Our door is always open

Wood trade established by Albert Windmöller in Bad Oeynhausen

In 1948, 36-year-old Albert Windmöller, a disabled war veteran, sets himself up as an independent supplier of sawn timber, plywood and veneers in Bad Oeynhausen. The established company is officially entered in the Bad Oeynhausen commercial register under the number HRA 248 in 1950.

Albert Windmöller marries Gerda Windmöller and they have two sons, Ulrich and Werner Windmöller, who were born in 1945 and 1950.

The golden post-war years

In 1960, the first warehouse is built in Bad Oeynhausen / Werste and woodworking machines are acquired. Windmöller specialises in supplying wooden materials to the furniture industry. Albert Windmöller quickly recognises the substantial need for cut boards within the furniture industry, works out how to manufacture these profitably and the business grows.

Witex Kunststoffplatten GmbH founded

In 1978, the eldest son, Ulrich Windmöller, concentrates on the mechanical production of prefabricated furniture components and sets up Witex Kunststoffplatten GmbH on the Augustdorf site.

Launch of the first laminate flooring

Windmöller develops the first laminate flooring using technology from the manufacture of furniture components. A milestone in the history of this family-run business! The demand for this new flooring grows rapidly and quickly establishes itself as the latest flooring on the market for modern interior design.

Witex AG & global expansion

With the rapid growth of the business, Witex GmbH converts to a listed company in 1995. In order to strengthen its international presence, two international manufacturing sites, 4 subsidiary companies and a sales subsidiary are founded between 1992 and 2001: 

1992 Witex Floor S.A., Luxembourg founded 
1994 Witex USA Inc., Atlanta founded 
1998 sales subsidiary founded in Shanghai, China 
2000 subsidiary company founded in Posen, Poland 
2001 subsidiary company founded in Bangkok, Thailand 
2001 manufacturing sites set up in Mentakab, Malaysia (joint venture) and North Carolina, USA 

The strategically chosen manufacturing sites secure demand-oriented supply and support markets in Europe, Asia and North and South America. 

Witex AG employs 400 people in 2001, produces a company turnover of €230 million and has built up a global production capacity of approximately 35 million square metres.

Launch of the first acoustic mat for laminate flooring

The new flooring category, “Laminate flooring”, is established worldwide – the market is booming and is enjoying substantial end user demand. The only criticism of this “new flooring” is the noise produced when walked on. The so-called “sound of marching feet” prompted Windmöller to develop the first acoustic mat for footfall and walking sound optimisation. 

This is developed and manufactured by the subsidiary company Witex Polymer Technology GmbH in Detmold (founded in January 2001). The mat, which is available as a loose pad, as a roll or as a laminated underlay is presented for the first time in 2001 at the international trade fair Domotex. In the years that follow, WPT becomes the market leader for acoustic mats in the B2B sector.

Withdrawal of the Windmöller family

In 2002, Ulrich Windmöller and his children Annika (age 31) and Matthias (age 32) leave Witex AG.

Takeover of WPT GmbH by Windmöller

All company shares in Witex are taken over by Ulrich Windmöller and the company name is changed to Windmöller Polymer Technology GmbH.

Presentation of the first generation of PURLINE at Domotex in Hanover

• Market launch of PURLINE in Germany
• Installation of the first large PURLINE reference surfaces

Establishment of Windmöller Flooring GmbH by Matthias Windmöller

In 2007, Matthias Windmöller founds Windmöller Flooring GmbH at the Detmold site. He imports and sells the successful LVT flooring (Luxury Vinyl Tiles) and initially markets them through trade sales channels in Germany, Austria and Switzerland as design flooring.

Launch of the first click-in design flooring

Another milestone in the company’s history! 

Windmöller presents a click-fit version of the successful LVT product (Luxury Vinyl Tiles) for the first time. This technology makes the product, which was previously glued to the substrate, much more user-friendly. 

The market launch of the first collections, “Bacana” and “Laguna”, is a great success.

Rapid growth with design flooring and acoustic mats

The affiliated and service company Windmöller Holding GmbH is founded as the company continues to grow.

The design flooring market is developing excellently.

Windmöller back in Augustdorf

Christmas 2011: After an absence of 10 years, the Windmöllers take over Witex and concentrate their flooring expertise at the Augustdorf site.

WPT GmbH in Detmold continues to grow and extends its production capacity for acoustic mats to over 20 million square metres.

Presentation and market launch of the second generation of PURLINE at Domotex in Hanover. At the same time, Windmöller is building its commercial sales business.

Windmöller presents PURLINE, a new global product. The innovative PURLINE organic flooring range consists largely of sustainable raw materials and natural fillers. It also features exceptional technical characteristics.

Launch of the wineo umbrella brand

Launch of the wineo umbrella brand for international trade. 

wineo is a young brand, yet it stands for decades of experience and competence with the Windmöller family business standing behind it. The brand’s core values are vitality, quality, inspiration and clarity!

TOP 100 innovator

Windmöller is chosen by markt & wirtschaft magazine as one of the top 15 most innovative SMEs in Germany. We are proud of our 14th place! 

On the 26th June Windmöller Holding GmbH is recognised as one of the most innovative German SME business at the German SME summit in Essen. Top 100 mentor Ranga Yogeshwar praises the Augustdorf-based business with the Top 100 seal of approval which has been awarded for the past 20 years.

Merger

1st January 2018 – merger of WPT GmbH with Windmöller Flooring Products WFP GmbH to form Windmöller GmbH

Lifetime achievement award for Ulrich Windmöller

On 8 January, Ulrich Windmöller will receive the lifetime achievement prize at the Heimtex Star 2019 awards ceremony at the Heimtex Messe in Frankfurt.

New wineo showroom

The new workspace has been created on more than 2000 square metres of space at Windmöller's company headquarters in Augustdorf. The manufacturer of wineo brand floor coverings has completely renovated and modernised an existing factory hall. It houses staff offices as well as exhibition areas that showcase the brand world in all its diversity. Retailers, architects, contractors and customers can discover innovative and sustainable solutions there. Cooperation, customer dialogue, openness to new ideas - the new workspace reflects all of this.

Whether in the lounge in the entrance area, in the offices or in the large workshop, creative and training spaces: Windmöller's corporate philosophy is consistently implemented in the design everywhere. The rich variety of floor coverings is visible on all surfaces and in every office. Stone and wood looks are laid in a wide variety of colours and installation options - always coordinated with the interior design and wall design. This allows guests to directly experience the spatial effect of the floors.

The centrepiece is the large workshop area. The grandstand makes it possible to get close to the action. The furniture is flexible and allows for situational adaptation to the respective use, from working in co-working style to conference facilities and large workshops. Sample areas were furnished with attention to detail, presentation options created and zones for collaborative working set up. A modern workplace concept enables the wineo team itself to work creatively and across departments.

For anyone who was unable to visit Augustdorf, there was an identical virtual showroom until the end of 2023.

The rolling brand ambassador

In 2021, the lovingly restored Airstream caravan went on tour in Germany and Europe for the first time. "We want to engage in dialogue with architects and customers on site and send a signal that we are there for them personally, even in difficult times," says Marketing Director Bettina Höner. Under the motto "Let's talk about flooring", the company will be advising architects, contractors and dealers on site, mobile and flexible wherever the pandemic allows.

Windmöller celebrates its 75th anniversary!

The flooring manufacturer is delighted to be celebrating its 75th anniversary. The company has symbolised quality, innovation and customer satisfaction for almost a century. 

Since its foundation, Windmöller has continuously developed and operates worldwide with over 5,000 customers with a wide range of high-quality floor coverings and acoustic systems.