Schindlersches Blaufarbenwerk

Schindlersches Blaufarbenwerk, commonly known as Schindlerswerk, is a German specialty chemicals and pigments manufacturer based in Albernau, part of the municipality of Zschorlau in the Saxon Erzgebirge district. It was founded in 1649 by the Schneeberg merchant Erasmus Schindler, who acquired land on the Zwickauer Mulde river and obtained a privilege from Elector Johann Georg I of Saxony to build a blue-color mill. The company is today operated by Schindlerswerk GmbH & Co. KG and is described as a medium-sized, family-run business. It is probably the world's oldest still-producing paint factory, with a continuous tradition of manufacturing blue cobalt pigments and industrial color pigments. The company focuses on the development, production, and distribution of small- and medium-tonnage specialties, complemented by contract manufacturing (Lohnfertigung). Its product range has historically centered on blue cobalt pigments and ultramarine, and in more recent times has expanded to include various coating materials and, since 2015, laundry bluing (Wäscheblau). The firm emphasizes long-term partnerships and personal customer contact, drawing on nearly 400 years of experience in raw materials and processes. The historic Schindlersches Blaufarbenwerk site, located directly on the Zwickauer Mulde, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Montanregion Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří, inscribed in 2019 as a component of the Schneeberg mining landscape. It is the only privately owned site within that World Heritage property. A support association (Förderverein) was founded in August 2017 to preserve various buildings and develop museum use. The company remains active in pigment and specialty chemical production, combining a long historical legacy with modern industrial operations.

The Schindlersches Blaufarbenwerk was founded in 1649 by Erasmus Schindler, a merchant from Schneeberg. On 27 February 1649 he purchased a plot of land on the Zwickauer Mulde near Albernau to erect a blue-color works. On 4 May 1649 he received a privilege from Elector Johann Georg I of Saxony to build a blue-color mill. The name Blaufarbenwerk Schindlerswerk later derived from its founder. A workers' settlement grew around the site after the construction of a manor house and further smelting and production buildings. Schindler obtained the privilege under the same conditions as the Oehmesche Blaufarbenwerk, also founded in 1649, and the already existing blue-color works at Oberschlema and Niederpfannenstiel. On 11 September 1649 a new cobalt contract was concluded among the four blue-color works, regulating the quantity of cobalt delivered by the mines and fixing purchase prices. Elector Johann Georg I guaranteed that no further blue-color works would be permitted in the Electorate of Saxony. In 1659 the works agreed on uniform sales prices, and distribution was handled by a trading company with branches in Schneeberg and Leipzig. In 1751 Elector Friedrich August II acquired 2 2/9 Kuxe (shares) of the works. In 1851 three further Kuxe were transferred to the Saxon state treasury as compensation. On 1 March 1827 a flood destroyed parts of the works; further flooding of the site occurred on 23 March and 11/12 June 1827, and in February 1830. On 11 December 1848 the three blue-color works Schindler, Niederpfannenstiel, and Zschopenthal, which had fallen into crisis, founded the Sächsischer Privatblaufarbenwerks-Verein (Saxon Private Blue-Color Works Association). As a result, blue-color production was concentrated in Niederpfannenstiel. The works at Zschopenthal was closed in 1850, and in 1855 production of cobalt blue at the Schindlerswerk was discontinued in favor of synthetic ultramarine. In 1856 production resumed after the works was rebuilt, although until 1860 output was more of an experimental operation. The technology applied from 1860 caused the works' flue gases to be heavily laden with sulfurous acid, which within a relatively short time led to forest dieback in the surrounding area. Hans Karl August von Trebra-Lindenau, also affected, sued Schindlers Werk in 1863. Closure of the works could only be prevented by cleaning the flue gases. Clemens Winkler, who had worked as a smelting foreman at the Niederpfannenstiel blue-color works since 1862, took up the matter. Production at the works had meanwhile risen to 160 tons of ultramarine per year. After many failed attempts, Winkler succeeded in cleaning the flue gases. The applied method of absorption by limestone, which achieved a breakthrough in flue-gas cleaning in a large-scale trial in 1877, was patented by the Sächsischer Privatblaufarbenwerks-Verein on 20 October 1878. Ultramarine production had meanwhile risen to 250 tons per year. In the present day, the works is operated by Schindlerswerk GmbH & Co. KG and is probably the world's oldest still-producing paint factory. It is associated with a long tradition of producing blue cobalt pigments and the commercial manufacture of color pigments. In recent times production has been expanded to include various coating materials and, since 2015, again laundry bluing. The Blaufarbenwerk Schindlers Werk is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Montanregion Erzgebirge, and is the only privately owned site within it. In August 2017 a support association (Förderverein) was founded to look after the preservation of various buildings and their museum use.

• 2019

  Site becomes part of UNESCO World Heritage Montanregion Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří.

• 2017

  Förderverein (support association) founded in August for preservation and museum use.

• 2015

  Production expanded to include laundry bluing again.

• 1878

  Flue-gas cleaning method patented by the Sächsischer Privatblaufarbenwerks-Verein.

• 1877

  Clemens Winkler's flue-gas cleaning method achieves breakthrough in large-scale trial.

• 1863

  Hans Karl August von Trebra-Lindenau sues Schindlers Werk over flue-gas damage.

• 1856

  Production resumes after rebuilding of the works.

• 1855

  Production of cobalt blue at Schindlerswerk discontinued in favor of synthetic ultramarine.

• 1850

  Zschopenthal works closed.

• 1848

  Sächsischer Privatblaufarbenwerks-Verein founded by Schindler, Niederpfannenstiel, and Zschopenthal works.

• 1827

  Flood destroys parts of the works; further flooding occurs in 1827 and 1830.

• 1751

  Elector Friedrich August II acquires shares in the works.

• 1659

  Blue-color works agree on uniform sales prices; distribution handled by a trading company.

• 1649

  Erasmus Schindler purchases land and receives privilege to build a blue-color mill; founding of the works.

• 1649

  New cobalt contract concluded among the four Saxon blue-color works.

Medium-sized, family-run specialty manufacturer with nearly 400 years of experience; focused on small- and medium-tonnage specialties, long-term partnerships, and contract manufacturing.

• Blue cobalt pigments

• Ultramarine

• Industrial color pigments

• Coating materials

• Laundry bluing (Wäscheblau)

• Contract manufacturing (Lohnfertigung)

1. 1Kompetenz aus Tradition - Farben seit 1649 – Schindlerswerkschindlerswerk.com
2. 2Schindlersches Blaufarbenwerkde.wikipedia.org
3. 3Schindlersches Blaufarbenwerkwikidata.org