Quality since 1872 - Optibelt history

Time travel through our company's history

Over 150 years of tradition and innovation

More than 150 years ago, in 1872, Emil Arntz founded the "Höxtersche Gummifädenfabrik". Today known as the Arntz Optibelt Group, we are still a family-owned company. Our headquarters have been and still are located in Höxter from the very beginning - and the group of companies is still owned by the descendants of its founder. Over the decades, we have steadily driven the company's development, including the production of V-belts from 1948.

Today, we are one of the world's leading manufacturers of drive solutions - with the great-great-grandson of our founder, Konrad Ummen, as one of our managing directors. And our more than 2,300 employees are also part of the Optibelt family. Together, we are thinking about the future of our company so that we can continue to successfully pass it on generation after generation and develop it sustainably.

Thinking in generations

Son

1866 - 1934

Richard Arntz

Managing director from 1909 to 1929

After the death of his father Emil, Richard Arntz takes over the management of the company in 1909. By traveling to almost every country in the world, he steadily expands the customer base.

Grandson

1888 - 1970

Paul Khulo

Managing director from 1929 to 1959

In 1929, Paul Kuhlo, grandson of Emil Arntz, takes over the management of the company. In 1958, he is awarded the Federal Cross of Merit 1st Class for his many charitable activities.

Great-Grandson

1931 - 2012

Arnulf Ummen

Managing director from 1959 to 2004

In 1959, the great-grandson of the company founder, Arnulf Ummen, took over the management of the company for 45 years. He focuses on global expansion and turns the Höxter rubber thread factory into an internationally operating company under the name Arntz OPTIBELT KG.

Great-Great-Grandson

Konrad Ummen

Managing director since 2004

When Arnulf Ummen retired for reasons of age, his son Konrad Ummen became a member of the management board. Konrad Ummen has worked for the company since 1995 and has played a key role in establishing the Far East sales area.

Father

1831 – 1909

Emil Arntz

Founder & Managing Director from 1872 to 1909

Emil Arntz begins manufacturing rubber threads in 1872. His first customers are the textile companies in his home town of Wuppertal. Emil Arntz personally managed the Höxtersche Gummifädenfabrik until his death in 1909.

1948: Start of V-belt production

A milestone in 1948: As the demand for rubber threads and toothed rubber was very low after the end of the war, the then Managing Director Paul Kuhlo was convinced that the production of V-belts offered a more secure economic basis for the future. When the production license was granted in 1948, the V-belt production began under the name "Optibelt".

With its rise to become one of the leading V-belt manufacturers in Germany, Höxtersche Gummifädenfabrik became a prime example of the German economic miracle in the 1950s.

Our products over the course of time

Observing the market, recognizing opportunities. In addition, the ability not to cling to the status quo, but to constantly develop good things further. Above all, having the courage to break new ground or reinvent yourself. Exactly when the time is right. These skills have ensured our survival even in turbulent times and have made Optibelt great. Our products through the ages tell this success story in their very own way.

1872

It all began - as the company name "Höxtersche Gummifädenfabrik" at the time suggests - with the production of rubber threads for the textile industry.

1875

Over the next few years, molded rubber articles were added to the product range: brake pads for carriages, pedal blocks for bicycles, doormats, soccer bladders, ice bags, hot water bottles, suction discs for dentures and air and water cushions.

Also in the range: rubberized fabrics for the manufacture of aprons, miners' suits and bed pads.

1880 - 1955

From 1880, dental rubber for prostheses was also produced, from 1920 under the name "Elephant". This product remained in the range until 1955 and was sold throughout Europe.

1947

After the Second World War, Höxtersche Gummifädenfabrik reinvents itself: the raw material "rubber" is retained, but a completely new product is added to the portfolio: the V-belt.

1950er

Under the name OPTIBELT, the V-belt made in Höxter quickly becomes a trademark in the industry. It is initially used primarily in industry, agriculture and automotive sector.

ab 1960

With the continuously increasing demand for V-belts, the product range is constantly expanded and adapted to new markets. The individual fabrication process developed by Optibelt provides the technological basis for this.

2000

optibelt RED POWER

2015

optibelt DELTA CHAIN

2021

optibelt BLUE POWER 2

2023

optibelt OMEGA HIGH LOAD & optibelt OMEGA HIGH POWER

1997

Zahnriemen aus Gummi

1991

Zahnriemen aus PU

Our logo over the course of time

The exterior view of Höxtersche Gummifädenfarbrik is the first known company logo. It adorned letterheads, price lists and product catalogs. From the mid-1920s, the Elephant seal can also be found on product brochures in conjunction with the company name. From 1952, we used the cross-sectional view of a V-belt together with the term optibelt for the first time. Just as our company has continued to develop dynamically, our image has also undergone moderate but constant change. In the course of the introduction of our new brand concept, the face of our logo changed again in 2012.

Arntz Optibelt Group