From the Ruhr Valley to the World.
The roots of Körling Interiors date back to 1874, when Christian Körling founded his first joinery in Dortmund. What began with craftsmanship, pioneering spirit and family solidarity has developed over generations into one of the most renowned addresses in the field of shopfitting, museum furnishings and contract furnishing – from high-quality furniture and complete interior solutions for department stores and large-scale projects to international projects and exclusive custom-made pieces.
Our company’s journey mirrors the evolution of Germany’s economic history: shaped by development, world wars, reconstruction, expansion, crises and renewal. A long period in which the company, across generations, has always kept its sights set on the future.
Even though the company name has changed over the years, the passion, craftsmanship, innovative spirit and strong bond between the Körling family and the entire workforce have remained.
A Story of Courage, Change and Solidarity.
Our story is not just that of the company’s founder, Christian Körling, who laid the foundation with courage and diligence. It is the story of countless people: employees, families, partners – all those who have worked, built and fought with heart and dedication over decades. Wars, economic crises and pandemics have shaped us, but never broken us. We have always risen again. We have rethought, rebuilt, and moved forward together. “Standing still is going backward,” Franz Körling once said – which is why we always look ahead: to progress, development, and innovation.
Today, we are more than a traditional company. We run a family business with a future – strong in Bigge, Dortmund and Gorzów. Grateful for our roots. Ready for everything what lies ahead.
Milestones of Our History
1874 When company founder Christian Körling opened a joinery in Dortmund (Weberstraße 27) in 1874, he already had the principle of fulfilling customer requests individually and with high quality. Just six months later, he hired his first journeyman. Just two years later (1876), there were already 16 journeymen, which is why he rented a second workshop at II. Kampstraße 6 in Dortmund.
1895 Christian Körling acquired a property with a building (a residential building with a workshop) at Wilhelmstraße 33 and 35 in Dortmund – the company’s first headquarters, in whose first-floor premises “the first mechanical carpentry shop in the Ruhr area” found its new home.
1910 Even before the outbreak of the First World War, in 1910, the premises on Wilhelmstraße were remodeled and repurposed: the workshop moved to the ground floor, where a furniture shop complemented the existing joinery. The first floor served as storage space for wood and furniture. The company now employed 30-40 journeymen. At this time, the eldest son, Franz Körling, joined the company. Shortly thereafter, the First World War (1914-1918) broke out, claiming the majority of the workforce. This included the eldest son, Franz, who had previously been the company’s mainstay and supporter. Franz Körling was killed in Verdun in February 1916.
1923 With the return of surviving soldiers in 1918, economic recovery began. Initially, the increased demand could not be met—materials were lacking, and the workshops had to be converted back to their original purpose. In 1923, a modern production building was constructed, and manufacturing was expanded. In addition to furniture, Körling now also produced shopfittings and interior designs.
1938 Christian Körling earned an excellent reputation in the industry through his consistently high quality. After his death on February 3, 1931, the company was divided: Josef Körling took over the trading business, while Hans Körling assumed control of the manufacturing operations of the Körling & Co. furniture factory. The production of glass counters and display cases was added to the product line, and the company shifted its focus to commercial and contract furnishings.
1943 Dortmund was largely destroyed by bombing during World War II; at Körling, the warehouses, machinery, and buildings were hit. The entire veneer stock burned down in just one night. Twenty days later, the factory buildings with their modern machinery and the residential house with the furniture store went up in flames.
1946-48 The Körling family and employees returning from the war cleared the rubble together by hand. With combined effort, reconstruction slowly began. By 1947, the topping-out ceremony could already be celebrated on Wilhelmstrasse. In addition to rebuilding all the buildings, the machinery was also brought up to date.
1948-54 After the currency reform in 1948, the company embarked on the economic miracle with its first major delivery: Demand rose rapidly, and Körling became a GmbH (limited liability company) with Hans and Franz Körling as shareholders. Department store chains like Karstadt, Horten, and Kaufring soon became some of its largest customers. The company built its own glass grinding shop.
1954 Due to steady growth and increasing demand, the “Bigger Holzindustrie” production facility was established in Bigge-Olsberg this year. The first large production hall, including all ancillary buildings, was constructed in just three months. Over the following years it was subsequently expanded and modernized. Even today, production in Olsberg remains the heart of our manufacturing and provides a large portion of our production capacity.
1955-56 Körling takes on its first major orders (1 km of counter). This was followed by the construction of another new production hall at the Olsberg site, as well as a six-family house with company apartments for employees – four more houses followed in the subsequent years.
1959 New building on Bruchstrasse and personnel changes: Hans Körling focused more on the Bigge location, while Roland Müller was taking over management there. Franz Körling managed the Dortmund branch. Körling celebrated its 85th anniversary with the company, and Hans Körling his 65th birthday.
1961 Franz Körling initiated the construction of the new headquarters in the suburb of Barop. Over the next five years, the site was expanded and adapted to meet evolving interior design requirements. In addition to enlarging the woodworking and glazing departments, the metalworking shop was developed into a high-performance metal fabrication operation. The company also added its own electrical installation department to complete its range of interior construction services.
1969 Hans Körling leaves the company – Franz Körling becomes the sole owner, with Roland Müller as Managing Director in Bigge and Ferdinand Hoffmann as authorized signatory in Dortmund, later also as Managing Director.
1974 The Körling company takes over Alex Linder GmbH in Nürtingen and develops it into a successful bank interior fitter with more than 500 employees. Körling becomes a supplier to the sister company and ventures into the interior design of large international projects for the first time.
1985 The Barop site has reached its capacity limits, so the factory in Dortmund-Kley is built this year. The modern facilities of the new building will be tailored to current and future requirements and offer flexible usage options. Production processes in woodworking are optimized, and cutting-edge machinery is put into operation. Metalworking is expanded, and the integration of production areas is improved.
1986 Change of management: The fourth generation of the Körling family – Franz-Josef Körling – takes over the company shares and management of the entire company.
1993 Following the German reunification, the production of wire products in the new federal state of Saxony closed a remaining gap in the overall range of furnishings. The newly founded company Midrahtec in Leisnig received a new production facility in 1994, which was sold profitably in 2019 due to the prevailing shortage of skilled workers.
2002 In the late 1990s, the company faced major challenges – like most shopfitters: the retail sector was undergoing fundamental changes. Chain stores and discount retailers increasingly relied on standardized, cost-efficient concepts, while many long-standing customers – owner-operated businesses – disappeared from the market. Online retail was booming. This forced „Ladenbau Körling“ to close its Dortmund location in 2002. However, in the same year, Franz-Josef Körling and Peter Cramer founded the company “Körling Interiors”, which is still existing today.
2000-2011 With the founding of Körling Interiors, the company entered the international interior design sector. Through a partnership with a Polish company with roots in the Sauerland region, our activities expanded into Poland. A new production facility was built in Gorzów, Poland, and the company K-ShopTech was founded. Since then, under the leadership of Adam Teterycz, K-ShopTech has complemented our two German locations.
2021 The fifth generation of the Körling family joins the company: as the first generation without a carpentry background, but with a clear vision, Gregor Körling will lead the company into the future in the coming years alongside his father, Franz-Josef Körling, and Managing Director Peter Cramer, continuing the company’s 150-year history.
2024 Long-time employee Tobias Lübke takes over the management of the company in Olsberg with great passion and success. In the same year, Körling celebrates its 150th anniversary and invites the entire workforce from all locations, as well as former employees and family members, to a joint anniversary celebration in Olsberg.
Heute New materials, new techniques, new demands on design and function – for more than 150 years, we have stood for excellent interior construction and the ability to continuously evolve. We adapt and think ahead, combining tradition with innovation. What once began as a classic craft business is today a modern company with large production facilities and an international customer base. Our motto, “stagnation means regression,” remains deeply rooted in our DNA.
Looking Proudly into the Future.
150 years of Körling.
Since its founding in 1874, the name Körling has stood for quality craftsmanship, a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurial courage. With a keen sense of change and a clear vision for the future, we have successfully combined traditional craftsmanship with innovative solutions for four generations.
A future-oriented company has grown from a traditional craft business – with spacious production areas, state-of-the-art technology and a renowned international customer base.
From a classic craft business, we have grown into a forward-looking company – with spacious production facilities, state-of-the-art technology and a prestigious international customer base. Supported by the strength of a family business, reliable management, dedicated employees and the shared conviction that continuity arises from tradition and change, we have consistently found new paths. Today – 150 years later – we look back with pride and forward with determination and joy: ready for what lies ahead.
“Throughout its history, our traditional family business has always been a reliable partner with the highest standards of craftsmanship – this has been the case for the past 150 years, and this is how it is going on in the future: with a focus on our own tradition, with respect for what we have grown over time, and with curiosity about all that lies ahead.”
Franz-Josef Körling
Ready for your project?
We are.
Whether you’re just starting out with your idea or already have concrete plans for your project – the Körling Interiors team looks forward to meeting you. Let’s work together to bring your vision, your design, and your brand identity to life.