Erfenbach honors industrialist Adrian Pletsch: A legacy of spinning!

Erfenbach honors industrialist Adrian Pletsch: A legacy of spinning!

In Erfenbach, a district of Kaiserslautern, the traces of the industrial pioneer Adrian Pletsch are unmistakable. The native of Kaiserslautern, who lived from 1801 to 1902, not only worked as an industrialist, but also temporarily served as mayor of Kaiserslautern. Not only is a street name in Erfenbach reminiscent of him, but also the traditional one Lampertsmühle spinning mill, which plays a central role in the regional industrial history.

How Lampertsmühle came to be has its roots in 1833, when Pletsch acquired a ruined mill and rebuilt it into an estate. In the following years, numerous renovations and new buildings were realized, which formed the basis of the later spinning mill. This is particularly noticeable between 1836 and 1839, when a new grain mill was built, which fell victim to a fire in 1852. The sale led to the founding of the “Lampertsmühle Cotton Spinning and Weaving Mill” on the remains of the mill, which was first recorded in the Kaiserslautern address and business manual in 1890. Textile production slowly took shape and continued to this day, despite many challenges.

History of textile production

The Lampertsmühle continued to develop and was able to optimize its production by using the water power of the Lauter. In 1861 there were already 11,840 spindles and 236 workers. It was an ups and down that led the company through various crises and economic changes. In 1945, after the destruction caused by the invasion of American troops, the mill still employed 715 people, and by 1954 the number had risen to over 1,000.

Over time, the company adapted to the changing market conditions. The closure of the weaving mill in 1963 was a hard blow, but the reorientation to synthetic yarns brought new life. In 1966, under the management of Jung, the spinning mill finally traded as “Spinnerei Lampertsmühle AG”. Even in the new millennium, Lampertsmühle remains strong: Today the group of companies employs 600 people at two locations and supplies customers in over 40 countries, making the mill one of the market leaders in the specialty yarn sector.

Industrial roots

A look at the development of the textile industry in Germany shows that the Lampertsmühle spinning mill is part of a much larger historical context. Similar to East Germany, the textile industry was often the foundation for economic prosperity in the Kaiserslautern region. The introduction of mechanical machines and the development of branded products have permanently changed the landscape of the industry, such as Industrial culture East shows.

In a region heavily influenced by textile production, the history of the Lampertsmühle shows how important it is to preserve traditions while facing the challenges of the modern economy. Adrian Pletsch, who left his mark in Erfenbach, not only becomes a symbol of a bygone era, but also a role model for a future-oriented industry. This mix of innovation and preservation will continue to be crucial in strengthening Kaiserslautern as a business location.