1881

The Beginnings in Melchnau

While Europe is shaped by industrialization and technological progress, the story of Ruckstuhl begins in surprisingly modest circumstances: Moritz Ruckstuhl rents the barn and the dance hall of the inn "zur Eintracht" in Melchnau. The first runners and braided door mats made of coconut are created on handlooms. The beginning of a Swiss carpet story.

1884

Arrival in Langenthal

The railway is transforming Europe, and industrial centers are growing. Ruckstuhl is also developing rapidly: the first spaces become too small, and production moves to Langenthal – which remains the home of the manufactory to this day.

1918

From Small Business to Corporation

Europe is undergoing profound change. The First World War ends, and new political and economic structures emerge. That same year, Moritz Ruckstuhl transforms the company into a joint-stock corporation, and in 1922 hands over its management to his son Walter.

1921

The Birth of PORTA

Modernity is making its way into architecture and design. While Bauhaus and Functionalism shape new forms of living, Ruckstuhl develops the woven coconut fiber PORTA – functional, durable, and still a classic today.

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1939

Materials research in changing times

At the start of the Second World War, raw materials in Europe came under pressure. Felix Ruckstuhl experimented with paper yarns and alternative materials – early evidence of the material expertise that continues to define Ruckstuhl today.

1967

CALICUT – A classic is created

The world is looking toward the future: design is becoming bolder, architecture more radical. Amid the spirit of change in the 1960s, Ruckstuhl launched CALICUT – a coconut fiber rug of archaic clarity that has endured to this day.

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1970

Sisal is becoming fashionable

The 1970s rediscover naturalness. Materials like wood, stone, and natural fibers shape interiors. With JAIPUR, Ruckstuhl transforms sisal into an elegant architectural flooring material.

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1977

New materials, new possibilities

As the design world begins to reconnect tradition and technology, Peter Ruckstuhl enters the company in the fourth generation. At the same time, the manufactory starts tufting wool carpets.

1987

Designers’ Saturday and New Perspectives

Design is becoming more international, experimental, and interdisciplinary. Together with other companies in the region, Ruckstuhl founded DESIGNERS’ SATURDAY – a platform that brings industry and design together in a new way.

1990

A sign with origin

The early 1990s are characterized by design reduction: clear typography, precise shapes, and timeless appearances define the international design understanding. In this context, Swiss designer Alfred Hablützel developed the logo in 1990 that has accompanied Ruckstuhl to this day. The wordmark resembles a stylized calligraphic script—a deliberate reference to craftsmanship, materiality, and the culture of careful making. A symbol between tradition and the present. In 2017, the distinctive lettering received a slight makeover and the addition "Swiss 1881."

1992

Switzerland - Denmark

In 1992, Ruckstuhl took over the Danish rug and carpet workshop Skandinavisk Kokosvæveri, known as Skanko for short. Coir and sisal production was relocated from Langenthal to Nakskov, creating additional production space and direct access to the European market. At the same time, Scandinavian design tradition and Swiss precision came together to create a distinctive aesthetic that continues to shape the company to this day. After eight years, production was consolidated again in Switzerland.

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1999

Back to Switzerland

Shortly before the turn of the millennium, at a time of global production relocation, Ruckstuhl consciously chose Langenthal: production returned from Denmark to Switzerland—a clear commitment to the location.

In the former white-goods factory “Werk 20” of Porzellanfabrik Langenthal AG, which gradually relocated its operations to the Czech Republic from 1997 onward, Ruckstuhl established its production facility in 1999 and moved the entire company to Werk 20 in 2013.

The DRY, FLOW, and JAIPOLINO rugs originated from the Danish workshop.

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2009

The beginning of robotic manufacturing

Digital technologies are transforming production worldwide. Ruckstuhl integrates robotic tufting with the Robotloom, combining precise technology with artisanal craftsmanship—long before on-demand production became a key industry topic.

2014

The Discovery of Fiqué

In a globalized world, local artisanal techniques are gaining new significance. In Colombia, Ruckstuhl discovers the natural fibre fique and develops handmade rugs together with local partners.

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2018

Swiss wool reimagined

Regionality and transparent supply chains are gaining importance. Together with the Zermatt label NEESCHI, carpets are created from the wool of the Valais Blacknose sheep – entirely processed in Switzerland.

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2021

The manufactory in new hands

In a time of change, a new generation of owners takes responsibility. Adrian Berchtold and Valentin Baumann are redefining Switzerland's oldest carpet manufacturer—with respect for its heritage and a vision for the future.

2023

The digital carpet

Digitalization is increasingly reaching traditional industries. While topics such as origin, transparency, and circular economy are gaining importance, Ruckstuhl is presenting one of the first fully functional digital product passports for the interior industry at Milan Design Week. Together with World of Pi, the manufacturer is developing an NFT-based identity for carpets – serving as a carrier of origin, material knowledge, care information, and history. A step that connects Swiss craftsmanship with a digital future.

2025

Trix & Robert Haussmann

Together with Edition-H, Ruckstuhl is releasing an authorized carpet collection that makes iconic designs as well as previously unpublished works of the renowned Swiss designer duo accessible. Between geometric precision, playful postmodernism, and artisanal craftsmanship, a piece of Swiss design history is newly experienced.

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