TEXTILES.ORG
One hundred years ago, Friedrich Losberger and Klaas de Boer laid the foundation for the company that would become a worldwide supplier of temporary and semi-permanent space solutions: Losberger De Boer. In 2019, the company celebrates its hundredth birthday.
Both entrepeneurs could never suspect that the tents they built by hand in Heilbronn (Germany) and Hensbroek (the Netherlands), about 375 miles apart, would mark the start of a company that would supply large space solutions for the Olympic Games and World Cup Football and also provide modular space solutions for commercial applications.
The early years
It is in Heilbronn, near Stuttgart, that the story of Losberger De Boer begins. In January 1919, Friedrich Losberger registered his company Friedrich Losberger Sackhandlung with the Chamber of Commerce. He built his first tent for a traveling circus. Around that same time, Klaas de Boer built his first tent for a town festival in Hensbroek, near Alkmaar. Both men recognized the advantages of tents for a variety of purposes and, over time, both companies concentrated on temporary structures.
Troubled times
The times, however, were turbulent. Friedrich Losberger’s factory was destroyed during World War II. He rebuilt at a new location and from then on, everything revolved around producing temporary structures and growing the company. Klaas De Boer also started a strong growth phase in the post-war period. He concentrated on the nationwide rental of tents as temporary solutions for a variety of purposes.
Modern space solutions
Both companies saw much innovation from the 1950s on, and in the 1980s the first structures emerged that started to resemble the semi-permanent space solutions Losberger De Boer produces today. A trend toward aesthetic forms and comfortable interior environments set in. A variety of shapes and construction designs emerged and the term “tent” was no longer accurate.
The merger: Losberger De Boer
Losberger and De Boer had worked together quite a few times already when in 2017 the companies decided to move forward together as Losberger De Boer, combining their knowledge, experience, capacity and market share. Today, everything from product development and production to sales and rental comes from one single source.
Both companies held prominent positions in the industry before the merger. Thanks to its increased scale and successful chain integration, the company is convinced it can strengthen and improve that position. To achieve this, Losberger De Boer is focused on creating the best possible temporary space solutions and customer experience.