Gabriel 150 years - Flipbook - Page 44
quality upholstery and curtain fabric, rugs, carpets and wall-to-wall carpeting. A former engineer at Kjærs Mølle, Jarl Nyebølle, who in the
late ±∫∑∞s had started the niche production of
upholstery fabric at Kjærs Mølle, now worked at
Gabriel’s wool spinning mill in the town of Thisted. Kjærs Mølle’s management contacted the
Gabriel family via Nyebølle.
Gabriel Boligtekstiler ApS was founded by
Robert Gabriel in ±∫µ≥. He still headed the company, along with his two sons, Søren and Palle
Gabriel. By becoming part owners of the production facilities in Aalborg, Kjærs Mølles Fabriker A/S, the Gabriel family could guarantee the
wholesaler Gabriel a reliable supply of merchandise.
Negotiations with Odense Kamgarnsspinderi for the take over of Kjærs Mølle were completed in January ±∫∏∫. The agreed price was DKK ∑
The first computer-controlled equipment for
million. Kjærs Mølle would continue to be a lim-
precision dyeing was purchased in ±∫πµ.
ited company with Søren Gabriel as the chairman of the board and Michael Zacho as man-
they competed for the leadership of Kjærs Mølle.
aging director. The two men were also the largest
In the summer of ±∫π∞, Michael Zacho left Kjærs
shareholders. In order to increase operating
Mølle after ≤∂ years of service, and Søren Gabri-
capital and reduce taxes, the looms were sold to
el became the new managing director.
a limited partnership that leased them back to
Kjærs Mølles Fabriker A/S.
An increase in investment capital and in woollen upholstery
fabric
Kjærs Mølle continued to manufacture fabric
for the clothing industry, but, according to plan,
primarily supplied Gabriel Boligtekstiler ApS. In
Following the split, Søren Gabriel contacted so-
±∫∏∫, Kjærs Mølle made a bid to supply uniform
licitor Poul H. Lauritsen in Århus to draw up the
fabric to the manufacturer of Danish military
papers dealing with Zacho’s resignation. On
uniforms, Statens Konfektionsfabrik. The order
that occasion, Poul H. Lauritsen inspected the
went to Kjærs Mølle and remained there until
accounts and recommended that fresh capital
the end of ±∫π∂, by which time the contract was
be invested in Kjærs Mølle to ensure continued
no longer profitable. Finally, loosely woven fab-
expansion and to repurchase the equipment
ric for flag bunting, curtains and rugs was made
taken over by the limited partnership.
for the Russian market, but this product line was
At that time, Danish pension funds were
discontinued over a period of years.
beginning to show an interest in investing a
In the meantime, Managing Director Micha-
part of their considerable assets in good, solid
el Zacho and Chairman of the Board Søren Ga-
Danish businesses. Poul H. Lauritsen had pre-
briel discovered that they did not work well to-
viously advised the pension funds associated
gether. Instead of complementing each other,
with PKA in making such investments. In ±∫π±,
1977-1985
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