Stölzle Lausitz celebrated the 130th anniversary of its company site in Weißwasser, Saxony, with a big party at the end of May. In the traditional center of the glass industry, the company is now the last remaining glass manufacturer of international significance. Customers and companions of the brand had traveled to Lusatia to celebrate this milestone birthday together.
Based on the Oberlausitzer Glaswerke J. Schweig und Co. which was founded in 1889 at the current location of Stölzle Lausitz GmbH, the company today produces well over 40 million drinking glasses per year. Stölzle Lausitz uses a process that enables the machine production of goblets of the highest quality, which comes very close to the handmade, mouth-blown quality.
As with the hand-blown technique, the glass is made from a cone of glass paste integrated at the top, from which the stem can be drawn, thus achieving a seamless transition from the goblet to the stem. At present, there are only a few manufacturers in the world who are able to produce goblets using this latest process at a consistently high level with the machine.
In addition to its production expertise, Stölzle Lausitz can also build on many years of design competence: For example, starting in the mid-1930s, Bauhaus pioneer Prof. Wilhelm Wagenfeld shaped the glassworks' product development and quality orientation. In collaboration with designers, architects, and sommeliers, Stölzle Lausitz continues to create glass designs that combine the highest beverage standards with avant-garde design.
After many eventful years, Stölzle Oberglas AG took over the traditional production facility in 1996. Since then, continuous investments have been made in the Weißwasser site, and the investment volume since then has totaled around 40 million euros. After high investments in the production and in a new warehouse, the conversion of the logistics and the expansion of the glass finishing have now been completed in the current last step.
In his statement during the celebration, which was also attended by the District Administrator of the Görlitz district, Bernd Lange, and the Lord Mayor of Weißwasser, Torsten Pötzsch, Managing Director Johann Nagl emphasized the great importance of these investments and the financial stability provided by the group of companies.
Nagl believes that Stölzle Lausitz GmbH, which is currently active in over 120 countries, is well positioned: "The gastronomy and international hotel chains in particular appreciate the high quality and advantages of our goblets. Our growing presence and the trend towards functional and elegant wine glasses support our positive development on the world market, and the prospects and future of our products and our brand are downright excellent," says Nagl.
In his statement, Dr. Cornelius Grupp, owner of Stölzle Lausitz GmbH, emphasized the close ties within the group of companies to the site in Weißwasser and the employees there: "We are not typical investors, but have the long-term perspective in mind and the lasting claim that our products are the best on the market." His son Cornelius Grupp, representing the 7th generation of entrepreneurs, added: "The high-quality products manufactured in Weißwasser have become part of the family DNA and we can't imagine life without them."
As part of the celebration, which took place in a stylishly decorated warehouse on the company's premises and combined numerous show acts, Johann Nagl presented a new glass concept as a key highlight. Announced for the second half of the year, the product lives up to its name with an integrated LED: The glass series bears the name "Highlight".
