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

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.

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.