In 1816 weaver foreman Johann David Gruschwitz decided to set up his own business. The young entrepreneur started with a small hand-operated ply yarn machine in Neusalz in Silesia. He had noticed a gap in the market: the skippers on the river Oder lacked high quality thread to sew their sails.

This business idea, together with entrepreneurial thinking, know-how and passion, laid the foundations for the success story of "Gruschwitz Leinenzwirn". Expansion was, even in the 19th century, the key aim for the up and coming business. With the aid of the whole Gruschwitz family, the business grew from year to year. With good judgement and entrepreneurial vision the Gruschwitz factory grew to be a leading global player with contacts all over the world. By 1880 the company already employed 1.500 workers. By its centenary in 1916 this figure had risen to 3.500.

Even a serious fire, in which the whole spinning company burned to the ground, could not stop the expansion. Wage mandates were issued and other spinning companies were taken over.

With success comes responsibility. This was always an important part of the company philosophy - inspired by a close connection with the Moravian Church.

Under the management of the founder's son, exemplary social facilities were established, all well ahead of their time. These included a health fund and housing for employees, childcare, a support fund for invalid workers, a company canteen, a lending library and much more.
The originally small business was developing into a factory with international standing.




Through clever investments in new products, innovative production methods and strategic alliances, Gruschwitz could comfortably compete with its English rivals. Alongside linen, new products were added including cotton and hemp.


The difficult years of the First World War and the post-war period were overcome with great effort and skill.
In the years leading up to the Second World War the factory advanced continually, partly thanks to an investment in the sewing factory Rhenania AG in Dülken and the acquisition Duncan's Leinenindustrie AG, a linen factory in Großschweidnitz in Saxony.
The Second World War brought a major change. In 1945 all Gruschwitz plants were closed because they were situated in the Soviet zone of occupation. 4.000 employees lost their jobs, receiving no compensation.

With the energetic aid of senior co-workers Alexander Doherr Gruschwitz was able to establish a small ply yarn production in rented premises in Neu-Ulm with the new name Gruschwitz-Textilgesellschaft mbH.

In 1959 the name Gruschwitz Textilgesellschaft GmbH was changed to Gruschwitz Textilwerke AG. The rented factory building was purchased in 1963.

Since interest in natural fibres was dwindling, the product range was expanded to incorporate interesting synthetic materials. Linen could not keep up with the potential of the newly developed artificial fabrics.

On 1st July 1998 the filament thread factory Fritz Zorn GmbH & Co. KG in Leutkirch was absorbed. Fritz Zorn GmbH & Co. KG was founded in the 30s close to Chemnitz and produced technical threads.
This factory had also been nationalised at the end of the Second World War as it was in the soviet zone of occupation.
The Zorn Family moved to Wuppertal and started a yarn trade in cooperation with a yarn dyeing factory in Münsterland. Fritz Zorn KG was founded on the 7th February 1952. Its premises were a new factory building in Leutkirch. On the 13th of January 1976 the company name was changed to Fritz Zorn GmbH & Co KG. In the 90s the family decided to sell the company because there was no successor, with the result that 100% of the company's share was sold to Gruschwitz Textilwerke AG.

From the 1st of Feburary 2003 Gruschwitz Textilwerke AG also took over 100% of the company's share of Lozetex GmbH in Winterlingen. The company had been founded in 1960 as Lorch & Zech GmbH & Co. KG. In 1984 the Lorch Family changed the company's name to Lozetex GmbH Tech-Twists after partner Zech had left. Lozetex is also a technical doubling mill, specialising in the production of thread from high-tech-materials.
Since they had no possibility of expansion, they were looking for a partner who could offer such conditions.


Fritz Zorn GmbH & Co. KG had the desired space so that same year, 2003, Lozetex GmbH moved its complete machinery and all its employees from Winterlingen to Leutkirch. The building and, with it, the location Winterlingen was given up on the 31st December 2003. In 2004 Gruschwitz Textilwerke AG also changed locations and moved its machinery and most employees to the new location in Leutkirch. The factory building, which had been used since the formation in Neu-Ulm, was sold on 1st October 2004.

Three prestigious technical doubling mills are now situated in Leutkirch. These are to be consolidated with Gruschwitz Textilwerke AG and combined as a holding to gruschwitz gmbh Tech-Twists.

The innovation centre for technical threads is now emerging. The knowledge of three prestigious companies has been combined under the roof of Gruschwitz Textilwerke AG as a holding to the Gruschwitz GmbH Tech-Twists. A common location and a shared vision has joined Gruschwitz, Zorn and Lozetex, creating a forward-thinking production and service business, which possess all the necessary resources to fulfil every customer requirement. Commitment and passion. Synergy was the aim - now it is reality.

" A way does also develop by choosing it "
(Chinese proverb)