History
Discover the history of Jakob Rope Systems. It all started in 1904: we originally manufactured hemp ropes for farmers in the heart of Switzerland. Today, three generations later, we are an international company.
![Image collage with foto of Trubschachen 1904 and a portrait of Hans Jakob](/files/_processed_/3/b/csm_Jakob-Rope-Systems-History-1904_bdbd158b5e.jpg)
Hans Jakob founds the rope factory Jakob in Trubschachen in the Emmental valley in the heart of Switzerland.
![Trubschachen and the first Jakob office in 1911](/files/_processed_/2/8/csm_Jakob-Rope-Systems-History-1911_5b8e4320a6.jpg)
During the early years, Jakob produces hemp ropes for local farmers. The family also deals with fodder and fertilisers.
![Aerial view of Trubschachen in the 1920s and picture of the ropewalk](/files/_processed_/d/8/csm_Jakob-Rope-Systems-History-1927_52941968aa.jpg)
The company develops along the railway tracks, where the first ropewalk is built.
![Jakob ropes for agriculture](/files/7_about_us/history-and-insights/Jakob-Rope-Systems-History-1939.jpg)
Local farmers mostly demand fibre ropes such as sheaf cords.
![Transport of the products, hemp ropes, by sleigh to Trubschachen station in the 1950s](/files/7_about_us/history-and-insights/Jakob-Rope-Systems-History-1946.jpg)
Forwarding of the finished products to the railway station.
![Montage of images of fibre rope making in the 1950s and images of Hans junior and Eduard Jakob](/files/7_about_us/history-and-insights/Jakob-Rope-Systems-History-1950.jpg)
Hans junior and Eduard join their father’s business.
![The first machines for the production of steel wires](/files/7_about_us/history-and-insights/Jakob-Rope-Systems-History-1953.jpg)
Jakob now produces its own wire ropes in Trubschachen with machines acquired from German company Vornbäumen.
![Images of the new office building, the topping-out ceremony and the cover of a price list from 1960](/files/7_about_us/history-and-insights/Jakob-Rope-Systems-History-1960.jpg)
The company grows further and inaugurates a dedicated office building.
![Construction of the second storey of the office building](/files/7_about_us/history-and-insights/Jakob-Rope-Systems-History-1970.jpg)
A second storey is built on top of the ropewalk.
![Image montage of the Jakob office in 1970s, trade fair presentations and a price list](/files/7_about_us/history-and-insights/Jakob-Rope-Systems-History-1977.jpg)
With modern facilities and marketing activities, the company continues to develop.
![Images of wire rope production in the 1980s and Martin and Peter Jakob](/files/7_about_us/history-and-insights/Jakob-Rope-Systems-History-1984.jpg)
Peter and Martin Jakob join the company representing the third generation of the Jakob family business. Soon after, the company launches its range of stainless steel cables for architecture.
![The Jakob factory and Trubschachen in the 1990s](/files/7_about_us/history-and-insights/Jakob-Rope-Systems-History-1995.jpg)
The new stainless steel products are a success and necessitate the extension of the factory and the construction of modern production units in 1995.
![Image of Webnet, Jakob’s most important product launched in 2002](/files/_processed_/f/f/csm_jakob-rope-systems-webnet_01_35ffab55b8.jpg)
In 2002, Jakob Rope Systems introduces its most successful product to date, the stainless steel wire mesh Webnet.
![The construction site of the factory extension in 2002](/files/_processed_/5/a/csm_Jakob-Rope-Systems-History-2002_8546b706c5.jpg)
In the year the Webnet wire mesh is introduced, Jakob also starts the construction of a new office building right next to the historical founding site of the company.
![](/files/7_about_us/history-and-insights/Jakob-Rope-Systems-History-2003.jpg)
The new office tract and headquarters is inaugurated.
![Image of Jakob Saigon factory in 2008 with the flags of Jakob, Vietnam and Switzerland](/files/7_about_us/history-and-insights/Jakob-Rope-Systems-History-2008-3.jpg)
The large demand for Webnet products leads to the foundation of Jakob Saigon.
![The reconstructed Ilfis Hall at night before a SCL Tigers ice hockey match](/files/_processed_/6/c/csm_Jakob-Rope-Systems-History-2011-1_53f3d7127b.jpg)
Reconstruction of the Ilfis Hall, home of the ice hockey club SCL Tigers.
Jakob Rope Systems supports the event location as a main sponsor.
![Habegger rope pulling machine](/files/_processed_/d/d/csm_Jakob-Rope-Systems-History-2016_096b57c7e7.jpg)
Jakob Rope Systems acquires the venerable Habegger AG from Thun.
![The new Jakob headquarters in Trubschachen finished in 2019](/files/7_about_us/history-and-insights/Jakob-Rope-Systems-History-2019.jpg)
The Jakob headquarters in Trubschachen are completely rebuilt creating modern production units and office space.
![The second factory of Jakob Saigon features a greened facade](/files/7_about_us/history-and-insights/G8A_jakob_factory_05_oki_hiroyuki.jpg)
The new factory of Jakob Saigon opens. Featuring a green facade and modern facilities for the local staff, the factory is pioneering in the region.
![](/files/8_news_and_events/2021/06-Jakob-construction-site/Jakob_Baubegleitung_2021_7.jpg)
A new milestone is being built at our main site in Trubschachen.
![](/files/_processed_/e/b/csm_Jakob-Rope-Systems-History-2022_01_52a0122a2f.jpg)
Extension for the move-in of the Habegger production and expansion of photovoltaics.