AMANN – The company history
1854: The Bönnigheim sewing thread factory opens its doors
Bönnigheim, 1854: Alois Amann and Immanuel Böhringer founded the Amann & Böhringer company “for the purpose of manufacturing twisted and dyed silk threads”.
Silk in the 19th century was a precious material and difficult to obtain. Professionally processing it into silk threads was considered a supreme discipline.
Amann and Böhringer were pioneers in Europe of an exacting art that had few imitators at the time.
1854 – 1880: Between sweat and growth – the founding years
In 1879, the young company celebrated its 25th anniversary. It had now become established as “the leading company among the German silk thread-makers”. However, it was a long journey to get there. In its early days, Amann & Böhringer employed 12 female silk twisters, two wheel operators, as well as several donkeys and oxen that provided the power to drive the machinery.
1880 – 1900: A name goes down in history
In 1882, Immanuel Böhringer leaves the company. Alois Amann increasingly involves his sons Emil and Alfred in the management of the business. He remains the sole owner of the company until his death in 1892.
1900 – 1920: A new factory for a new century
At the beginning of the 20th century, Amann & Söhne made a new start too: the old factory building was demolished in 1902 to make way for a new factory on the same site. The red-brick building still serves as the company’s headquarters today.
Changes were underway inside the building as well: Emil and Alfred Amann were jointly running the company, and realised early on that market demands were changing. In response, they began to produce artificial silk. In 1917, Emil Amann retired from the company.
1920 – 1940: New production methods
In 1919, in a characteristic and defining move, Amann & Söhne started to manufacture schappe silk. In 1923, production was expanded to include mercerised cotton. Both remain typical manufacturing methods in sewing thread production to this day.
1940 – 1954: Change in leadership and reconstruction
In 1942, Alfred Amann passed away at the age of 78. Over many decades, he had played a key role in shaping the company’s development.
In 1930, his daughter Ilse had married Alfred Pielenz, a businessman from Heilbronn, who took over the management of the company following his father-in-law’s death.
The following years were marked by considerable economic challenges. Despite difficult conditions, limited access to raw materials, and import and logistics problems, the company succeeded in returning production to pre-war levels within a short period after the end of the Second World War.
1954: 100 years of AMANN
The company celebrated its centenary in 1954.
1955: Pioneering work in synthetic threads
As a trailblazer in a leading position, AMANN perfected the development and production of continuous filament synthetic sewing threads. The Serafil brand was born. To this day, its name represents unique quality.
1955 – 1968: Market launch of saba
A new era in synthetic sewing threads begins: thanks to intense research and development work, the 1950s and 1960s were a defining period that culminated with the launch of saba in 1968. With its characteristic and innovative three-cylinder construction, the age of innovative synthetic sewing threads had begun.
1968: Hanns A. Pielenz – A visionary entrepreneur
In 1968, Hanns A. Pielenz became the fourth generation to take responsibility for the family business AMANN.
For more than 35 years, he shaped its development with entrepreneurial foresight, a spirit of innovation and strong personal commitment.
Hanns A. Pielenz drove international expansion – initially into Ireland and later into Asia – and laid important foundations for the future. Other significant milestones include the acquisition of Ackermann-Göggingen in 1994 and the establishment of the fully automated central warehouse in Erligheim in 1996.
By establishing the Hanns A. Pielenz Foundation in 2005, he also demonstrated his commitment to long-term corporate and social responsibility.
1974 – 1980: Rapid growth and inventive spirit
The successful development of Rasant began in 1974 with the first polyester/cotton core-spun thread of its kind.
The innovative spirit continued, as once again AMANN broke new ground in sewing thread technology. sabac is the brand name of the polyester/polyester core-spun thread that has become established in the market since 1980 as “the all-rounder among all sewing threads”.
1980 – 2000: Preparing for the new millennium
Success must continue – into the new millennium, too. AMANN set the course at the end of the 20th century by acquiring the long-established Augsburg company Ackermann-Göggingen AG in 1994, together with its state-of-the-art dyehouse. AMANN therefore gained additional expertise in embroidery threads.
In 1996, all logistics processes were professionalised with the inauguration of the fully automated industrial central warehouse at Erligheim, close to Bönnigheim. This confirmed AMANN’s status as one of the world’s biggest sewing thread manufacturers.
2000 – 2004: Internationalisation and technological advancement
In 2001 and 2002, AMANN acquired the long-established British firm Donisthorpe, and the French sewing thread manufacturer Cousin Filterie.
techX Performance Threads, a new speciality range for technical textiles, was successfully launched a short time later, in 2002. It creates a whole new spectrum of possibilities for many different industries. New standards in underwear, sportswear and swimwear have been set since 2003 with the market launch of Sabaflex, an extremely elastic sewing thread.
2004 – 2013: Expansion to other countries
In 2006, a new production facility opened near the Romanian town of Brasov. Launched that same year, the new braided thread line Serabraid promises new dimensions in expressive design. AMANN continues to develop its expertise in the automotive field, and has increased its impact in the international sector with the acquisition of long-established British firm Oxley Thread Ltd., one of the best-known sewing thread manufacturers in Europe.
Expansion in the Asian market: with the opening in 2009 of its first production site in Asia, in the Chinese city of Yancheng, AMANN has improved product availability and customer service in the Asian region.
In 2013, AMANN expanded into Bangladesh. A new state-of-the-art production facility was inaugurated near the capital city, Dhaka.
2013 – 2019: Focus on innovation and expansion
In 2014, AMANN launches Sabasoft, an extremely soft sewing thread that combines performance and softness for the first time.
To develop innovative solutions and concepts for sewing threads, embroidery threads and smart yarns is the goal of the AMANN Innovation Lab, which opened in 2017. This textile development hotbed at the Augsburg site carries out intensive research and development activities.
AMANN's Road to Zero - in 2018, the new water-repellent WRe finish is launched. It is even more environmentally friendly than the conventional WR finish, as it does not contain any PFC.
In the Vietnamese coastal city Đà Nẵng AMANN opens its third production site in Asia in 2019. The new plant will produce 2,300 tons of sewing thread per year.
In 2019, AMANN also joins the UN Global Compact and publishes its first Sustainability Report.
2020 – today: Closer to Markets. Focused on Innovation.
In the beginning of 2020, AMANN launches its new sustainable product range. In 2021 AMANN launches Basalt-tech, a sewing thread that is made from basalt stone.
In 2022, the long-standing AMANN CEO Bodo Bölzle retires. In the same year, AMANN launches Outdoor-Pro, a sewing thread that is specially developed to withstand all weather conditions.
In 2024, the AMANN India production site in Ranipet, Tamil Nadu begins to produce its first threads for the market. In April 2026, the AMANN Group received the Texprocess Innovation Award for AeoniQ™ Fil, and in November, a new Representative Office was opened in Sri Lanka to be even closer to customers.
