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Ernst Albert Naether is regarded to be the father of German pram industry. Moved to Zeitz in 1846 he began to direct a little pram and sled factory. In 1852 his self designed prams were exposed to the Leipziger Messe, receiving positive feedback from the public. Until the end of the century, Naether products were sold all over Europe, counting on a catalogue of more than 100 different models. Since 1876 the company assumed the name of his founder, EA Naether, while the direction was taken by his two sons, Albin and Richard. In 1894 the factory was enlarged and two years later it is reported that 750 workers were employed. Transformed into a joint-stock company in 1910, EA Naether survived until 1945. One year later it was expropriated. During the following years, with the establishment of GDR, the industrial sector was shifted from private companies to state-owned ones, often organized into conglomerates and combines, formally called VEB (Volkseigener Betrieb, i.e. people-owned enterprise). In 1958 from the "ashes" of EA Naether and other Zeitz pram manufacturers a new VEB was created: Zekiwa, ZEitzer-KInder-WAgenindustrie. Soon it became the largest pram and stroller producer of the whole GDR, selling its products not only in Comecon countries but even in Western Europe. Employing 2200 workers in different production sites located within Zeitz, Zekiwa had a capacity of 450000 strollers and 160000 prams per year. In 1968 the first 100% plast stroller was assembled, bringing Zekiwa to win the gold medal at Leipziger Messe. After German Reunification Zekiwa was privatized. After a bankruptcy in 1998, Zekiwa GmbH was dismembered, moving the production to Asia. Actually in Zeitz is possible to see the ruins of old Zekiwa factories n.1 and n.3.
From the top-left: EA Naether pram factory overview, on a letterhead from 1937. Pram assembly in Zekiwa, during the 60s. Zeitz inhabitants with Zekiwa products, 1978. |
