Long tradition of research expertise

The ITV Denkendorf originated in Reutlingen, a city with a long tradition in textile education and research. It was here, back in 1855, where the School of Weaving was established as initiated by the industry, the kingdom of Württemberg and the city of Reutlingen. By 1891 it became the ‘Otto-Johanssen-Technikum’, a technical college offering education in spinning, weaving and warp-knitting. This school, named after its long-standing director of many years, became the pacesetter of development in the textile industry of Southern Germany. In 1910 it expanded to include the ‘Prüfamt für Textilstoffe’ and, in 1921, a research institute.

Reutlingen

1921 - 10th January, the ‘Deutsche Forschungsinstitut für Textilindustrie’ (German research institute for the textile industry), is founded in Reutlingen-Stuttgart. Director: Prof. Dr.-Ing. e.h. Otto Johannsen, both head of the School of Textile Technology and of the ‘Staatliche Prüfamt für Textilstoffe’ (German textile materials testing office).
1936 - The Textile Chemistry department is established and directed by Dr. Hermann Rath.
1941 - Otto Johannsen leaves his post as the director of the research institute; Prof. Dr.-Ing. Fritz Walz succeeds as the director of both the technical and research institutes.
1952 - New facility - Burgstraße
1955 - Prof. Dr.-Ing. Erwin Schenkel succeeds as the director of the technical institute and of the research institute.
1970 - ‘Institut für Textiltechnik Reutlingen ITR’ (Institute of Textile Technology) separates from the technical school; Director: Prof. Dr.-Ing Joachim Lünenschloß
1971 - Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Egbers follows as the director of the ITR while holder of the chair of Textile Technology at the University of Stuttgart.

Stuttgart

1961 - The ‘Institut für Textilchemie’ (Institute of Textile Chemistry) moves to Stuttgart-Wangen.
1962 - Prof. Dr. Hermann Rath takes up the chair of Textile Chemistry at the TH Stuttgart.
1962 - The chemical fibers department is founded and headed by Prof. Dr. Paul Schlack.
1968 - ‘Institut für Chemiefasern’ (Institute of Chemical Fibers) Stuttgart-Wangen, Director: Prof. Dr. Heinz Herlinger
1972 - The Institute of Chemical Fibers and the Institute of Textile Chemistry are headed by Prof. Dr. Heinz Herlinger holding the chair of Textile and Fiber Chemistry at the University of Stuttgart.

Denkendorf

1937 - The ‘Zellwolle-Lehrspinnerei’ (School of Rayon Staple Spinning) Denkendorf is founded and new facilities are built in the Koerschtal valley.
1955 - Name change to ‚Denkendorf Forschungsgesellschaft für Chemiefaserverarbeitung’
1961 - Expansion of facilities (central laboratory / administration) research association for chemical fibers processing
1979 - Merger of

ICF Institut für Chemiefasern
ITC Institut für Textilchemie
ITV Institut für Textil- und Verfahrenstechnik

to form an industrial joint research center for textile and fiber research - the ‘DITF Stuttgart Deutsche Institute für Textil- und Faserforschung’ (German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research) - under the supervision of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Trade.
1981 - Completion and move into new facilities in the Koerschtal valley
1981 - Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Egbers takes up the chair of Textile Technology at the University of Stuttgart.
1993 - Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Oppermann takes up the direction of the Institute of Chemical Fibers (‘ICF’) and of the Institute of Textile Chemistry (‘ITC’) Denkendorf and occupies the chair of Textile Chemistry at the University of Stuttgart.
1998 - Prof. Dr.-Ing. Heinrich Planck takes up the direction of the Institute of Textile Technology and Process Engineering (ITV) Denkendorf and occupies the chair of Textile Technology / Textile Mechanical Engineering at the University of Stuttgart.

A special periodical was issued on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the foundation of Denkendorf as a site for textile research. The publication is an overview of the development of textile research in the Koerschtal valley since 1937.

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