The roots of ALTEX go back to 1936:
Bernhard Stienemann Sr. began in the Münsterland region with a peddler’s license and a cargo bicycle, working as a trader of used goods, metals, hides, and other recyclable materials.
In 1951 he founded the first company together with his son Günter. The business traded in scrap metal and various types of waste. In 1956, Helga Stienemann, Günter’s wife, joined the company and expanded its activities – particularly in the area of raw material processing.
Textile companies based in the Münsterland region as well as the neighboring Netherlands supplied ample raw and waste materials, so the idea of recycling and reprocessing began to take shape soon.
The premises at Overdinkelstraße 22 in Gronau soon became too small, prompting the family in the late 1960s to acquire a roughly 30,000-square-meter plot of land on Düppelstraße 12 in Gronau, where the first tearing machines and baling presses were acquired – an important milestone in the company’s development.
In the early 1970s, Bernhard Stienemann Jr., the son of Günter and Helga Stienemann, joined the growing family business.
In 1975, Günter and Bernhard Stienemann jointly founded ALTEX Gronauer Filz GmbH & Co. KG. This marked the transition from pure raw material trading to industrial manufacturing – a decisive step toward becoming the modern recycling and needle-punched-nonwoven specialist that ALTEX is today.
At the end of of the 1970s, recycled fibers were not only sold but also used for the production of needle-punched-nonwoven. The purchase of the first needle-punching line marked the beginning of a new era at ALTEX – and laid the groundwork for our present-day focus.
In 1980, ALTEX presented itself for the first time to an international audience at the “Heimtextil” trade fair in Frankfurt – and promptly received its first major export order. Together with our partner TAG, we produced needle-punched nonwoven and ribbed fabrics for prayer and oriental rugs in Iran. The very first shipment included over twelve containers – a strong sign of “Made in Germany” quality and the beginning of a continuously growing export business.
In the years that followed, the company’s growth continued steadily. New market opportunities in the automotive supply industry and in geotextiles for civil engineering opened up additional prospects. To meet this demand, production was continuously expanded: Additional needle-punching lines were installed, a warehouse and shipping hall were built, and a new administrative building was constructed.
The founding of ALTEX Textil-Recycling GmbH & Co. KG, based in Gronau-Epe in 1989, marked a strategic turning point: Sustainability evolved from an idea into an independent, professional business field. As a result, a clear division within the Stienemann family emerged, with two locations:
Bernhard Stienemann Jr. specialized in the production of needle-punched nonwovens on Düppelstraße in Gronau, while his younger brother Karsten Stienemann – with the company ALTEX Textil-Recycling – supplied the recycled raw materials, fibers, and fiber blends required for production and continues to do so today.
From a shared DNA, two strong pillars emerged on which the company ALTEX continues to stand – pillars that contribute significantly to the sustained success of the family business.
In 2019, Bernhard Stienemann handed over the management of the company to his daughter Dania and the operational management to his son Nico Stienemann.
At the Gronau site, decades of experience meet state-of-the-art technology. With currently more than 100 dedicated employees, we produce around 10,000 tons of needle fleece each year. This corresponds to an area of more than 4,000 football fields. Our strengths lie in cutting-edge production facilities, an optimally coordinated raw material supply and in our team. With decades of experience, technical expertise, and a spirit of innovation, we set new standards in quality and efficiency every day. This makes ALTEX a modern, reliable partner for the automotive industry, geotextiles, home and ecotech applications, and many other industrial uses. More than half of our products find their way to markets around the world – a strong sign of quality, innovative power and trust “Made in Gronau”.
