History

1872. Anton Müller from Zwiesel, using his parents’ estate, founds “Annathal” a commercial glassworks foundary. The oririginal plant takes up an area of 900 square metres. The first delivery of tabletop glassware, consisting of 10 crates, is despatched on 5th December 1872.

1884. Anton Müller sells the glassworks to Theodor and Gustav Tasche from Cologne. The works are renamed“Zwieseler Farbenglashütte Gebrüder Tasche” and are called “Tasche Hütte” by the locals.

1897. Gustav Tasche registers a patent for an improved cooling oven with the Imperial Patent Office.

1898. The “Tasche-Hütte” becomes a public company valued at 521,000 Reich Marks. Gustav Tasche acts as the company’s first chairman.

1912. The public company acquires a 55 per cent stake in the Austro- Hungarian Tafel- und Farbenglaswerke GmbH glassworks in Zuckmantel and constructs a new factory.

1914-1921. The company falls into decline as a result of the war. Due to the impact of a blocade and then reparations the “Vereinigte Farbenglaswerke” closes periodically.

1924. The Zwiesel glassworks which form part of the “Vereinigte Farbenglaswerke” commence production of their first drinking glasses.

1927. The core business manufacturing glass for industrial and construction applications begins to fail during a period of hyper-inflation. In its search for partners, the company discovers the Jena-based glassworks “Schott & Gen.”, established in 1884, which initially procures a majority stake and, in the years which follow, almost becomes the company’s sole owner.

1945. After the Second World War the works in Pirna and Zuckmantel are lost, along with the Head Office of „Schott & Gen.“ at the Jena glassworks. When 41 managers are withdrawn from Jena by the Americans, the opportunity arises to make a new start.

1952. The Jena glassworks’ new head office is established in Mainz under the name of “Schott”.

1961. In Zwiesel the company successfully introduces the first fully automated production line for glass stemware, to meet the growing demands of the catering trade.

1962. Excellent sales volumes prompt an increase in capacity. The first Bauhaus designed catering suite of glasses by the name of “Neckar” is launched.

1970. “Melodia”, the first machine-blown lead crystal glass, after a design by Wilhelm Kuchler, enters full-scale production.

1971. In compliance with its newly formulated task to focus on consumer goods within the Schott Group, the glassworks in Zwiesel take on the distribution of kitchenware under the traditional “Jenaer Glas” brand and are renamed “Schott Zwiesel Glaswerke AG”.

1973. Construction work begins on the new “Regenwiese” works, comprising a manufacturing unit and commissioning warehouse with a rail link.

1978. Environmental regulations trigger expansion and modernisation measures.

1984. Large items such as vases and dishes are machine-made for the first time.

1985. The successful drinking glass series “Excelsior” goes into production and the three-hundred-millionth “Neckar” glass is made, earning a place in the Guinness Book of Records.

1991. Environmental considerations lead Zwiesel to discontinue production with lead crystal. In cooperation with Schott Research a new, high-quality crystal glass is developed without the use of lead oxide.

1997. Schott Zwiesel celebrates its 125th anniversary. A second glassworks is established at Husinec in the Czech Republic.

1999. At the Frankfurt spring fair the “Diva” range of drinking glass and the “Millennium” collection are unveiled and soon prove extremely successful.

2001. The Table Top Alliance GmbH - formerly Table Top Alliance AG - based in Zwiesel acquires a majority stake in Schott Zwiesel AG.

2002. Tritan - internationally patented – the brilliant, dishwasher and break resistant glass of the professional

A quantum leap in crystal glass. After long years of intensive research and development, in collaboration with the University of Erlangen, Schott Zwiesel has succeeded in creating a new type of crystal glass. The use of unique ingredients combined with an advanced manufacturing process, has created an incredibly pure crystal glass. The foundation of Schott Zwiesel’s own sales and marketing firms abroad paves the way for the company’s international expansion. New sales and marketing firms are set up in Sweden and Spain.

2003.The production capacities in Zwiesel are expanded again, another sales and marketing firm is established in Japan.

2004. International growth is stepped up as additional sales and marketing firms are founded in the major markets of the USA and China.

2005. Changing the company’s name from Schott Zwiesel AG into Zwiesel Kristallglas AG, the enterprise demonstrates its regional solidarity and strengthen its corporate identity.