Westermann - History of the publishing house
1838
Foundation of the publishing house
On 21 May 1838 the bookseller Georg Westermann (1810-1879) founded a publishing house in Braunschweig.
On 21 May 1838 the bookseller Georg Westermann (1810-1879) founded a publishing house in Braunschweig.
1845
Construction of own printshop
Georg Westermann added an own printshop to the company in 1845.
Georg Westermann added an own printshop to the company in 1845.
1849
Start of newspaper publishing
1853
Publication of the first school atlas
Georg Westermann builds up the widely known cartographic institution which allows him to produce world atlases.
Georg Westermann builds up the widely known cartographic institution which allows him to produce world atlases.
1883
Publication of the first DIERCKE school atlas
1912
The first offset press
1914
The award-winning Hansa Fibel [Hansa Primer] is published
Westermann has great success in the first non-cartographic primer generation.
Westermann has great success in the first non-cartographic primer generation.
1949
Pedagogical trade journals
After World War II, the publishing house especially concentrated on school and extracurricular educational and extended training materials. Expansion.
After World War II, the publishing house especially concentrated on school and extracurricular educational and extended training materials. Expansion.
1977
Installation of the first roll offset printing machine
1984
Integration into the Medien-Union GmbH, Ludwigshafen
1986
Acquisition of the Arena publishing house
1988
Newly revised jubilee edition of the DIERCKE world atlas
1990
Acquisition of printshop in Zwickau
1990
Development of a new textbook and atlas program
After German reunification, this printed material was revised for all the new federal states.
After German reunification, this printed material was revised for all the new federal states.
1991
Start in computer cartography
1993
New information centre in Hamburg
Completion of the Westermann sites in Germany and Austria.
Completion of the Westermann sites in Germany and Austria.
1993
Introduction of an in-house quality management system
1994
The first interactive CD-ROM
1997
Homepage on the Internet with complete Online Catalogue
1997
Development of a DTP/preliminary stage department with scanning areas, data organisation and administration
1998
Installation of two computer-to-plate illustration machines
The direct digital print plate illustration facilitates the communication with customers and reduces the pre-print operations.
The direct digital print plate illustration facilitates the communication with customers and reduces the pre-print operations.
1998
Expansion of the site to full-stage service provider with preliminary stage, printing, print processing and lettershop.
1999
Dedication ceremony of the warehouse expansion with a capacity of 1,600 Euro palettes
2000
Installation of a uniformly implemented printshop software for all printshops
2003
Expansion of the post-press department with saddle stitchers and PUR adhesive binding
2004
Inauguration of a book sewing and binding machine for efficient and rapid creation of book blocks with thread-stitched bindings
2005
Installation of high-performance Workflow and computer-to-plate exposure machines according to PSO standard
2006
Installation of a modern book production machine for making case bindings
2006
Expansion of the existing Lithoman roll offset printing machine with electrostatic rehumidification
2006
Installation of two digital printing systems with subsequent further processing
2006
PSO certification in printing
2006
Certification of the plant for processing FSC- and PEFC-certified materials from responsible forestry.