Lost in thought, Kurt Adolf Körber clutched technical drawings as he fled Dresden after the war. These plans were from Universelle-Werke Dresden. Today, we stand before a building with a rich past. It stands as a testament to Dresden’s industrial heritage: the Universelle-Werke Dresden.
Founded in 1898 by Otto Bergsträßer, Universelle-Werke Dresden began as Compagnie Universelle. Its focus was on manufacturing machines for cigarette production. They made machines for cardboard mouthpieces. They also produced the first cigarette-making machines. In 1915, the company changed its name. It became Universelle-Zigarettenmaschinenfabrik J. C. Müller & Co. Johann Carl Müller inspired the new name. The company expanded its product range. It included tobacco roasting and cooling machines. Also, they made tobacco loosening, mixing, and sifting machines. They produced box-making machines and chocolate cigarette machines. Even motorbikes and printing presses were part of their output. Between 1925 and 1929, they manufactured motor tricycles for transport.
The 1940s brought significant change to Universelle-Werke Dresden. The company shifted to war production. They made airplane parts and machine guns. Searchlights, torpedoes, and weapon control systems were produced. During World War II, the company used forced laborers. A camp existed on Florastraße 14 in Dresden. In October 1944, 700 female prisoners arrived from Ravensbrück concentration camp. They were assigned to the Flossenbürg camp. Many escaped during the February 1945 bombing.
After the war, in 1946, the company became Volkseigentum. Its name changed to VEB Universelle-Werke Dresden. It received orders for printing and stamping machines. Also, they built beverage filling and cigarette-making machines. In 1948, the company was renamed VEB Tabak- und Industriemaschinen. Later, it became VEB TABAKUNI Dresden.
From 1962, the company focused on tobacco processing machines. It shifted to packaging machines. This was achieved by taking over products from VEB Verpackungs- und Schokoladenmaschinen Dresden. In 1972, the two companies merged. The new entity was VEB Verpackungsmaschinenbau Dresden.
This company specialized in packaging machines. They were for the food and beverage industry. As part of VEB Kombinat NAGEMA, it became the world’s largest packaging machine manufacturer. They developed machines for hard candies. In 1982, they created a research center with the Dresden University of Technology.
After German reunification in 1990, the company was privatized. It became Verpackungsmaschinenbau GmbH Dresden. It operated as Pactec. In 1994, Rose-Theegarten from Cologne acquired Pactec. In 1997, both company headquarters were consolidated in Dresden. Production ceased at the Zwickauer Straße location. Ownership changed several times.
In the 2010s, IMMOPACT bought the site and began renovations. The groundbreaking for the building at Zwickauer Straße 46 occurred in 2017. It opened on May 8, 2019. The TechnologieZentrumDresden GmbH now occupies the building. The building offers 5,100 square meters of rentable space on five floors. Key tenants include the German Aerospace Center. The Dresden University of Technology and the startup anvajo GmbH are here too.
The factory building, constructed in 1942, is architecturally significant. Hans Richter and Herbert Schneider designed it. The building is an example of Nazi-era architecture. It has a monumental head building and rectangular wings with rows of windows. Its architectural and industrial history makes it a technical monument in Dresden.
Today, Universelle-Werke Dresden is a hub for technology and startups. It symbolizes Dresden’s ability to reinvent itself. From cigarette machines to a modern tech center, its story is one of transformation. As we conclude our visit, remember the layers of history within these walls. It is a place where innovation continues.