50 years of vacuum presses from Columbus


50 years of Columbus – and a look ahead

In May 2026, we will be celebrating a special anniversary: 50 years of Columbus.


What began in 1976 as an idea has grown into a company that is now recognised worldwide for application security, innovation and genuine partnership.
But behind these 50 years lies one thing above all else: a story of people.


See for yourself what makes Columbus what it is today:

A personal moment
This anniversary is also a very personal occasion for me.
My father, Günther Vetter, founded Columbus and, with his vision, laid the foundation for everything that is possible today.
With the invention of the vacuum bag, he didn’t just create a product – he pioneered a completely new approach.
Dear Dad, thank you for your courage, your clarity and your pioneering spirit.
Without you, this story wouldn’t exist.


What has driven us for 50 years – and makes us stronger than ever today
What sets Columbus apart is not just technology.
It is the combination of experience, continuous development and the clear commitment to providing our customers with genuine peace of mind:
50 years of accumulated application knowledgeSolutions that adapt to your operations – not the other way round.
A system that combines technology, practical experience and artificial intelligence. 
Because, ultimately, it’s not about the machines.
It’s about what you make possible with them.


And that is precisely why this anniversary is not a look back – but a promise
The coming years will be even more exciting. 
New possibilities, new applications, new opportunities for businesses that want to lead the way.
And we look forward to continuing on this journey together with you.


What does this mean for you in concrete terms?
If you are currently considering expanding your possibilities or exploring new avenues, now is the right time to discuss it.
Let’s work together to find out what really makes sense for your business.

Yours sincerely,
Ruth Christine Koppenberger
Owner & Managing Director

Interest?
IMPORTANT: We respond to every inquiry promptly. If you don't hear from us, please check your spam folder or contact us!

We would be happy to inform you about Pioneer, your options, all versions, prices, etc.
INTERESTING BLOG ARTICLE
Show blog
More than a vacuum press
Trade press HK – Wood and plastics processing
COLUMBUS: A true innovation for the 50th anniversary
EFF – Tailor-Made Interior Solutions
EFF – Tailor-Made Interior Solutions
Craftsmanship Meets Modern Technology
From rounding to ordering
From rounding to ordering
How to strategically use the interior design trend
Feel the musice with Columbus vacuum technology
Why I Developed Columbus 360°
50 Years of Columbus – and a System That Changes Everything
Swiss Precision Meets Creative Design
Realising Visions
Swiss Precision Meets Creative Design
Haapsalu Uksetehase AS Manufactures Doors for Hampton by Hilton
Tailor-made perfection in Estonia
Haapsalu Uksetehase AS Manufactures Doors for Hampton by Hilton
A Vacuum Press has supported Der Ernzerhof for many years
Premium Interior Fittings and Yacht Furnishings
A Vacuum Press has supported Der Ernzerhof for many years
"außerdem" utilizes the advantages of a vacuum press by Columbus
Outstanding Shopfitting with Vacuum
"außerdem" utilizes the advantages of a vacuum press by Columbus
The use of a vacuum press as a veneer press
Flat veneering with vacuum
The use of a vacuum press as a veneer press
The Wardrobe for the Master Carpenter Exam
Masterful craftsmanship
The Wardrobe for the Master Carpenter Exam
Clairhout Interieur: A Revolution in Interior Design
“It presses both flat and curved shapes”
Clairhout Interieur: A Revolution in Interior Design
Advertisement for Jean Paul Gaultier in Santiago de Chile
Columbus customer creates artistic masterpiece
Advertisement for Jean Paul Gaultier in Santiago de Chile
My Esel – exceptional bicycles & e-bikes
Beautiful Gift Idea
My Esel – exceptional bicycles & e-bikes
Interwood Pushes Design Boundaries with the Columbus Vacuum Press
Curving the Impossible
Interwood Pushes Design Boundaries with the Columbus Vacuum Press
Infinity for bimobil motorhomes
Infinity for bimobil motorhomes
Large-scale perfection, because high-gloss paint is unforgiving
Ziegler creates impressive eye model for the university clinic
Precession and art from vacuum
Ziegler creates impressive eye model for the university clinic
The Diversity of Applications of a Vacuum Press
From Very Small to Very Large
The Diversity of Applications of a Vacuum Press
The Columbus Pressure Shifting Tool
The Columbus Pressure Shifting Tool
Natural rubber bends steel
Kempa from Belgium invests in 2 vacuum presses
Kempa from Belgium invests in 2 vacuum presses
Round and curved shapes are particularly popular in interior design
the patented modular system from Ruth Koppenberger
the patented modular system
Everyone said it doesn't work - I believed in it
Mold for vacuum pressing
Mold making for mold gluing with vacuum
Practical tips and tricks
Guenther-Vetter-Ruth-Koppenberger
Thank you, dad
for the big things, but also for so many small ones
Guenther-Vetter
The invention of the Vacuum Bag
Interview with Günther Vetter about the origin of vacuum technology
Andreas Schützenberger, IOU Ramps
Skateboard ramps with the vacuum press Pioneer
Andreas Schützenberger does great things around the world
training for PUR hot melt adhesives
Protect your employees and your company
training for PUR hot melt adhesives
master-piece-vacuum-technology
ZOSIA by Robert Nößler
His masterpiece with nostalgia and a hidden secret
Ruth Koppenberger
Why a vacuum press?
You can use it not only to cover curved workpieces...
ligna-2023-vacuum-presses
Fair in May 2023
LIGNA in Hanover
Vacuum layer gluing and vacuum veneering with a vacuum bag
Modern Drop - The masterpiece by Lars Hackl
With vacuum layer gluing and vacuum veneering to natural elegance
Vacuum bag for masterpiece of Tommy Kairat
Off to new shores with Tommy Kairat's masterpiece
First-class form veneering with the Vacuflex Vacuum Bag
solid-surfaces-vacuum-press
Solid surface materials
Unleash the full potential with a vacuum press
vacuum-pump-becker
Vacuum pumps
Columbus shows the advantages of dry runners
vacuumbag-waldorfschule
Free creativity in the creating process
Students from the Freie Waldorfschule Mainz create truly unique items using vacuum technology
dali-speakers-made-with-vacuum-press-from-columbus-q
1.5 weeks instead of 6 weeks production time
Curved fronts on DALI speakers made in a vacuum press
master-piece-kramer-vacuumpress-columbus-q
Markus Kramer's masterpiece
His vision brings the French past into the present
Trade fair Holz-Handwerk in Nuremberg with Columbus
That was the Holz-Handwerk 2022
Spectacular success at the trade fair with the live presentation of PIONEER and MOVE.
LL Installations creates high-quality accents with Corian
The magic is in the details
LL Installations creates high-quality accents in a foyer with Corian
Dali works with a vacuum press from Columbus
Handmade speakers from Denmark
Customer DALI delights over a million customers in over 70 countries with handcrafted loudspeakers.
University of Stuttgart makes innovative artworks with the vacuum press PIONEER
Columbus & University of Stuttgart
Innovation meets science!
More independence from suppliers with vacuum technology
More success through independence from suppliers
6 reasons for a vacuum press
Flexstone manufactures large boat parts with INFINITY
Beyond all dimensions
Flexstone manufactures large boat parts with INFINITY
Feel the musice with Columbus vacuum technology
Feel the musice
Magnus Hoffmann has developed something particularly creative
Leonardian center made with a vacuum press from Columbus
Excellence as far as the eye can see
Acoustic panels for the Leonardian Center in Australia
Vacuum technology. Acrylic glass. Unlimited possibilities.
A dazzling cooperation between two pioneers
Vacuum technology. Acrylic glass. Unlimited possibilities.
Vacuum press for individual production
Individual. Exceptional. Unique.
Best performance with batch size 1
Resysta formed with a vacuum press from Columbus
Resysta - A compound better than wood
Design meets sustainability
master piece with vacuumbag from Columbus
White River by Jannik Otte
Masterpiece as an eye-catcher for the entrance area
Mainz Waldorf School produces with the Vacuflex vacuum bag
Young creativity
Students - not carpenters!
Zeppelin Nightliners produce their tour buses using a Columbus vacuum press
Full speed ahead with Vacuplus
The tour buses of the world's greatest stars
Customer Zöllner manufactures for Acrylic Couture with a vacuum press from Columbus
World premiere: acrylic glass chair
Customer Zöllner manufactures for Acrylic Couture
VIDEO: Seamless veneering with a vacuum press
Columbus makes the impossible possible
VIDEO: Seamless veneering in just a few working steps
Columbus forms Kerrock in Belgium
Columbus forms Kerrock in Belgium
An exceptional design future
Prager manufactures with a vacuum press from Columbus for Siemens
Prager manufactures for Siemens
An innovative trade fair booth
new opportunities in musiness with a vacuum press
New times bring new opportunities.
How to conquer existing markets by using new applications and materials.
Columbus and the great Swiss carpenters
That was the Holz 2019
Columbus and the great Swiss carpenters
Columbus enters into a cooperation with Schachermayer
Cooperation with Schachermayer
Columbus receives another strong partner
What is published in professional circles about Columbus
People talk about Columbus
What is published in professional circles about us
Vacuum presses from Columbus at Schachermayers event
MEETING POINT NOBLE VENEER
Visiting the Schachermayer company
Josef Öttl and his winning project "Chilly" - made with a vacuum press from Columbus
Success through vacuum technology
A chili produced with vacuum
A Columbus vacuum press for Hymer caravans
Customer Story
Hymer
North German Broadcasting
Customer Story
North German Broadcasting works with Columbus
head
Columbus Story
Why Columbus?