Polifibra – A 40-Year ‘Polymeric Journey’

09.04.2024 - It’s 2024 and Limburg-based film specialist Polifibra, looking back at eventful four decades, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Originally founded to be a sales branch of Polifibra S.P.A. in Milan, Italy, the film company has developed into an independent as well as an important player on the European market for films. Today, besides sales and customizing film products, Polifibra focuses on the sustainable production of films and the development of new commodities. Particularly appreciate by the company’s customers are the innovative strength, high quality and reliability of delivery of the film specialist. Over the past four decades, the film market was subject to constant change and development. As a result products had to become ever smaller and more tailored, while production processes in recent years became increasingly sustainable and climate-friendly. Over the years Polifibra due to the company’s high-quality standards gained a reputation in the film industry and advanced to become an integral part of this niche sector.

The Early Years

The history of Polifibra Germany knows but one man – Klaus Jorkowski. Founder and still majority shareholder of Polifibra Folien Handelsgesellschaft mbh. At that time, when in a different role and working for another company he made contact with the Milan-based film manufacturer Polifibra S.P.A. At the time, the company mainly produced laminated films for the electronics and cable sector. Klaus Jorkowski quickly recognized the potential of these products in German-speaking countries. He resigned from his former position and, in co-operation with his Italian partners, founded a small sales subsidiary in December of 1983, now known as Polifibra GmbH. ‘It was more or less a cloak-and-dagger operation, but I felt good about it. I started my new job at the beginning of 1984,’ he says today and grins. What started out as a one-man show in an office in Dauborn developed into a growing success story during the years that followed. The mere distribution of composite and polyester films proved to be insufficient therefore, the customization of films was quickly added, requiring new premises and employees.

The Path of Growth

In 1986, Polifibra initially rented office space in the Limburg district of Eschhofen, before in 1990 the opportunity arose to acquire, with the help of the parent company in Milan, the current site in the Limburg suburb of Lindenholzhausen. The first major milestone in the company’s history and enabler of further continuous growth.
In 1992, now with a staff of 10, the strategic decision was made to develop and produce technical films for industrial applications in addition to the electronics and cable market. Such are still pillars of Polifibra today, with electronics and industrial applications currently accounting for a significantly higher proportion of business than the cable segment. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Polifibra continued to develop steadily and was also able to brave emerging competition on the film market coming out of China. New innovative products led to new customers being acquired and the company’s position on the European film market was further strengthened.

Independence

However, in 2009 – in the wake of the financial crisis – the Italian parent company Polifibra S.P.A. went bankrupt, which led to consequences for the branch in Germany. However, Managing Director Klaus Jorkowski recognized this crisis for what it was: An opportunity. He bought up the Italian shares and then became the sole shareholder of financially sound Polifibra Germany. With a great deal of passion, commitment and enthusiasm, he managed to lead the company to be independent of its former parent company. With the support of his team, he established important contacts in the industry, found new suppliers and further diversified the company’s orientation. ‘It was a very exciting but also exhausting time back then, which finally ended in 2012 when insolvency proceedings of the parent company were finalized. From then on out, we were independent in every way and were now able to make our own decisions,’ states Klaus Jorkowski when looking back. With the network in place, which also includes suppliers from East Asia, and the new independence, Polifibra entered calmer waters and proceeded.

Change of Leadership

Essential to Polifibra’s corporate philosophy has always been the look to the future. This is also evident in the company’s recent history, as Managing Director Klaus Jorkowski stepped down to make way for Andreas Spahn in 2018. The change in management, which took place seamlessly and in accord (Klaus Jorkowski is to this day still the company’s most important advisor), certainly marks another important milestone in the company’s history, along with further realignment of Polifibra. ‘We wished to become even more independent and react to needs relevant at the time, and so the idea of plasma production was born. We finally managed to find a suitable machine that works within our specifications and with which we’re able to produce sustainably and environmentally friendly,’ says Andreas Spahn. Polifibra’s main business is still the manufacture and supply of films. However, the Limburg film specialist, with the only plasma production machine in Germany to date, has now and in close co-operation with research institutes set a new benchmark in the film industry. With a new, more efficient cutting machine and the implementation of a photovoltaic system on production and warehouse, further sustainable investments have been made in the recent past, which is also aimed at steadily improving the company’s carbon footprint.

With currently 16 employees and an annual turnover of 6 million euros, Polifibra Folien Handelsgesellschaft mbh is in the year of its 40th anniversary a healthy and competitive company. From a one-man show in 1984, Polifibra has grown into a diverse and innovative specialist for and developer of films to become an important supplier and point of contact for its customers in large-scale industry. With diligence and focused on the future, the next 40 years in the film industry should be guaranteed.

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