Sefar Inc.

History

Jun 29, 2020
The family-owned company Sefar looks back on a 190-year-old, eventful history.
 
1830 – The start
 
H. Bodmer hires Pierre A. Dufour to start producing silk bolting cloth for the sieving of flour.
In 1833 P.A. Dufour starts his own company in Thal (Dufour & Co). First business trip of P.A. Dufour to the United States in 1835.
In the next decades, the company employs up to 700 weavers.
 
 
 
 
1842 – Turning point
 
Death of Pierre A. Dufour. His wife Anna Joséphine Dufour-Onofrio takes over the leadership of Dufour & Co.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1850 to 1899 – Boom years
 
Rival weaving firms are being founded in Zurich and Eastern Switzerland.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1900 – First subsidiary
 
First subsidiary of Dufour & Co. founded in New York.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1907 – A wise step
 
Union between 6 Swiss manufacturers, grouping into one company and operating in two entities:
Schweiz. Seidengazefabrik, Thal (SST)
Schweiz. Seidengazefabrik, Zürich (SSZ)
 
 
 
 
1911 – Expansion of production
Weaving plant (Fabrique Lyonnaise de Soies à Bluter) opened in France.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1912 – Strong group complete
 
Züricher Beuteltuchfabrik (ZBF) joins the union. The union dominates the world market for silk bolting cloth.
Although a single legal entity, SSZ, SST and ZBF operate separately on the market.
 
 
 
 
 
1930 – Quantum leap 1
 
Hand-operated looms are gradually replaced by mechanical weaving machines.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1950 – Quantum leap 2
 
Synthetic yarn replaces silk.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1965 – Monofilaments in filtration
 
Silk has been continuously replaced by synthetic yarn.
Introduction of synthetic monofilament mesh for filtration applications
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1995 – Market orientation
 
SST, SSZ and ZBF merge to form Sefar, subdivided into 2 divisions:
Screen Printing & Filtration
The name Sefar derives from 'SEiden-FAbrikanten Réunion'.
The presence in Asia Pacific is being reinforced with subsidiaries in Thailand and Singapore.
 
 
 
 
1997 – Production in Asia
 
Weaving plant opened in Kabinburi / Thailand
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1998 ff. – Growth continues
 
Worldwide expansion by acquiring local distributors and by establishing subsidiaries
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Today – More production yet
 
Weaving plant opened in Sighisoara, Romania.
Expansion of weaving plant in Kabinburi, Thailand.

 


Source: https://www.sefar.us/en/580/History.htm

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