On 16.12.1952 Wilhelm Zschetzsche contributes to the foundation of the Ornamin foil production in Ratingen near Düsseldorf. The Ornamin procedure for the production of press parts made of the thermosetting plastic melamine includes the production of one main object consisting of melamine resin in the first pressing process. The second step consists in putting with melamine resin impregnated, printed or coloured foils around the pellet and pressing these two components.

Wilhelm Zschetzsche acquires the majority stakes of the foil factory and moves it from Ratingen to Minden. The factory gets a plastic press, the first Ornamin foils are printed. On 01.11.1955 it turns into an own company, the ORNAMIN-Presswerk Minden. For the Minden hotel “König von Preußen“ the Zschetzsche-company produces the first unbreakable, heat resistant and durably decorated ashtrays made of plastic. The first orders for advertising ashtrays and money trays are processed and delivered. The model 1003 is meanwhile the best-selling money tray in Germany.

After the successful development of the ORNAMIN promotional articles the tableware range is extended. The tableware series “Country style“ becomes a best-seller, remaining for over 20 years the most popular, hundreds of thousands of times sold ORNAMIN design and is still a collector’s item on online platforms nowadays.

Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck are decorated on the ORNAMIN children’s tableware.

On 01.11.1959 ORNAMIN moves into its first own building, the administration. In the additional building eight presses and two tableting machines are installed.

The capacity of the eight machines in the additional building is no longer sufficient which is why a new factory building is built on the old powder storage of the fuse factory two years later. First, 13 machines produce in three shifts. Afterwards a new hall for the foil production is built behind the administration which was used for glass processing.

Two years after the old fuse factory is shut down, the ORNAMIN-Presswerk Minden changes its name into ORNAMIN Kunststoffwerke Minden, short OKM. Due to the increasing importance of thermoplastic processing, “Presswerk“ in the company’s name is replaced by “Kunststoffwerke“. The decorated “O“ is finally eliminated as brand and is replaced by the logo “OKM“.

The 1970s are characterised by the extension of the injection moulding plants. The capacity is extended, machines with up to 8,000 kN locking force enable a specialisation in large technical parts.

ORNAMIN starts with the production of display parts. The screen printing is arranged and extended to five machines, it has plants for screen production and is complemented by pad printing and embossing machines.

By equipping restaurants and pubs with ashtrays, serving trays and money trays, ORNAMIN characterises significantly their looks and becomes the market leader regarding the production of promotional articles such as ashtrays, money trays and serving trays. From 1977 to 1987 the turnover has doubled.

Until the 1990s ORNAMIN becomes the leading manufacturer of high-quality tableware for the communal catering as well as the industry.

Dr. Holger von der Emde takes over the management of ORNAMIN.

Change of strategy: ORNAMIN recognises the challenges of the beginning demographic change and focusses from then onwards on the development of functional eating and drinking aids with hidden features in universal design. In return ORNAMIN turns away from promotional articles such as ashtrays and money trays due to smoking bans as well as the increasing payment by credit card instead of by cash in restaurants and pubs.

ORNAMIN expands further: new building of production, logistics and administration as well as investments in IT software to keep the company up to date.

Acquisition of Instore-Marketing GmbH as a 100% subsidiary of Ornamin-Kunststoffwerke.

As the first German company ORNAMIN is awarded with the universal design company award. The Plate with Sloped Base is also awarded several awards.

By developping customisable and reusable coffee to take away cups ORNAMIN meets the ravages of time. Universities, bakeries, petrol stations and whole cities turn away from disposable cups and implement sustainable reusable systems with ORNAMIN coffee to take away cups.

With sustainable, microwaveable food to take away bowls in different sizes ORNAMIN extends its take away range and develops into the market leader for reusable tableware. More and more nurseries, schools, hospitals, student unions as well as whole cities use the sustainable reusable tableware by ORNAMIN.

ORNAMIN develops and produces intelligent tableware with RFID technology e.g. in order to facilitate processes of payment, deposit or return. By using the 3D printer first tableware parts are created.

In partnership with Trigema, ORNAMIN has opened its first German store (apart from the factory outlet in Minden) in the Trigema outlet in Gau-Bickelheim on 16th May where the whole sustainable ORNAMIN to go range and reusable tableware is available.