One hundred years ago, Friedrich Losberger and Klaas de Boer laid the foundation for the company that would become one of the world’s leading suppliers of temporary and semi-permanent space solutions: Losberger De Boer. In 2019, the company celebrates its hundredth birthday.

Both entrepreneurs could never suspect that the tents they built by hand in Heilbronn (Germany) and Hensbroek (the Netherlands), roughly 600 kilometers, would mark the start of a company that would not only supply large space solutions for the Olympic Games and the Football World Cup, but also provides modular space solutions for commercial space applications.

The early years

It is in Heilbronn, near Stuttgart, that the story of Losberger De Boer begins. In January 1919, Friedrich Losberger registered his company Friedrich Losberger Sackhandlung with the Chamber of Commerce. He built his first tent for a travelling circus. Around that same time, Klaas de Boer built his first tent for a town festival in Hensbroek, near Alkmaar. Both men quickly recognised the advantages of tents for a wide variety of purposes and, over time, both companies concentrated more and more on temporary structures.

Troubled times

The times, however, were turbulent. Friedrich Losberger’s factory was destroyed during the war. He rebuilt it at a new location and from then on, everything revolved around producing temporary structures and a decent growth of the company. Klaas De Boer also started a strong growth phase in the post-war period. He concentrated on the nationwide rental of tents as temporary solutions for a wide variety of purposes.

Modern space solutions

Both companies saw much innovation from the 50’s on, and in the 80’s the first structures emerged thatstarted to resemble the semi-permanent space solutions Losberger De Boer produces today. A trend towards aesthetic forms and comfortable interior environments set in. A variety of shapes and construction designs emerged and the description “tent” was no longer accurate.

The merger: Losberger De Boer

Losberger and De Boer had worked together a number of times in the past and in 2017 both companies decided to join forces and combine their extensive knowledge, experience, capacity and market share to move forward together, as Losberger De Boer. From that moment on everything, from product development and production to sales and rental, comes from one single source.

Both companies held prominent positions in the industry before the merger. Thanks to its increased scale and successful chain integration, the company is convinced it can strengthen and improve that position. To achieve this, Losberger De Boer is totally focused on creating the best possible temporary space solutions and the best possible customer experience.

Adam Parry
Author: Adam Parry

Adam is the co-founder and editor of www.eventindustrynews.com Adam, a technology evangelist also organises Event Tech Live, Europe’s only show dedicated to event technology and the Event Technology Awards. Both events take place in November, London.