Austrian Envelope Industry

Österreichische Kuvertindustrie Ges.m.b.H. (ÖKI) is an Austrian manufacturer of envelopes, mailing bags and packaging solutions, headquartered in Hirm in the Burgenland region. Founded in 1857 in Vienna by David Rudolf Pollak, it is described as the oldest envelope factory in Austria. The company has operated under various names, most notably Myrtle Mill, before adopting its current name through a series of mergers in the late 20th century. Today ÖKI produces its entire range at its Hirm facility, employing over 70 people in three-shift operation. The company offers a broad portfolio of stock envelopes (around 300 items available for delivery within Austria within 24 hours), custom-made envelopes, printing services on finished goods, and packaging solutions for industry, office and specialist retail. ÖKI positions itself as a full-service provider, offering creative consulting, in-house printing (flexographic printing up to 4 spot colours), and customer warehousing. Its product lines include ÖKI Classic, ÖKI Natur, ÖKI Pro, ÖKI Prime, ÖKI Spezial, ÖKI Verpackung and ÖKI Individual. The company serves customers in Austria and beyond, emphasizing reliability, sustainability, speed and customisation.

The company was founded in 1857 in Vienna by David Rudolf Pollak as a manufacturer of envelopes, which until then had been imported from abroad. According to company tradition, the founder initially made envelopes by hand until he brought the first envelope machine to Vienna in 1865. Together with his sons Friedrich and Alois, he successfully competed against foreign competition and even exported to 'all civilized parts of the world'. In 1867, Friedrich Pollak had the revolutionary idea of producing stationery sets, i.e., cutting paper and envelopes from the same paper and offering them in boxes. This marked the beginning of a boom in paper confectionery. The founder's sons became imperial councillors and commercial councillors, and the company, registered as D.R. Pollak & Söhne Wien, was praised for its modern social facilities in 1891. The company moved its headquarters from Obere Donaustraße 93 to Myrthengasse 13 in 1874. The name Myrtle Mill derived from Myrthengasse. The Pollak family reportedly owned three factories: in Vienna, Prague and Zagreb, distinguished by the street name combined with 'Mill'. After Austria's annexation in 1938, the family's 80-year leadership ended. After the war, Myrtle Mill – Frank Polk & Co. was taken over again by family members. With almost 60 employees, they produced school notebooks and envelopes for the Russian occupation forces. By the 100th anniversary in 1957, Myrtle Mill had become a leading factory for business books, office supplies and envelope products. After Frank Pollak died in a car accident, his widow sold Myrtle Mill in 1964 to a financial investor who shaped the company group until 1998. In 1972, production moved to Neufeld an der Leitha in Burgenland due to lack of space in Vienna. In 1976, two important acquisitions followed: Robert Volk (formerly Theyer & Hardtmuth Margaret Mill) and envelope factory Heinrich Richter. The head office moved to Kirchstettnergasse 6 in Vienna. Other acquisitions included Heinrich Sachs (1965), KARAT lighters and albums, ESCO J. Sturz & Co wire staples, and Hans Chmela Vindobona. In 1980, the acquisition of Eduard Smola led to the formation of Österreichische Kuvertindustrie Myrtle Mill Smola GesmbH, which doubled the company's size. Later, the last major merger with Roja Mill-Malek Kuvertfabriken GesmbH created today's ÖKI. Due to capacity constraints in Neufeld, production was relocated to Hirm in 1989. The opening of Eastern Europe brought new opportunities. Today, ÖKI operates a modern high-performance machine park in Hirm, employs over 70 people in three shifts, and offers a wide range of envelopes, mailing bags and packaging solutions, along with services such as creative consulting, in-house printing and customer warehousing.

• 1989

  Production relocated to Hirm, Burgenland.

• 1980

  Acquisition of Eduard Smola; formation of Österreichische Kuvertindustrie Myrtle Mill Smola GesmbH.

• 1976

  Acquisitions of Robert Volk and Heinrich Richter; head office moves to Kirchstettnergasse 6, Vienna.

• 1972

  Production moves to Neufeld an der Leitha, Burgenland.

• 1965

  Acquisition of Heinrich Sachs.

• 1964

  Sold to a financial investor after Frank Pollak's death.

• 1957

  100th anniversary; Myrtle Mill is a leading factory.

• 1938

  Family leadership ends after Austria's annexation.

• 1891

  Company praised for modern social facilities.

• 1874

  Headquarters moved to Myrthengasse 13, Vienna.

• 1867

  Friedrich Pollak introduces stationery sets (paper and envelopes from same paper).

• 1865

  First envelope machine brought to Vienna.

• 1857

  Founded in Vienna by David Rudolf Pollak.

Full-service provider of envelopes and packaging, combining tradition with innovation, offering stock, custom and printed solutions with in-house printing and warehousing.

• ÖKI Classic

  Reliable standard envelopes.

• ÖKI Natur

  Sustainable envelope line.

• ÖKI Pro

  Fast processing envelopes.

• ÖKI Prime

  Premium envelopes.

• ÖKI Spezial

  Special attention envelopes.

• ÖKI Verpackung

  Packaging solutions for industry, office and retail.

• ÖKI Individual

  Custom-made envelopes and mailing bags.

1. 1ÖKI | Österreichische Kuvertindustrie GmbHoeki.at
2. 2Services | ÖKIoeki.at
3. 3Österreichische Kuvertindustriewikidata.org
4. 4Österreichische Kuvertindustriede.wikipedia.org