75 years of THIMM: Growth in the 1970s

In the early 70s the German economy was buzzing and, despite new plants, the capacity of the Northeim plant was no longer sufficient. A new plant had to be built – but where? Although corrugated cardboard is light and requires a lot of space during its transportation, THIMM usually only sold its products to customers within a maximum radius of 300 kilometres. Proximity to target customers was therefore required!

The focus was on the west, particularly the Ruhr region, as at the time many new companies that could potentially need packaging from THIMM were settling there. The most populous German federal state was also trying to reduce its dependence on coal and steel and was attracting modern industrial companies. Similar opportunities also emerged in the Rhein-Main region. Therefore, THIMM hit the nail on the head so to speak. In 1970 construction work on a second plant began in the Ruhr area of Merklinde near Castrop-Rauxel and it started operation in 1972. In 1980, a third location, Alzey in the Palatinate, was added, This western expansion was a hugely important decision for the further development of THIMM – and to this day.

Both plants were built on green field sites and according to the precise vision and plans of the technical manager and Klaus Thimm. The focus of the new sites was to produce high volumes for new major customers. Even at that time the great sales talent of company founder Walter Felix Thimm continued to ensure immediate capacity utilisation of the plants – a real generational achievement.