Gehr) leaves the company
1982
USA - GEHR PLASTICS Inc. founded in Westmont Illinois/ Chicago
1985
Start of production of GEHR PP/ PE/ PVDF rods
1987
Beginn mit PVC-Schaumrohren für Schwan STABILO Cosmetics
1993
Start of production of GEHR PEEK
1995
ISO 9001 (Quality Manangement Certification) for GEHR Germany
1997
GEHR Kunststoffwerk GmbH & Co.KG new name of the Company
GEHR PVC-U solid rods up to Ø 400 mm
USA – ISO 9001 certification for GEHR Plastics
2000
USA – GEHR Plastics Inc. moves to Boothwyn, Pennsylvania
2003
Start selling GEHR POM solid rods and sheets
2004
Representative office opened in Shanghai, China
GEHR POM solid rods up to Ø 400 mm
2005
1st GEHR-Symposium with Prof. Franz (ZEW) and Prof. Brandstätter
Extrusion ECO-GEHR®: Products based on renewable resources
2007
75 Year Anniversary of GEHR – 2nd GEHR-Symposium with Federal German Chancelor Dr. Helmut Kohl and Lord Nigel Lawson
GEHR POM solid rods Ø 500 mm
GEHR POM sheets 200 mm
2008
3rd GEHR-Symposium – ECO-GEHR-Workshop
Annette Gehr joined the company
2009
IKUFORM GmbH founded in Kirchhundem/Sauerland
2010
Commissioning of Calander for thin sheets ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Certification)
2011
Opening of GEHR Plastics Ltd. Hongkong with warehouse
2012
ISO 50001 (Energy Management Certification)
Initial authorisation as "known consignor"
Opening of the Sales Office India
2014
4th GEHR-Symposium with Hans-Dietrich Genscher and Nobel Price winner Prof. Dr. Edmund Phelps
Environmental Award of the City of Mannheim
2015
GEHR POM-C rods Ø 600mm
2016
FIL-A-GEHR – Filaments for professional 3D printing
ISO 18000 (Work safety – OHSAS Management Certification)
2017
Takeover part of Freinsheimer Street
5th GEHR-Symposium with Peer Steinbrück, Daniel Hingtgen and Dr. Harald Lauke
2019
ISO 13485 (Quality Management Medical Products)
2021
Sustainability – We produce climate neutral
2022
Start of production clean room class 7
90 Years Celebration GEHR / 6th GEHR-Symposium
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Casterfeldstr. 172
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