Historie – ZSK Stickmaschinen

ZSK EMBROIDERY MACHINES – 150 Years of Technology That Connects

From a woodworking shop to high-tech embroidery systems: Our story is one of vision, change and innovation. Founded in 1875 in Krefeld, a centre of Germany’s textile industry, ZSK has become one of the world’s leading manufacturers of industrial embroidery machines. With each development and every new solution, we continue to shape the future of textile technology – Made in Germany.

 

Early Days: Craftsmanship and Entrepreneurship (1875–1920)

In 1875, 22-year-old Hermann Schröers opened a small woodworking shop in his father-in-law’s spinning factory in Krefeld. This marked the beginning of what would become ZSK Stickmaschinen GmbH. Over the decades, the company evolved from humble beginnings into a key player in textile machinery. In 1920, the Carl Zangs AG was founded – shifting the full focus towards textile machine construction.

 

Growth and Technical Progress (1920–1945)

The Carl Zangs AG quickly established itself as a leading manufacturer of weaving and Jacquard machines. Despite heavy war damage, the company was rebuilt with determination. By 1950, it had regained its strong position in the textile machinery market.

 

Innovation in Embroidery (1950–1983)

The 1950s marked a new chapter: Zangs introduced its first fully automatic multi-head embroidery machines, inspired by earlier technologies from Chemnitz. These machines were controlled via punch cards and offered increasing head counts for greater productivity. The introduction of shuttle embroidery machines, pattern repeat and colour change automation transformed the embroidery industry – placing Zangs at the forefront of the market.

Modular machine design enabled customer-specific solutions – a principle still central to ZSK today.

 

A New Beginning: ZSK is Born (from 1983)

In 1983, after 108 years of Carl Zangs AG, the company was re-established under new leadership. Representatives from Germany and Italy – Mr. Walz and Mr. Micheletti – acquired key parts of the business and brought back experienced staff. The ZSK STICKMASCHINEN GmbH was founded in Krefeld with a clear focus: quality, innovation, and customer orientation.

 

High-Tech for the Embroidery of Tomorrow (1983–Today)

Since its rebirth, ZSK has become a leader in technological innovation. Smart control systems, sensors, specialised software and cloud solutions characterise our machines today. New markets such as technical textiles, smart textiles and industrial automation have been successfully developed – thanks to our deep expertise and ongoing commitment to excellence.

 

ZSK – Experience You Can Rely On. Innovation That Inspires.

Today, ZSK is recognised as one of Germany’s most innovative mid-sized companies. We’re proud of our heritage – but even more excited about the future. Our story is far from over.

Discover our production »

Looking Back and Forward – an Interview with Mr. Micheletti

Subscribe to Newsletter

Yes, i have privacy policy zur Kenntnis genommen und bin damit einverstanden, dass die von mir angegebene E-Mail-Adresse sowie der auf freiwilliger Basis angegebene Firmenname zum Zwecke des Newsletterversands sowie Info-Mails von ZSK gespeichert und genutzt wird.

Contact

Yes, i have privacy policy I understand and agree that the data given by me is electronically collected and saved. My data is used only strictly earmarked for processing and answering my request.