{"id":3107,"date":"2024-09-29T11:59:16","date_gmt":"2024-09-29T09:59:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.elka-holzwerke.de\/about-elka\/company-history\/"},"modified":"2025-12-28T15:51:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-28T14:51:30","slug":"company-history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.elka-holzwerke.de\/en\/about-us\/company-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Company history"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

Wood in the 4th generation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

History<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

Wood in the fourth generation<\/h2>\n\n
\n
<\/svg><\/div>
1880<\/div>

<\/h4>

\"\"\/Company founder Ludwig Kuntz was born in 1880 as the son of timber merchant Karl Kuntz in Neuhemsbach in the Palatinate. He spent his childhood and youth in Homburg in the Saarland, as well as his training in woodworking, which he completed in his father’s company. <\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1880<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
<\/svg><\/div>
1903<\/div>

<\/h4>

In 1903, the opportunity arose to lease and expand a timber business in Kirn an der Nahe, which gave Ludwig the chance to stand on his own two feet – he was 23 years old at the time.<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1903<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
<\/svg><\/div>
1906<\/div>

<\/h4>

On November 12, 1906, the company \u201cLudwig Kuntz, Dampfs\u00e4gewerk und Holzhandlung in Kirn\u201d was entered in the commercial register for the first time.<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1906<\/div><\/article>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
\n
<\/svg><\/div>
1908<\/div>

<\/h4>

Auf der Suche nach einem neuen Holzeinzuggebiet mit guter Verkehrsanbindung fiel die Wahl auf\u00a0Morbach im Hunsr\u00fcck<\/a>. Hier war Schnitt- und Kreuzungspunkt wichtiger Verkehrsstra\u00dfen und es gab mit der neuen Hunsr\u00fcckquerbahn einen Anschluss ans Schienennetz.Die ausgedehnten Waldgebiete um Morbach waren durch ein vorbildliches Wegenetz sehr gut f\u00fcr den Holzabtransport erschlossen, ein Verdienst des fortschrittlichen Regierungs- und Forstrates Otto Kaiser.<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1908<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
<\/svg><\/div>

<\/h4>

The Ludwig Kuntz sawmill in Morbach began production on August 1, 1908. The company has remained loyal to this location to this day. <\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/article>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
\n
<\/svg><\/div>
1933<\/div>

<\/h4>

In Sohren, a disused sawmill was purchased by the local community and the third site was established.<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1933<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
<\/svg><\/div>
1936<\/div>

<\/h4>

Ludwig Kuntz II (known as Luddy) became managing director of all plants after the death of his father.<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1936<\/div><\/article>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
\n
<\/svg><\/div>
1947<\/div>

<\/h4>

The first works council was founded.<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1947<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
<\/svg><\/div>
1950<\/div>

<\/h4>

Production at the Kirn plant is supplemented with new products due to rising demand during the economic miracle. Windows, doors, parquet flooring and blockboards. \"\"<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1950<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
<\/svg><\/div>
1959<\/div>

<\/h4>

Nach dem Wegfall des eintr\u00e4glichen Grubenholzgesch\u00e4fts und eingehenden Marktforschungen entschloss Ludwig Kuntz die Herstellung von\u00a0Spanplatten<\/a>\u00a0aufzunehmen.<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1959<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
<\/svg><\/div>
1972<\/div>

<\/h4>

Ludwig (Lutz) Kuntz was granted sole power of attorney for the entire works in 1972 and was managing partner from 1975 to 2011.\"\"\/<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1972<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
<\/svg><\/div>
1972<\/div>

<\/h4>

The last use of the back horses at elka.\"\"\/<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1972<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
<\/svg><\/div>
1983<\/div>

<\/h4>

A new sawmill was built in Morbach<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1983<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
<\/svg><\/div>
1990<\/div>

<\/h4>

Karl-Robert Kuntz, the 3rd generation of the family, was appointed Managing Director on December 1, 1990.\"\"<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1990<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
<\/svg><\/div>
1995<\/div>

<\/h4>

Die Produktion von\u00a0Naturholzplatten\u00a0<\/a>wurde aufgenommen.<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1995<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
<\/svg><\/div>
2002<\/div>

<\/h4>

The head office moved from Kirn to Morbach and Gerd-Michael Lersch was appointed commercial director.\"\"<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
2002<\/div><\/article>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
\n
<\/svg><\/div>
2004<\/div>

<\/h4>

After the major fire and an incredibly short reconstruction period, Europe’s most modern chipper band saw line was put into operation in Morbach in July 2004<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
2004<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
<\/svg><\/div>
2009<\/div>

<\/h4>

Die elka-Holzwerke entwickelten mit der “Elka Strong Board” (esb)<\/a>\u00a0eine v\u00f6llig neue Holzwerkstoffplatte, die bis heute erfolgreich am Markt ist.\"\"<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
2009<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
<\/svg><\/div>
2012<\/div>

<\/h4>

In 2012, Dagmar Hilden-Kuntz joined the company and professionalized the marketing of elka-Holzwerke.\"\"\/<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
2012<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
<\/svg><\/div>
2013<\/div>

<\/h4>

Die besonders wohngesunde Holzwerkstoffplatte\u00a0esb PLUS<\/a>\u00a0wurde am Markt eingef\u00fchrt\"\"<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
2013<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
<\/svg><\/div>
2013<\/div>

<\/h4>

Das Unternehmen wurde\u00a0EN ISO 50001<\/a>\u00a0zertifiziert.\"\"<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
2013<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
<\/svg><\/div>
2014 \/ 2015<\/div>

<\/h4>

Die Werke Sohren und Kirn wurden geschlossen und Hobel- und\u00a0Naturholzplattenwerk<\/a>\u00a0nach Morbach verlagert.<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
2014 \/ 2015<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
<\/svg><\/div>
2020<\/div>

<\/h4>

Larissa Kuntz, the 4th generation of the family, was appointed Managing Director.\"\"<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
2020<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
<\/svg><\/div>
2021<\/div>

<\/h4>

elka-Holzwerke wurde als\u00a0klimaneutrales Unternehmen<\/a>\u00a0zertifiziert (bilanziell).\"\"<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
2021<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
<\/svg><\/div>

<\/h4>

Major investments secure the company’s futureConstruction of a stacking line<\/strong>Construction of a short timber yard<\/strong>Hall extension with cutting saw<\/strong> Machining line<\/p>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/article>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
\n

The story continues…<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wood in the 4th generation History Wood in the fourth generation The story continues…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":3091,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3107","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false,"gform-image-choice-sm":false,"gform-image-choice-md":false,"gform-image-choice-lg":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"pixelarbeiter","author_link":"https:\/\/www.elka-holzwerke.de\/en\/author\/pixelarbeiter\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Wood in the 4th generation History Wood in the fourth generation The story continues…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.elka-holzwerke.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3107","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.elka-holzwerke.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.elka-holzwerke.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.elka-holzwerke.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.elka-holzwerke.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3107"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.elka-holzwerke.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3107\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4293,"href":"https:\/\/www.elka-holzwerke.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3107\/revisions\/4293"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.elka-holzwerke.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3091"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.elka-holzwerke.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3107"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}