Our history
2023 feiern wir 125 Jahre VS!
1888
One part of the history
Albert Ramminger (1851-1898), a vocational school teacher in Tauberbischofsheim since 1876, set up his own business.
Columbus school bench
Ramminger and his brother-in-law, Konrad Stetter, operated a steam joinery in a newly erected factory. Starting in 1890, Ramminger & Stetter manufactured the patented Columbus school bench in Tauberbischofsheim – a robust item of furniture with cast iron side pieces and movable pendulum seats.
1890
Columbus school bench
Ramminger and his brother-in-law, Konrad Stetter, operated a steam joinery in a newly erected factory. Starting in 1890, Ramminger & Stetter manufactured the patented Columbus school bench in Tauberbischofsheim – a robust item of furniture with cast iron side pieces and movable pendulum seats.
1893
The other part of the history
By far the most successful school bench in Germany was the Rettig bench, conceived by architect Wilhelm Rettig. Its design was patented by Berlin-based company P. Johannes Müller & Co. The heightened footrest made getting into and out of the school bench much simpler. Thus space was saved and folding seats were no longer needed.
The Rettig school bench was patented. P. Johannes Müller & Co, located in Charlottenburg, and later in Berlin was the manufacturer or licensor.
The Rettig school bench was patented. P. Johannes Müller & Co, located in Charlottenburg, and later in Berlin was the manufacturer or licensor.
The Rettig school bench was patented. P. Johannes Müller & Co, located in Charlottenburg, and later in Berlin was the manufacturer or licensor.
1898
Establishment of VS in the year 1898
On 15 May 1898, the amalgamated company started business under the name Vereinigte Schulbankfabriken. The production site was Tauberbischofsheim, the commercial side was managed by the firm’s headquarters in Stuttgart. P. Johannes Müller & Co continued to exist as an independent company in Berlin and looked after the entire Northern German sales area.
Paul Johannes Müller brought the patent for the manufacture of the Rettig bench into the new company and thus held a special position in the partnership contract.
In the year it was established, VS employed around forty staff, one year later it was already sixty-five.
New company name
The firm’s name was changed from Vereinigte Schulbankfabriken to Vereinigte Schulmöbelfabriken.
1905
New company name
The firm’s name was changed from Vereinigte Schulbankfabriken to Vereinigte Schulmöbelfabriken.
Montessori teaching aids
P. Johannes Müller & Co: sole manufacturer and distributor of Montessori teaching aids in Germany.
Commercial ups and downs
Because the railway was largely reserved for troop transport during World War I, delivery of VS furniture mostly came to a standstill. Production fell significantly: In 1918, the company sold only 15 per cent of the number of items sold before the war. Production was shifted to transport crates for the infantry, parts for army horse-drawn wagons and furniture for prisoner-of-war camps.
Difficult years after World War I
The demand for school furniture rose gradually and reached about one third of the pre-war level. VS was looking for alternatives to school furniture and, commissioned by the Republic’s property administration, the firm became involved in manufacturing inexpensive bedroom and kitchen furniture for homes of refugees and evacuees. Inflation was soaring and the business outlook became more and more bleak.
1922
New contracts in the Netherlands
VS won contracts in the Netherlands, paid in stable cash. This capital was largely invested in new machinery and the modernization of the factory.
VS factory on fire
On August 30, a fire destroyed the VS factory building. School benches ready for delivery to the Netherlands were burnt to a cinder. Once inflation had slowed down, the reconstruction of factory assets could begin. These works were finally completed in 1935.
1923
VS factory on fire
On August 30, a fire destroyed the VS factory building. School benches ready for delivery to the Netherlands were burnt to a cinder. Once inflation had slowed down, the reconstruction of factory assets could begin. These works were finally completed in 1935.
This old photograph shows the fire on the VS site.
This old photograph shows the fire on the VS site.
This old photograph shows the fire on the VS site.
1946
A fresh start after World War II
Sixty per cent of all class rooms in Germany were destroyed. At the same time, because of refugee movements and displaced persons coming from the eastern territories, the number of pupils rose to 7.2 million compared to 5.1 million in 1935. But municipalities still had barely any tax revenue with which to purchase new school furniture.
Best seller
The skid chair designed by Karl Nothhelfer was patented; the patent-holder was Falk Müller, son of Paul Johannes Müller.
The VS skid chair shaped classroom arrangements in the 1950s and 1960s. By 2006, about six million items had been sold – making it one of the most long-lived products in the history of post-war Germany.
1952
Best seller
The skid chair designed by Karl Nothhelfer was patented; the patent-holder was Falk Müller, son of Paul Johannes Müller.
The VS skid chair shaped classroom arrangements in the 1950s and 1960s. By 2006, about six million items had been sold – making it one of the most long-lived products in the history of post-war Germany.
The piggy-back principle patented by VS: with a rubber pad under the seat support, the chair can be placed gently on the tabletop to make cleaning the classroom easier. Thanks to the two-legged design, the skid chair also offers increased pupil legroom.
The piggy-back principle patented by VS: with a rubber pad under the seat support, the chair can be placed gently on the tabletop to make cleaning the classroom easier. Thanks to the two-legged design, the skid chair also offers increased pupil legroom.
The piggy-back principle patented by VS: with a rubber pad under the seat support, the chair can be placed gently on the tabletop to make cleaning the classroom easier. Thanks to the two-legged design, the skid chair also offers increased pupil legroom.
The wooden skid chair is still very popular. It can be seen in a new guide at trade fairs.
The wooden skid chair is still very popular. It can be seen in a new guide at trade fairs.
The wooden skid chair is still very popular. It can be seen in a new guide at trade fairs.
1958
VS presented itself on an international stage
At the Brussels World’s Fair of 1958, in the German pavilion dedicated to education and learning, VS displayed a number of pupils’ workplaces consisting of tables and swivel chairs made from tubular steel conceived by Falk Müller. The frame and the swivel mechanism were designed as purely metal constructions.
Furniture for the modern school
Developments in education and architecture imposed new demands on school furniture. It became essential for classrooms to be flexible and offer mobility. Furniture was now supposed to be light but also sturdy. Stackable tables and chairs as well as cleat construction cupboards and shelves were high in demand.
Developments in education and architecture imposed new demands on school furniture. It became essential for classrooms to be flexible and offer mobility. Furniture was now supposed to be light but also sturdy. Stackable tables and chairs as well as cleat construction cupboards and shelves were high in demand.
In 1962, VS acquired the license for Thermodyne processing. This resulted in a pioneering product: LIGNOdur school table tops are extremely durable, robust and scratch-proof. Beech shavings from wood processing are used for production.
In 1962, VS acquired the license for Thermodyne processing. This resulted in a pioneering product: LIGNOdur school table tops are extremely durable, robust and scratch-proof. Beech shavings from wood processing are used for production.
In 1962, VS acquired the license for Thermodyne processing. This resulted in a pioneering product: LIGNOdur school table tops are extremely durable, robust and scratch-proof. Beech shavings from wood processing are used for production.
200,000 LIGNOdur table tops in various shapes are produced each year by VS. They easily stand up to the toughest stress tests of all – everyday school life.
200,000 LIGNOdur table tops in various shapes are produced each year by VS. They easily stand up to the toughest stress tests of all – everyday school life.
200,000 LIGNOdur table tops in various shapes are produced each year by VS. They easily stand up to the toughest stress tests of all – everyday school life.
1973
Optimized skid chair
After 1973 an optimized version of Karl Nothhelfer’s skid chair was manufactured from oval steel tube. In comparison with the usual round steel tube it offered greater stability when under stress from tipping. Right from the year it was introduced, over 40 per cent of VS chairs were from this product line.
New business sector
Architects Günter Behnisch and Hubertus Eilers designed single desk furniture with a characteristic free-form top for Leybold AG in Alzenau and developed it in cooperation with VS.
1986
New business sector
Architects Günter Behnisch and Hubertus Eilers designed single desk furniture with a characteristic free-form top for Leybold AG in Alzenau and developed it in cooperation with VS.
1987
New Managing Director
After the death of Falk Müller, his son Thomas Müller becomes Managing Director of VS.
1988
Orgatec & Cooperation with Behnisch and Eilers
VS were represented for the first time at the Orgatec office furniture trade fair in Cologne. They won the design prize for their B&P 900 desk by Behnisch and Eilers.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
After the Fall of the Wall, P. Johannes Müller & Co extended their business into the new federal states. In the same year, it was fully integrated into VS by Thomas Müller.
1990
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
After the Fall of the Wall, P. Johannes Müller & Co extended their business into the new federal states. In the same year, it was fully integrated into VS by Thomas Müller.
1994
Collaboration with Verner Panton
The start of the company’s collaboration with design legend, Verner Panton. The results included the cantilever PantoSwing and pupil’s swivel chair PantoMove with dynamic seat shell.
1994
Extension of production areas
Works area IV completed. (Architects: KSP Engel and Zimmermann, Frankfurt)
Office Furniture
The single table by Behnisch and Eilers was developed to become an extensive and efficient office furniture system – the Series 900.
1995
Office Furniture
The single table by Behnisch and Eilers was developed to become an extensive and efficient office furniture system – the Series 900.
1996
NetWork and Series 2000
VS successively developed a comprehensive range of furniture for integrated fitting out of offices. This included the NetWork table system and Series 2000 privacy screen and screen system.
100th anniversary
VS celebrated their one hundred-year company anniversary. They moved into their new administration and exhibition building erected by Günter Behnisch.
1998
100th anniversary
VS celebrated their one hundred-year company anniversary. They moved into their new administration and exhibition building erected by Günter Behnisch.
The school museum
In 1998, VS opened its school museum to mark its 100th anniversary and has been showing the permanent exhibition "The classroom: school furniture in the 20th century" ever since. Visitors experience a unique journey through the history and development of national and international school architecture from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day.
Shaping innovations convincingly
Bringing innovations convincingly into shape
Collaboration with renowned designers and architects has always been an integral part of our history. Together with VS, Jean Nouvel, for example, created JUMPER, a chair for everyone: for children and adults, for pupils and students. Get to know our design partners here.
A new millennium
A VS strength: integrated furniture and fittings and well thought-out furniture systems for offices, schools and educational institutions. In comparison with other companies, VS has the range of products to cover the entire spectrum of requirements for a modern information and knowledge society with intelligent, functional furniture solutions – from kindergarten to schools, and from universities to offices, right up to the executive suite. The diversity of applications, our high quality levels and an array of products that meet the demand for individualization are the drivers for our success.
A VS strength: integrated furniture and fittings and well thought-out furniture systems for offices, schools and educational institutions. In comparison with other companies, VS has the range of products to cover the entire spectrum of requirements for a modern information and knowledge society with intelligent, functional furniture solutions – from kindergarten to schools, and from universities to offices, right up to the executive suite. The diversity of applications, our high quality levels and an array of products that meet the demand for individualization are the drivers for our success.
The German Bundestag
All administrative work stations for the new German Bundestag in Berlin (Jakob-Kaiser-Haus and Paul-Löbe-Haus) were fitted out with Series 900 furniture.
2008
Interactive Learning
The ActiveBoard makes interactive lessons possible. VS developed complete solutions with integrated close-range projector.
New Chairman of the Management Board
On January 1st, 2016, Philipp Müller took over as Managing Director.On January 1st, 2016, Philipp Müller took over as Chairman of the Management Board (CEO).
2016
New Chairman of the Management Board
On January 1st, 2016, Philipp Müller took over as Managing Director.On January 1st, 2016, Philipp Müller took over as Chairman of the Management Board (CEO).
Fourth generation family business
Since May 2019 Philipp Müller is sole managing director. The company is therefore now family-run for the fourth generation.
VS in Figures (2023)
1702
Employees on average over the year
336.6
€ million turnover
47
Apprentices and students
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