WALL-TO-WALL STYLE Marburg Wallcoverings is a global leader in the design and manufacture of designer and innovative wallcoverings. Philip Yorke talked to Ullrich Eitel, the company’s managing director, about its latest designer products and move into new markets.
M
arburg Wallcoverings was first established in Marburg, Germany in 1845 and remains a privately owned company, which is managed by the fifth generation of the same family to this day. The company was founded by Johann Bertram Schaefer, who opened a speciality retail outlet for interior décor and after its initial success commenced the manufacture of wallpaper in 1879. As a true pioneer in his industry, Johann Konrad Schaefer produced one of the world’s first collection of wallpapers with matching fabrics in 1889. Since then the company has continued to build on its innovative legacy by constantly developing new, specialised wallcoverings and launching new designer collections.
The company continues to focus on its core competences which has seen it set the standards throughout the wallcoverings industry. Marburg is recognised for such ground-breaking market innovations as its invention of the original, ‘free-repeat’ print process, patented in 1956, the invention of the warp thread textile wallcovering and the first relief print of expanded vinyl. Other industry accolades include Marburg’s patented ‘Isostrip’ brand, a flame-resistant heat insulating wallcovering, and Demotex, the world’s first heat-embossed textile wallcovering. This industry ‘firsts’ culminated in a new ‘world innovation’ in 2003 with the company’s launch of Art Tec, a unique wallcovering
with lighting elements and an impact resistant wallcovering of non-woven material for painting. Today, premium collections from some of the world’s best-known designers complete the picture of innovation and style that is associated with Marburg.
Setting the trends As a leader in its field, Marburg has always stayed several steps ahead of its competitors through a combination of good design sense and being aware of the trends in the industry. In many ways Marburg is able to set the trends through its launch of special designer wallcoverings contributed by some of the world’s best-known designers.
