Packaging

SCHOTT Celebrates 125th Anniversary

Friday 30. January 2009 - The success story of a glass laboratory growing to become a technology company

SCHOTT, the technology group based in Mainz, Germany, is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. Since the company was first founded as a small glass laboratory in Jena, Germany, back in 1884, SCHOTT has grown to be a company known throughout the world for continually introducing specialized glasses and high-tech systems to the market that result in major advances in many areas of everyday life. At a press conference held in Jena, Professor Udo Ungeheuer, Chairman of the Board of Management of SCHOTT AG, gave an overview of the company’s history and presented its plans for anniversary activities.

The cooperation between the glass chemist Otto Schott, the physicist Ernst Abbe, as well as the optician and fine mechanic Carl Zeiss in the area of optical glass resulted in the founding of the “Schott & Associates Glass Technology Laboratory” in Jena in 1884. “It was truly a stroke of luck that brought the three ingenious brains Schott, Abbe and Zeiss together in Jena. Otto Schott not only laid the foundation for modern glass science and glass technology with his glass developments and new manufacturing methods, but also founded a completely new industry in the specialized glass industry,” Ungeheuer explained in recognizing the “glass doctor” and his life’s work.

Historic events, like World War I, World War II and Germany’s Reunification, each marked major turning points for SCHOTT. For example, the company essentially lost its international market positions during the two World Wars, due to the loss of strategic know-how. In addition, its management and select specialists were ordered to relocate to West Germany by the American Allied forces in 1945. When the main office in Jena was dispossessed and converted into a nationally owned enterprise in 1948, this “Odyssey of 41 Glassmakers” finally ended in Mainz in 1952. It was here, that Erich Schott initiated the new beginning for the specialized glass company of international stature on top of the ruins caused by war. At the beginning of the 1990s, SCHOTT capitalized on Germany’s Reunification by finally reuniting its two companies in Mainz and Jena.

“Despite these turbulent times, three important constants have continued to influence the development of SCHOTT: Technological expertise and the power of innovation, continuation of internationalization and assuming responsibility for our employees and society,” says Ungeheuer.

SCHOTT will be celebrating its 125th anniversary by holding two major anniversary events on June 27/28, 2009, in Mainz and on August 22, 2009, in Jena. “Here, the main focus will be on our employees, because they are the ones who have made the greatest contribution to the success of SCHOTT with their personal achievements and performances,” Ungeheuer explains.

Commensurate with its international focus, events to mark the anniversary will also take place in conjunction with customer events in the United States and Asia. For instance, the inauguration of the new solar manufacturing facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in May and the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the company’s first American manufacturing site in Duryea, Pennsylvania, in June will take place under the banner of the company anniversary. The company will also be inviting its Asian customers to anniversary events in Japan and China.

SCHOTT will be issuing two publications to commemorate its anniversary. The company just introduced its “Baedeker Travel guide SCHOTT” published in cooperation with the German publisher, Baedeker. This completely unique corporate publication features 125 attractions from all over the world in which specialized glasses from SCHOTT are in use.

Then, in the early summer, SCHOTT will be presenting a corporate chronicle that portrays its complete development from being a small glass laboratory to becoming an international technology group in great detail for the first time. This chronicle is not designed to be scientific in nature, but will rather be an interesting publication of high journalistic quality that addresses a broad readership.

The anniversary activities will be rounded off by financial support for select non-profit projects in Mainz and Jena. “Assuming social responsibility has always been an important element of our company culture. We therefore plan to emphasize this during anniversary year, as well” Ungeheuer says.