Röben

It all started when Captain August Lauw determined he had had enough of a life at sea and wished to return to dry land. After first starting out as a farmer, in 1855 he went on to set up the first of nine brickworks. This was the start of what would become the Röben company. Röben is meanwhile the biggest privately-owned ceramics company in Germany. And still it is the personal commitment to bricks, as a fundamentally honest building material, that remains at the very forefront of all of our business activities. From captain to brickmaker It all began with August Lauw, respectfully referred to as the 'Brick King'. Although originally a passionate seafarer, running his own cargo sailing ship on the Germany-America route, he chose to return to dry land, and began working as a farmer. His entire start-up capital comprised two cows and two horses. But it was not long before he had other plans. In 1855, he set up the first of eight brickworks near the north German town of Zetel, followed ten years later by one more, located in Zetel, between Oldenburg and Wilhelmshaven. Thanks to his far-sightedness and dedication, the brickworks in the north of Germany flourished. In 1900, he leased the brickworks in Zetel Schweinebrück to his son-in-law, Bernhard-Friedrich Röben. To this day, this site remains the head office of the family-run company. Internationalisation and organic growth Wilhelm-Renke Röben took over the company management in 1989, representing the fifth generation of management by the Röben family. It was under his leadership that new clinker works were built in the USA, along with clinker and roofing tile factories in Poland. Röben is now among the top five companies in the USA brick industry, while in Germany, it is the largest privately-owned brick company. The right brick for every customer In addition to this, Röben will be investing in all of its plants, particularly in new products, colours and finishes. "We can provide all customers with the product they are looking for," says CEO Wilhelm-Renke Röben. "The architect who wishes to leave his personal mark on his building, the housing association, which places the emphasis on value for money, and the private builder-owner, designing his own personal dream home."