In 1948, the foundation stone of today’s company ZECHER was laid by the company founder Kurt Zecher. At first, in a small electroplating shop, one restricted oneself to the surface treatment of machine parts.

Inquiries from the printing industry induced the inventive young entrepreneur to manufacture the first regularly engraved halftone roller as early as 1950.

Owing to logically consistent further development of the electronic control, a halftone roller engraving with 45° angle for the flexographic printing was introduced as early as 1951. One was already able to manufacture ordered screens with a fineness of 80 l/cm by means of a diamond graver at that time.

At the beginning of the seventies, ZECHER already had 7 engraving system. In the middle of the seventies, one was able to manufacture screens of 140 – 170 l/cm by means of specialization.

In 1981, the ZECHER – halftone roller with its much-praised 140 l/cm F 18.3 was star among the halftone rollers introduced at the DRUPA. It was able to transfer a color range which was never reached before.

At that time, the high-quality ZECHER-roller had already become well known for a long time. Between 1985 and 1990, the ZECHER-roller was repeatedly number one in the statistics.

However, these successes and the constantly increasing demands of the printing industry were to form only the beginning of new dimensions in the coating technology.

By means of further development of the electroplating (development of a special nickel bath with the addition of silicon particles), one was able to reach an even better wear resistance of the roller surface, which resulted in an increased stability.

A precise truth of running of the halftone rollers has been reached by use of the Polish Master since 1988.

After extensive research work and tests with English specialists in the field of laser construction, the laser-engraved ceramic roller - well thought-out up to the smallest detail - was born in 1989.

In 1997, the first YAG – laser engraving system was put into operation.. It enables the manufacture of halftone rollers with any engraving fineness of up to 1,000 l/cm. Because of the good market acceptance, it was possible to install altogether 3 YAG – laser engraving systems within a short period of time.

When the company ZECHER celebrated its fiftieth jubilee, an ultramodern coating installation was put into operation. Apart from an extension of the capacity and together with extensive laboratory equipment, the company is strengthening its demands on setting new standards in the coating technology for halftone rollers.

During the drupa 2000, the company ZECHER introduced as first company in the world a new generation of halftone rollers within the scope of the coating technology with silvercoat.

The range is increasingly added by several surface improvement technologies. I.T.S.® ion implantation, corrosion prevention with ProTec® are further product novelties.

Constant further developments and a completed service program - combined with our experience gained during more than 50 years - will enable us to be your strong partner in the new millenium, as well.

Heading the year 2004 Zecher counts 120 employees. Laser No. 12 is now the third laser equipped with a state of the art Thermal Laser. The palette of ceramics is supplemented by Cerat®.