Our history

More than 70 years of history and experience, three production locations in Germanyand real passion speak for themselves.

We are moving.Milestones

Despite all our innovation, we have always remained true to one thing: the unconditional commitment to high quality and sustainable customer relationships.

1950

1950 – Warping and warp knitting company founded in Rodgau by Georg and Otto Friedrich. 1955 –  Monthly production rises at approximately 10 tons. 1968 – Production of warp knitting moves from Rodgau to Groß-Zimmern. Monthly production reaches 50 tons. 1975 – Starting of the own lining collection distribution with own lining fabrics. 1985 – Foundation of the subsidiary “Otto Friedrich GmbH” subsidiary founded in Vienna, Austria. 1991 – Triplication of the production as a new production plant was built in Groß-Zimmern for warp knitted textiles worldwide.

1995 – First textiles for transfer printing are developed and offered. Monthly production: approximately 250 tons. 1997 – Subsidiary Sachsen-Masche Kändler KG founded in Limbach-Oberfrohna OT Kändler. Start of production at SMK 1998 – specialising in the production of linings for the clothing industry. 1999 – Introduction of the first textiles with own developed sublimation direct-printing coating, together with Company Ciba, CH under the trademark INKTeX+BC.

2000

2000 – New administration building and warehouse constructed in Groß-Zimmern, resulting in the triplication of the storage capacity for finished goods. 2001 – Monthly production surpasses 400 tons. 2003 – Development of the flame retardant direct finishing »INKTeX+FLBS together with DuPont, USA. 2004 – New production facility at Sachsen Masche constructed and put into operation, increasing capacity by 20%. 2004 – Monthly production exceeds 450 tons. 2004 – First developments of coated textiles for backlight (precursor of LUXX). 2006 – Main supplier of printed textiles for the 15th Asian Games in Doha (Qatar).

2010 – Launch of the RETeX+ RC product line, whose yarn is made exclusively from post-consumer PET bottles collected and recycled in the EU

2011 – New construction of a 4,500 m² yarn warehouse in Rudolf-Diesel Strasse, Groß-Zimmern. 2012 –Development and introduction of coated block-out applications, a world first. 2012 – Construction of a new yarn hall at the Waldstraße 73 production site. 2013 – Reaching a turnover of more than 50 million euro. 2013 – Expansion of the company’s own laboratory to create further opportunities for textile testing.  2014 – In September both factories produce more than 600 tons together. 2015 – Foundation and opening of the subsidiary “Gesellschaft für textile Ausrüstung mbH (GtA)” in Neresheim. 2016 – New warehouse was built in Groß-Zimmern, which is connected to the administration building. 2016 – GOF Industrial GmbH is founded, focussing on supplying the automotive industry with technical textiles. 2016 –The combined production volume at all three sites exceeds 680 tonnes, of which more than 400 tonnes of textiles are produced at the Groß-Zimmern site.

2017 – Honoured as ‘Company of the Year’ in the district of Darmstadt-Dieburg. 2018 – Startup of the world’s first 280″-warp knitting machine (working width 700cm) after years of development partnership with the machine manufacturer Karl Mayer. 2019 – Extending the capacity of production and possibility for widths of 540 cm at GtA. 2019 – Introduction of GOING GREEN by Friedrich, our commitment to environment and resources, start of cooperation with PLANT-MY-TREE® – continuous realisation of tree planting campaigns to support reforestation projects for CO₂ compensation throughout Germany.

2020

2020 – Opening two new warehouses in Portugal and Poland. 2020 – Membership of the SEAQUAL initiative and development of textiles made from upcycled marine plastic. 2023 – Further development of digital printing textiles, including through increased collaboration with ink and printer manufacturers, continuous expansion of sustainability initiatives in purchasing, production, energy management and recycling. 2024 –First return of printed and ready-made textiles for complete recycling as part of a closed textile cycle (textile-to-textile recycling). 2025 – Introduction of textiles made from certified yarn to reduce microplastic pollution (CiCLO®). 2025 – Introduction of fully recyclable polyester without microfilaments. 2025 – Expansion of partnerships for textile-to-textile recycling, company anniversary 75 years of Georg+Otto Friedrich GmbH