140 Years of the Obenauf Cardboard Factory: A Piece of Industrial History Celebrates the Future

140 years of company history mark an extraordinary anniversary—especially in an era when markets, technologies, and economic conditions are changing at an ever-faster pace. The Obenauf cardboard factory, A. Obenauf GmbH & Co. KG, celebrated its 140th anniversary last Saturday, August 29, 2026. Around 120 guests gathered at the company’s Bad Harzburg-Eckertal location to look back on the company’s history and, at the same time, look ahead to the future.

“140 years of Obenauf are, above all, 140 years of commitment, a willingness to embrace change, and trust,” says Alexander Wietasch, partner and managing director of A. Obenauf GmbH & Co. KG. “We look back with great respect on the people who have built and developed this company over generations. At the same time, we don’t want to view this anniversary merely as a retrospective. For us, it is above all an occasion to look ahead together.”

An Anniversary That Brings Generations Together
The official portion of the celebration was opened by Alexander Wietasch, partner and managing director of A. Obenauf GmbH & Co. KG. At 3:00 p.m., he opened the buffet and welcomed the guests to enjoy a meal together and catch up.
Tobias Neidhardt, who took over the company from his father, Dieter Neidhardt, in 1994 and led it for over three decades, also addressed the guests.
It became clear that this year’s anniversary was a very special moment for Neidhardt. After decades at the helm of the cardboard factory, he is glad to have found a capable successor in Alexander Wietasch.
Neidhardt does not view the fact that the company is no longer being run within the family as the end of a family tradition. Rather, what matters most is that Obenauf’s story continues to be written. This is precisely where the special significance of the generational transition lies: In 2024, responsibility was assumed for the first time by a successor from outside the family—yet the company’s values, knowledge, and history remain intact.
“The transition in 2024 was an important step in positioning Obenauf for the coming decades,” explains Wietasch. “This isn’t about throwing proven practices overboard. On the contrary: Our task is to preserve the company’s experience and know-how while simultaneously providing new impetus.”

An Anniversary Celebration for the People Behind the Company
The anniversary celebration on August 29 therefore focused not only on machines, products, and milestones, but above all on the people who have shaped Obenauf in the past and continue to shape it today.
About 120 guests—including employees and their families, many former employees, business partners, representatives of the city of Bad Harzburg, and members of the media—took the opportunity to mingle and look back together on the company’s history.
Mayor Ralf Abrahms also paid tribute to the importance of this long-established company for Bad Harzburg and the region. Abrahms’ connection to the cardboard factory extends beyond his current role as mayor of the city; it also involves a very personal story: During his college years, he worked at Obenauf for many years. By sharing personal anecdotes from his time at the company, he brought the history of the cardboard factory to life once again for the guests.
The presence of the French TV crew from TF1 further underscored the nationwide attention that the company’s 140th anniversary is now receiving.
In addition to conversations, dining, and the official presentations, guests also had the opportunity to experience cardboard production firsthand. Managing Director Christoph Klemm offered guided tours of the plant and gave visitors insights into the production processes. This allowed guests not only to learn about the company through the speakers’ accounts, but also to experience firsthand the facility where high-quality solid board is produced daily from recycled waste paper.
For the employees, the anniversary was also a special moment: Many associate Obenauf not only with a workplace, but also with a piece of regional industrial history. Over the decades, knowledge, experience, and both artisanal and technical skills have been passed down.

Founded in 1886—and constantly reinventing itself
The history of the Obenauf cardboard factory began in 1886. At that time, Arno Obenauf founded a cardboard and paperboard factory in Cämmerswalde. In 1928, he acquired the Eckertal cardboard factory, thereby laying an important foundation for the company’s later development at its current location.
After World War II, production resumed in 1946 with the support of the Neidhardt family. In 1959, a change crucial to the company’s future development took place: Obenauf switched from wood pulp to the processing of recycled paper.
In 1964, the company commissioned its first fully automated rolled cardboard production line, marking another technological milestone. In 1994, Tobias Neidhardt took over management of the company from his father, Dieter Neidhardt, and led Obenauf through the following decades.

In 2024, the most recent major turning point in the company’s history finally took place: Alexander Wietasch became the first successor from outside the family to take over the company and its management.
Thus, Obenauf’s history itself serves as an example of change and adaptability: Over the course of 140 years, the company has transformed time and again without losing its identity.

140 Years of History—But the Focus Is on the Future
The anniversary celebration made it clear that 140 years of corporate history at Obenauf do not mean standing still. On the contrary: The company’s history is marked by change—from its founding in 1886 through the shift to recycled paper, technological advancements, and several generational transitions, all the way to today’s focus on sustainable specialty papers.
“Of course, we don’t want to simply carry on over the next 140 years exactly as we have over the past 140,” said Alexander Wietasch. “But we want to reflect on what has always made Obenauf strong: technical expertise, reliability, quality, down-to-earth values, and a willingness to evolve. That is precisely what we are building our future on.”
With its anniversary on August 29, 2026, the Obenauf cardboard factory has therefore not only looked back on an exceptionally long corporate history. It has also sent a clear signal for the future: 140 years of tradition can serve as a strong foundation for innovation, sustainability, and further growth.