Over 100 years of experience combined with state-of-the-art production and testing facilities stand for quality and rope technology that knows no limits. Customer-specific developments and niche products are our main speciality. Numerous innovations and patents reflect our forward-looking expertise. Alongside products manufactured from high-tech fibres and custom solutions, we also offer a wide range of tried and tested standard products.
WE ARE AN INTERNATIONALLY ACTIVE SWISS COMPANY WITH BRANCH OFFICES IN GERMANY, FRANCE AND HUNGARY, AS WELL AS SEVERAL SITES IN SWITZERLAND.
OUR SPECIALITIES ARE
CUSTOMER-SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENTS AND SOLUTIONS
Developed for groups of persons required to spend time in hazardous areas that are unfavourable for telecommunications, such as burning buildings, underground garages, caves, tunnel systems, etc.
The communication cable is braided into a polyester rope and ensures full duplex connection up to 5,000 m via laryngeal microphones. The respiratory protection telephone guarantees a secure connection between the emergency services.
Rope with integrated expansion range made from natural latex. This specially developed rope is used in any application where impact and forces need to be fully eradicated at the fixing points, such as boat towing lines, salvage and tow ropes for vehicles, etc.
In the USA this rope system is successfully used as hurricane protection for sailing ships and motorised yachts. Winner of the “Black Velvet” (innovation prize from Swiss Textiles; for outstanding pioneering achievements)
We develop customised industrial solutions such as ropes with sprayed-on plastic components, internally lubricated ropes, cords with special coatings for household appliances, vehicle manufacturing, door openers and robots and ropes with integrated antenna cables for hearing instruments and communication devices.
Ropes made of high-tech fibres or ropes with internal lubrication and external coatings such as robot control cables or silver-coated calibration lines also form part of our customer-specific developments and solutions.
Mesh fabric with integrated meadow seeds for safe, non-slip greening of walls and embankments.
Special granules are used to store the moisture required for the seeds to germinate.
Different seed mixtures are used depending on the height above sea level.
Winner of the innovation award at Infra-Tourist
30
successful patents
250
employees
107
years of experience
COMPANY HISTORY
FROM VILLAGE ROPERY TO AN INTERNATIONAL GROUP
The Ullmann rope factory was founded in 1915 by Albert Ullmann in Wetzikon, Zurich. Several years later, the owner operated business was passed to Josef Ullmann and relocated to Abtwil, St Gall, where a cable railway was constructed in 1950. In 1968, the youngest son, Martin Ullmann, took over ownership of the rope factory and at the beginning of the 1970s founded the first branch office in Chur, Graubünden. A new factory hall was constructed in Abtwil and the purchase of a rope beating machine enabled ropes to be produced mechanically for the first time.
With the patenting of a fully automated machine for cord production and the purchase of rope braiding machines, rope manufacturing increased rapidly. New customer groups were developed and in 1982, a second branch opened its doors in French-speaking Switzerland. The factory building in Abtwil quickly reached its capacity limits and new production facilities for the firm were constructed in St Gall, and inaugurated in 1984. A ground-breaking innovation was patented; the Usacord Shock-Line. Production was steadily increased and the machine facilities expanded, and from that point on, ropes made from high-tech fibres were also included in the product portfolio. The sole proprietorship firm incorporated in 1986 to become the Seilfabrik Ullmann AG. At the end of the 1980s, the firm took its first steps into overseas markets.
Production facilities were set up in Costa Rica and one year later, the Seilfabrik Ullmann AG took over Bremer Tauwerke in Germany. The organisation underwent ISO certification in the year 2000. Due to a challenging raw material situation, production was relocated from Costa Rica to Thailand in 2001.
Another major milestone was reached in 2008 with the acquisition of mamutec AG with operations in Zug (Switzerland) and Hungary, and the founding of Corderie Ullmann SARL in France. The organisation entered the DIY store/do-it-yourself market. In 2012, the Seilfabrik Ullmann AG was awarded the Golden Velvet prize for outstanding Swiss pioneering achievements by Swiss Textiles. The site in Hungary was expanded in 2014 to include additional production and assembly halls. In 2015, the Bremen plant moved into its own offices and workshops. In 2016, the branch office in French-speaking Switzerland was relocated to Burgdorf, Bern. A training centre for occupational safety, load securing and lifting technology was set up in 2017. The company’s facilities in St Gall were expanded. Operations of the Ullmann Group rope factory are now managed by the fourth generation of the family, Patrick Ullmann and Roy Ullmann, and comprises seven locations with three production sites.
