In Memoriam: Jakob Müller
Jakob Müller, engineer and innovator in the narrow fabrics industry, died Oct. 6, 2003. He was 87. After taking over the eightemployee narrow fabric shuttle loom business from his father in 1946, Müller led Frick, Switzerland-based Jakob Müller AG to become a global narrow fabric machinery manufacturer with more than 1,000 employees and branch offices around the world.To date, the company has garnered more than 700 patents for its innovations.In the 1970s, Müller introduced a line of narrow fabric needle looms that offered more economical production than the shuttle looms they replaced. The company also expanded its product range to include warping, warp crochet, finishing and make-up machinery; and programming systems including computer aided design and manufacturing, and enterprise resource planning.In 1982, Müller established the J. & T. Müller Foundation to guarantee its autonomy and continuity. He also opened the Müllerhof as a meeting place and center for narrow fabrics activities.In 1992, he transferred management of the holding company to Christian Kuoni, who has the support of the decision-making members of the Müller family.In 1997, Müller founded Jakob Müller Technologie to conduct research and development of new products, the latest being the prototype Müller MDL digital-direct weaving system with direct heddle drive.
Spring 2004