The felt cloth factory in Rodewisch was once one of the largest in the town. It was reportedly founded in 1868 by Franz Louis Wolff, though the company itself cites May 20, 1874, as its official founding date. It was among the oldest industrial sites in Rodewisch, alongside the Niederauerbach brass works. Located on Wernesgrüner Straße, the factory expanded during the late 19th century due to the rising demand for paper production, becoming one of the leading felt cloth producers in the Kingdom of Saxony.
In 1901, the company received an imperial patent for a special “dry felt” used in cardboard and paper machines. By 1903, it housed the largest looms in Europe, with a working width of 23 meters. It also featured Saxony’s first steel-reinforced concrete building.
After the German Empire ended, the factory was renamed “Sächsische Filztuchfabrik GmbH” in 1919. During the GDR era, it was nationalized and became part of various state-owned enterprises. After German reunification, the company was rebranded as “Filztuchfabrik Rodewisch GmbH Welt-Icon” in 1990, though its headquarters are now in Lengenfeld. Through mergers, the company incorporates the history of several East Vogtland textile firms, with the Rodewisch factory standing out due to its nearly 140-year legacy.
Today, the company produces felts, woven and spiral screens, and needled spiral screens for industries like mining, hygiene, food, and environmental technology. It employs 53 people and has an annual revenue of under €10 million.
The original factory site in Rodewisch has been demolished, but the former villa still stands and is protected as a historic and architectural monument and can be seen in the pictures below.
