History - Griesser Group

By buying a workshop in Aadorf (Switzerland) in 1882, Anton Griesser laid the foundations for his company which is now steeped in tradition. The pioneering spirit and entrepreneurship of its founder has remained with the Griesser brand over time and they live on in its philosophy and products. Griesser has been a family-run company since it was founded and still retains its independence today.

Timeline of Griesser history

2021

Official groundbreaking for the new production building at the Möckern site

With a new production hall together with a cutting-edge powder coating facility, weinor is expanding its production capacities at the Möckern plant in Saxony-Anhalt. With this investment of between 12 and 13 million euros as well as machinery and setup costs, weinor will almost double its capacities in Möckern in the medium-term.

August 2021

Starting signal for a climate-friendly vehicle fleet

Griesser has set itself a major goal in terms of increased sustainability: By 2030, all 400 company vehicles will have been replaced by emission-free electric vehicles.

June 2021

New customer center in Lyon

After a construction phase lasting one year, Griesser opened a new customer center in Lyon (F).

2021

The first sustainable awning fabric collection: modern basics blue®

modern basics blue® is the first sustainable awning fabric collection for use outdoors, with the Tempotest® Starlight® blue solar shading fabric made from 85% recycled PET certified according to the Global Recycled Standard (GRS). In comparison to conventional awning fabrics made from Polyester, it boasts a considerably better environmental balance with regard to energy consumption, CO₂ emissions and water consumption. Since its roll-out, modern basics blue® has already won six product and design prizes.

June 2020

Development of production in Aadorf

Griesser AG is investing in its head office while replacing an old hall with a new construction. This will ensure more efficient production, in part thanks to a new powder coating facility.

CEO, Urs Neuhauser, and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Walter Strässle, laid the foundation stone for the new building.

2021

Rollout New Branding - Inspired by the Sun

Curtain up for "Inspired by the Sun.": From January 20, 2021, Griesser will present its new logo and brand identity. This marks the start of a new era for Griesser. The future of Griesser is sustainable and ambitious. With its new image, Griesser presents itself more sustainably, authentically and emotionally throughout Europe. The modernized logo is now reduced to its essential components. The new corporate color, a sunlit green, is mainly intended above all to create a high level of environmental awareness and a look to the future.

2020

Architect’s Darling: Gold for Griesser

Griesser has once again won the golden phoenix in the Swiss "Architects' Darling 2020" award. After winning in the sun and weather protection category in 2018, when the award was carried out for the first time, Griesser has once again been awarded the Golden Phoenix this year. The company was convincing in every respect.

2019 und 2021

Top Job award for outstanding employer qualities

weinor has twice been voted the most employee-friendly company in Germany. The Top-Job seal acknowledges the health- and performance-promoting workplace culture of the Cologne-based mid-size company.

2019

Management change at Griesser

After 28 years, Walter Strässle, the former CEO and co-owner, is handing over operational management of the Griesser brand to Urs Neuhauser. Following this operational change, the company will remain in family hands - Walter Strässle has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors as of May and will actively lead the strategic direction of the Griesser brand.

Urs Neuhauser has been responsible for various business units in the construction industry for the past seven years as a member of the Group Management of the Swiss company Jansen AG. He was responsible for building up new markets, strengthening businesses and implementing innovations. Urs Neuhauser will now contribute his experience as the new CEO of Griesser and continue to develop the brand.

2018

Presentation of the “cubic worlds” at the R+T trade fair

In 2018, at the R+T trade fair in Stuttgart, weinor presented its new products with their cubic design, and above all the Terrazza Pure glass patio roof and the Kubata patio awnings.

2018

Architects' Darling Swiss Edition 2018: Gold for Griesser

Griesser is delighted about the "Architects' Darling" Award in the sun protection category. On March 15, 2018, we received the Golden Phoenix at the award ceremony at Kaufleuten Zurich.

The winner was determined on the basis of a nationwide and independent survey of around 400 architects in Switzerland, who were able to choose their "favourite" from 82 construction product manufacturers in 20 categories.

2014

Construction of the new central site in Cologne with a large showroom

After two years of construction, weinor opened a new, prestigious building at its site in Cologne. In addition to the modern offices, the top-quality exhibition space covering more than 1,000 m² is a genuine highlight.

2014

Performance Award for pantograph shutter

Griesser is awarded the Innovation Prize for its folding pantograph shutter at the international Equip’Baie trade fair in Paris.

2012

Performance Award for Metalunic Sinus

Griesser received the performance award for the external venetian blind Metalunic Sinus at the international exhibition Equip'Baie in Paris.

2012

Takeover of A.S.T

Griesser has acquired the company A.S.T Alu-System-Technik (now Griesser AST GmbH), the European expert in aluminum shutters, with a factory in Nenzing.

2011

Event center for Griesser AG

In January 2011, Griesser AG inaugurated the event center in Aadorf. The new facility serves as both a showroom and an education center and is used for internal and external training in solar shading. The event center has capacity for 140 people.

2009

The SME Award 2009 is conferred to Griesser AG

FDP.The Liberals confers the SME Award on a regular basis. This year, it went to a company which is notably dedicated to energy efficiency and the environment.
Awareness among companies to invest in future-proof environmental and energy technology hasn’t only increased since energy prices started to rise. These days, any company that wants to enjoy economic success, can’t afford to ignore the environment. FDP.The Liberals Thurgau firmly believes that it’s possible to create improved environmental conditions without negatively impacting on economic wellbeing. It therefore used this year’s SME Award to target those companies which have an impressive commitment to energy efficiency and environmental issues.
Headed by Dr. Wolfgang Maute, the jury, which was made up of representatives from Thurgau-based businesses and from the FDP Thurgau party executive committee, agreed that this year’s SME Award would be conferred to Aadorf-based Griesser AG.
Griesser takes innovative spirit and quality very seriously. This is also the case when it comes to energy efficiency – right from the building shell and production process to the finished product. These aspects also helped the jury reach their decision.

since 2008

weinor awnings, patio roofs and glass oases have won a total of more than 30 product and design awards

Be it the Red Dot Award, the iF Design Award or the German Design Award, weinor products have been showered with design prizes in recent years – a clear indication of its design quality.

2008

Renovation of headquarters & CO2 reduction

The office building at Griesser headquarters is renovated and equipped with the latest technology and energy systems. A high level of energy efficiency is ensured and a key contribution to environmental protection made thanks to a special night cooling and air conditioning concept used in conjunction with the latest external venetian blinds.

2007

Subsidiary in Spain

The subsidiary “Griesser S.L. Persianas y Estores” is founded in La Pobla de Claramunt / Barcelona (Spain).

2007

Belt coating & CO2 reduction

CHF 5 million is invested in the new belt coating system. The plasma system, which is the only one of its kind in the world, is used to coat aluminum slats. This investment not only speeds up production fourfold, but also raises environmental protection levels by doing away with hexavalent chrome in cleaning.

2006

“Thurgauer Apfel” motivation award

Griesser is nominated by an independent jury to receive the “Thurgauer Apfel” motivation award. This award rewards excellent entrepreneurial accomplishments which extend beyond canton borders.

2005

Modern innovation center

Production rooms are converted into modern lofts. The innovation center is made available to the innovation team for blinds and rolling shutters and the control team of Griesser Electronic AG.

2003

weinor rolled out its patio roof product line

The weinor Terrazza glass patio roof distinguished itself through its elegant design and high level of resilience. Since 2003, the Terrazza family has grown considerably – for example in 2018, with the cubic Terrazza Pure and in 2020 with the timeless Terrazza Sempra.

2003

weinor e-shop founded

At an early stage, weinor’s trade partners had the opportunity to products relating to awnings, patio roofs and glass oases® online. Then as now, the weinor e-shop made ordering solar shading and weather protection products considerably easier.

2001

Awning production in Aadorf

A production hall for awnings is built at the plant in Aadorf (Switzerland). Efficient production becomes reality due to the company making up its own fabric for awnings (sun blinds). The aim is to implement shorter delivery deadlines for awning products.

1995

Powder coating machine

Production rooms are converted into modern lofts. The innovation center is made available to the innovation team for blinds and rolling shutters and the control team of Griesser Electronic AG.

1991

Griesser acquired a majority holding in weinor

Griesser Holding AG, the Swiss market leader for solar shading, acquired the majority holding in weinor. This gave rise to a strong, global partnership in the field of solar shading and weather protection.

1975

Innovation award for Rolpac

Griesser receives an innovation award at the international building exhibition, Batimat, in Paris, for inventing the “Rolpac” stackable shutter.

1975

Griesser buys Multronic Zürich AG

Griesser takes over Multronic Zürich AG (now Griesser Electronic AG), based in Dübendorf. The company is responsible for developing and producing blind controls and information and transmission systems.

1960

Founded in Cologne by Dieter Weiermann

Initially a small and inventive artisan business: In 1960, Dieter Weiermann founded a company in Cologne to assemble window ledges and curtain rails. Today, weinor is a market leader in northern Europe for solar shading and weather protection on patios.

1955

A heavy blow

During the night of 29/30 March, a major fire destroys a considerable part of the production plant in Aadorf. Thanks to a great deal of help from suppliers, Aadorf residents and competitors, production restarts a few days after the fire.

1949

First external venetian blinds with beaded slats

Production of the patented “Solomatic” external venetian blinds with beaded slats starts. The product has a unique operating mechanism to lower, raise and adjust the slats.

1928

Subsidiary in France

The “Manufacture de stores roulants Griesser et Cie” is founded with its own factory in Nice, France. Internally, the subsidiary is called “Griesser France”.

1928

Subsidiary in France

The “Manufacture de stores roulants Griesser et Cie” is founded with its own factory in Nice, France. Internally, the subsidiary is called “Griesser France”.

1924

Subsidiary in Italy

The subsidiary “Manifattura di Persiane Avvolgibili, Camerlata” is founded with its own factory in Camerlata-Como, Italy.

1920

Opening in Zurich

The first sales and assembly companies are founded in Switzerland. Branches are opened in Zurich (1920), in Basel and Lausanne (1931), in Berne (1938) and in Geneva (1943).

1882

Founding of Griesser

Anton Griesser buys a mill workshop in Aadorf and settles there as a young, self-employed craftsman with his wife, Marie Meier. Thanks to his never-tiring initiative, rolling shutters – which at this time were virtually unheard of – became more and more popular, both in Switzerland and abroad.

Griesser Holding AG
Tänikonerstrasse 3
8355 Aadorf
Schweiz

Tel 0848 888 111
info@griesser-group.com

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