160 Years of History
In 2025, Berliner is celebrating three special anniversaries: 160 years of company history, paired with 70 years of rope play equipment and 30 years as a family business owned by the Koehler family. Three impressive milestones that not only attest to our experience and innovative strength but also to a deep-rooted passion for what Berliner has been doing for generations: creating playgrounds that make hearts beat faster.
Foundation of Berliner Seilfabrik by Paul Hugo Volkmann with a shop in Berlin-Wedding and production in Berlin-Heinersdorf
Paul Volkmann, son of the founder, takes over the company.
Joe Brown presents his first playground equipment in St. Louis, USA.
Joe Brown introduces the first rope play structures.
Due to the construction of the Berlin Wall, the company continues to operate in West Berlin under the name Berliner Seilfabrik Robert Schneider.
Takeover by Pfeifer Seil- und Hebetechnik GmbH – Berliner Seilfabrik becomes a limited partnership (KG).
Berliner Seilfabrik builds the first industrially manufactured rope play structure with a spatial net, which wins the “Gute Form” design award.
Relocation to Lengeder Straße in Berlin-Reinickendorf
Karl Köhler (on the right) joins the company.
Karl Köhler develops the Cloverleaf Ring and the Ballknot, both patented the same year – first milestones of technical innovation.
Patent for the modular Frameworx® System – flexible design meets stability.
Red Dot Design Award for the Quadropolis and Geos play structures
Karl Köhler takes over Berliner Seilfabrik through a management buy-out. Since then, the company has focused exclusively on playground equipment.
Launch of the Terranos low rope courses – balance and movement close to the ground.
Launch of the UFO product line – the first spatial net based on a dodecahedron
The first Neptun XXL: huge volume and outstanding play value
Patent for the AstemTT®Tensioning System – low maintenance and child-safe
David Köhler joins the company and becomes Managing Director in 2007.
Launch and patent of an icosahedron spatial net structure.
Launch of the central mast structure Pentagode – a new classic is born.
The AstemMM Tensioning System and the expanding rods of the Pentagode are patented
Move into the newly built company premises in Roedernallee 17 A – our headquarters, doubling the production and office space
Introduction of Urban Design playpoints – an important step towards becoming a fullservice provider of playground equipment
Launch of Cosmo – the first fully spherical rope play structure
Establishment of the US subsidiary Berliner Seilfabrik Play Equipment Corporation (PEC) in Delaware, USA
David and Julia Köhler open the Berliner US Headquarters in Greenville, South Carolina with Lukas Steinke.
The Tetragode expands our range with geometric highlights.
The Quadrifol expands our range with geometric highlights.
Terranova complements the low rope garden product line, now known as Terranos & Terranova.
Launch of the Greenville product group with Bam & Boo, the first rope playhouses
Bam & Boo receive the Red Dot Design Award for outstanding product design.
A smooth generational transition is initiated. David Köhler becomes partner.
Launch of the Joe Brown Collection with the first spatial net climber with a wooden frame, The Globe – an homage to the pioneer of rope play equipment
Launch of the Triis tree houses – one of our most successful products
Logo relaunch – “Berliner Seilfabrik” becomes “Berliner”
Expansion of the production area with the new plant in Flottenstraße 14
Three-dimensional climbing net over four levels in the play tower at Swarovski Kristallwelten in Wattens, Austria
Europe’s longest climbing structure, “Aventura” comes to life in Medebach, Germany. Our custom design reaches new dimensions.
Launch of the Woodville product group – the natural look of wood meets the durability of steel.
Ferry Girra joins the company and becomes an additional Managing Director in 2018.
Karl Köhler develops the Charlotte Connector – another milestone in our history of innovation.
Opening of the climbing silo at Karl’s Adventure Village in Elstal, Germany
Triitopia enriches the Greenville product line – magical, twisted, wild!
The Cloverwood merges play structure and art object.
New buildings at Roedernallee 8 double production and office space once again
Launch of the Cubiron
Launch of the Leaves
Városliget in Budapest, Hungary – Europe’s largest urban cultural development project to date
Launch of the LevelUp product group – the classic play structure reimagined.
Lunia, the iconic hot air balloon-shaped rope play structure from the Városliget project, becomes a standard product.
The Polynode is patented.
Launch of the WaggaWagga line – maximum play volume, minimal footprint
Launch of LaGrange – an innovative playhouse with spatial net and various climbing elements
LaGrange gets siblings. Villago is a family of products with imaginative themes.
Opening of the inclusive playground at Aspen Seemann Memorial Park in Spirit Lake, Iowa, USA
Berliner Seilfabrik celebrates its 160th anniversary.
160 Years of Company History
Berliner was founded in 1865 at Neukirchstraße 62 in Berlin-Heinersdorf. Initially, hemp and wire ropes were produced for state authorities. Later, the focus shifted to the production of ropes for the elevator industry. Despite two world wars, the factory remained virtually undamaged and operated until the 1970s. 160 years later, it is not a factory that stands at Berliner’s birthplace, but one of our Cosmos. True to the motto: Back to the roots.
70 Years of Rope play Equipment
70 years ago, American boxer and sculptor Joe Brown developed the first rope play equipment, laying the foundation for our success story.
As a pioneer of rope play equipment, Brown created the first ‘Play Communities’ that were both artistic and functional – shaping modern play culture.
30 Years Family run Business
Since 1995, our family-run business has been successfully operated by the Koehler family in Berlin. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the parent company originally wanted to close the business, but Managing Director Karl Koehler seized the opportunity and took over Berliner in a management buy-out . With the entry of David Koehler, our family business is now in its second generation. Since 1995, we have developed and produced play equipment exclusively and have made a name for ourselves worldwide. We are proud to put a smile on children’s faces in 56 countries with our high-quality, unique, modern play equipment – ‘Made in Berlin’.
