Gabriel 150 years - Flipbook - Page 39
In ±∫∏∑, Kjærs Mølle had existed for ±≤∂ years,
an occasion that was celebrated in style at
Hotel Hvide Hus in Aalborg.
Fabric for clothing
and upholstery
From the ±∫∑∞s to ±∫∏∏, the factory’s use of synthetic fibres accelerated. The development of
synthetic fibres worldwide moved ahead quickly, beginning with nylon just after the ≤nd
World War. This was later followed by polyester,
Dralon and polypropylene.
It was natural for Kjærs Mølle to concentrate
on synthetic fibres, as these had several obvious
advantages in the manufacture of fabric for clothing. Synthetic fibres are stronger than wool and
can be spun to finer yarn. Their strength also
makes for fewer stoppages. For the buyer of clothing fabric, there is also the advantage of smoother material without folds. The disadvantages, on
From the left, Production Manager Knud Wosylus,
the other hand, are poorer thermal characteris-
Shop Steward Erik Eriksen and Managing Director
tics and less capacity for moisture absorption
Michael Zacho. Photograph from ±∫∏∑.
than Nature’s own product, wool.
Yarns containing synthetic fibres were
In the factory, computer-controlled, punch
often used when making large quantities of
card-coded dyeing machines were purchased
material for clothing. For long periods of time,
around ±∫∏∂.
the looms were operated in three shifts to keep
up with demand. Director Zacho travelled from
As prosperity increased in Denmark, more and
one end of Europe to the other in order to
more people could afford to buy fashionable
keep up with fashions, so Kjærs Mølle could al-
clothing. The carefree ∑∞s and the consumer
ways supply clothing fabric representing the
society were on the horizon. Comprehensive
very latest in pattern, colour and quality.
investments at Kjærs Mølle meant that from
From the end of the ±∫∑∞s, clothing fabric
the early ±∫∑∞s and for the following ±∂ years,
met with increasing competition from the Far
the company was able to sell its clothing fabric
East, and, in the long run, Kjærs Mølle could
at the same price per metre. This made the
not hold its own in competition with the low-
company price competitive, and the focus
wage countries of Asia. The company gradually
shifted to quantity and fewer designs.
returned to its point of departure, wool. This
While automation increased the amount of
meant that curtain fabric and especially up-
cloth manufactured, the number of employees
holstery fabric gained in importance.
decreased. In ±∫∑∞, there were ≤∑∂ employees;
Upholstery fabric of pure, new wool was still
in ±∫∑∑ this number had dropped to ±π∂ and in
just a niche market for Kjærs Mølle. But the
±∫∏∑ to ±≥∂.
company had great expertise in this area, and
1959-1977
40
