Gabriel 150 years - Flipbook - Page 38
New raw materials and markets
±∫∂∫-±∫∏∏
In the ±∫∑∞s, Kjærs Mølle increased invest-
itself in the manufacture of woollen uphol-
ments to purchase, among other things, new
stery fabrics that was to become the basis of
looms without shuttles – a technological rev-
future operations.
olution – for the weaving mill. Computer-con-
Globalisation became a new catchword,
trolled dyeing machines were added in ±∫∏∂,
and markets in both Western and Eastern
foreshadowing an era of new technology.
Europe grew in importance. In the ±∫∑∞s, the
Sales of clothing fabric increased steadi-
organisation became slightly less hierarchi-
ly in keeping with the level of welfare in Den-
cal. But conflicts often led to strikes, in par-
mark, and, generally speaking, the ±∫∑∞s
ticular when piecework rates were involved.
were golden years for Kjærs Mølle. Wool was
The environment found a place on the
not the raw material of choice in the ±∫∑∞s.
agenda. In ±∫∏∂, Kjærs Mølle invested in a
Synthetic fibres were suitable for making
chemical purification plant that reduced
fabric for clothing and grew in popularity.
both pollution of the river and the use of
But Kjærs Mølle found a niche market for
river water significantly.
Investments, reorganisation
and computers
forth across the loom. The number of picks per
minute increased from approx. ∏∂ to almost ≥∞∞,
and one weaver could now operate ten looms.
As Kjærs Mølle’s financial situation gradually
Mechanisation of the looms also increased
improved, it became possible to purchase new
the amount of cloth that could be made, as
manufacturing equipment and to introduce a
each loom was ±∞ times as productive as the
higher level of mechanisation. This was a pre-
looms used in the ±∫∂∞s. All in all, mechanisa-
requisite for continued development.
tion meant an enormous increase in efficiency
In ±∫∑≤, the American looms bought in the
and capacity.
days of the Marshall Plan were retired and re-
Computers were also slowly beginning to
placed by about ten Swiss Saurer power looms.
revolutionise industry. In ±∫∏≥, the book-
Each weaver could now operate four looms, com-
keeping department at Kjærs Mølle introdu-
pared to previously two. Less fortuitous was the
ced data processing with the purchase of an
purchase from East Germany of some looms of
Ascota machine that according to the in-house
poor quality that were often in need of repair.
newsletter “... can do everything on the condi-
The first Swiss Sulzer looms were installed in
tion, of course, that a woman sits and feeds
±∫∑∂. They had no shuttles and represented a
numbers and paper into it”. This marvel that
technological revolution in weaving. The weav-
was to ease the work of the bookkeepers cost
ing was done using a “dart” that raced back and
≤∂,∞∞∞ Danish kroner.
1959-1977
39
