ALBEC was founded in 1885 by Otto Rudolf Becker in Dresden as a bookbinding workshop. Even at that time, precision, fine craftsmanship and a confident handling of delicate materials characterised the work of the small business. His son Alfred Becker, born in 1887, joined the company after completing his training and later formed the brand name ALBEC from his initials.
The Great Depression of 1929 hit the small company hard and led to a significantly reduced workforce. During the Second World War, the workshop was almost completely destroyed – a severe turning point in the company’s history.
In 1945, the Becker family – Alfred, his wife and his son Gerhart – left the destroyed city of Dresden and relocated to Lauterbach in Hesse. From there, they began rebuilding the company. The product range initially remained focused on bookbinding. In 1956, Gerhart’s son Michael was born, who would later shape the fourth generation of the family business.
In the 1960s, Gerhart Becker became fully involved in the family business and continued to run the company together with his father Alfred. During this period, the young Gerhart gave the company a new direction: the introduction of paper-covered wooden boxes for cutlery storage became the decisive impulse for further growth. Alfred Becker worked in the business until his final day and passed away in 1967. Shortly afterwards, the company moved into a new building in Lauterbach – a location that would remain in use until 2025.
In the late 1960s and 1970s, Gerhart Becker expanded the range to include felt-lined cutlery holders and supplied various cutlery manufacturers. WMF in particular, which required high-quality storage solutions for its silver cutlery, became an important customer. Expectations increased: silver needed to be stored protected against tarnish and scratches. This marked the beginning of the development of specialised silverware inserts – a product range that would define ALBEC for decades. Initially, the holders were not produced in-house, but Gerhart Becker found a reliable long-term supplier.
From the very beginning, the felt-lined cutlery holders were handcrafted. The felt was – and still is – a natural material that protects each individual piece of cutlery in a special way. This combination of solid wood, natural felt and delicate workmanship established ALBEC as a niche manufacturer and true specialist.
In 1984, Michael Becker joined the family business after completing his studies. Together with his father, he travelled throughout Germany, presented the products at trade fairs and acquired new customers. Business flourished and the company continued to develop successfully. The name ALBEC became firmly established as a specialist for high-quality, handcrafted wooden cutlery holders and boxes. Demand grew steadily, supported by the table culture of the 1970s and 1980s, when well-set tables and complete cutlery sets played an important role on special occasions.
When the long-standing supplier of felt-lined cutlery holders ceased operations in the early 1990s, ALBEC decided to bring production entirely in-house. In 1995, the production area was expanded from 600 to 1,000 square metres and a complete joinery with modern machinery was established.
During this period, ALBEC became a regular supplier to manufacturers of high-quality cutlery – including Robbe & Berking, one of the world’s leading silver manufacturers. The company employed around 20 people and supplied customers throughout the German- speaking region as well as in France and Great Britain.
At the age of 79, Gerhart Becker handed over the company to his son Michael and passed away shortly afterwards. The early 2000s presented new challenges: traditional family meals, classic Sunday lunches and established table culture became less common. The importance of high-quality household items declined, and the traditional “dowry” for young couples almost disappeared. As a result, demand for silver cutlery and premium storage systems decreased.
Michael Becker responded to these developments by gradually downsizing the business in a socially responsible manner, leaving vacant positions unfilled. Nevertheless, ALBEC remained true to its core values: handcrafted manufactory quality and carefully designed storage solutions made of solid wood and felt.
With the rise of the internet, the market changed once again. Products became comparable at any time, and customers increasingly searched directly for specialised storage solutions for cutlery and silverware. A purely B2B-focused approach appeared increasingly outdated. Although ALBEC products were available online via retail partners, there was no direct sales channel of its own.
This changed in 2020, when ALBEC launched its own online shop – at exactly the moment when the Covid lockdown shifted the focus of many people back to their homes. Michael Becker thus consistently led the company into the digital age.
In December 2025, Michael Becker transferred the ALBEC brand to Patrick Stratmann. With this step, the continuation of the long-standing tradition of cutlery storage was placed in new hands.
Even though habits have changed, the need for reliable and high-quality cutlery storage remains. Many households continue to preserve their family cutlery – whether silver or stainless steel – over generations. Modern cutlery ranges also deserve protected and durable storage. Handcrafted inserts made of solid wood and natural felt provide optimal protection against scratches. More and more people are also recognising that true sustainability means using items for a long time rather than replacing them quickly.
ALBEC combines craftsmanship, timeless design and proven functionality. From 2026 onwards, following the transfer of the brand, stratmann will continue this tradition responsibly.
Discover ALBEC at stratmann