History

The pioneer in medical textiles for more than 115 years

Karl Otto Braun founded his company in Wolfstein, Germany, in 1903, and it quickly became a success selling elastic bandages.

In the 1930s, KOB began collaborating with customers to work on product developments to meet their specific needs. KOB has been in fully integrated production since 1953, combining and optimising the entire process chain in-house.

The production of cohesive conforming bandages began in 1978 and has since set a standard in this field.

Today the comprehensive KOB range includes bandages and fabrics for phlebology & lymphology, sports medicine and orthopaedics, wound care and transdermal carriers, which are partially produced in Wolfstein and partially in the plant founded in 1998 in Coimbatore, India

With its subsidiary BRAWO SYSTEMS GmbH, KOB expanded its textile expertise into the industrial field of construction in 1997. As Europe's technology leader, the company produces and distributes worldwide the trenchless rehabilitation system with the seamless textile liner BRAWOLINER® for wastewater pipes in the field of building and property sewerage. Under the BRAWO® SYSTEMS brand, the system supplier offers products and services used in the rehabilitation of buried and in-building wastewater pipes in private and commercial properties as well as industrial plants.

KOB has belonged to the HARTMANN GROUP since 2000.

Several international sales offices have been established to support further international growth. 

In 2016, the sales office in the USA was founded, followed by Japan in 2017.

Since 2016, KOB has also set up its own team of experts to work on smart medical textiles.

1903

Karl Otto Braun

Foundation by Karl Otto Braun

1953

Production

the entire process chain in-house

1997

BRAWOLINER®

Development of the pipeline solution BRAWOLINER®

1998

KOB India

Formation of KOBs production site in India

2000

HARTMANN AG

Takeover by HARTMANN AG

2016

KOB USA

Formation of KOBs sales office in USA

2017

KOB Japan KK

Formation of KOBs sales office in Japan

Milestones

1903 - Foundation by Karl Otto Braun

He founded the company in Wolfstein in the Palatine region of Germany and led it to success.  

1953 - The entire process chain moves in-house

Early on KOB produces bandages and fabrics from fiber to finished product and delivers it in customer packaging.

2016/2017

In addition to the existing production and distribution sites in Germany and India, KOB opens sales offices in USA and Japan.