1971 Hannover Messe - a world first - tampon printing.

The tampon printing process. Gains acceptance as an independent printing process at universities through the work of TAMPOPRINT (from 1979 onwards).

The one-man business founded in 1956 as the "Wilfried Philipp Industriegravuren" engraving establishment grew

when Mr Wilfried Philipp invented industrial tampon printing in 1968. When the company bought its first premises, the workforce shot up to 60.

In 1970, the world's first tampon printing machine was presented at the Hannover Messe.

The first patented "TS 100/1" tampon printing machine was exhibited in 1971 at K'71 in Düsseldorf and was a sensation. Machine construction got underway with an order for 100 tampon printing machines from the Swiss clock and watch making industry.

By 1974 "Wilfried Philipp Industriegravieranstalt" was represented by a dealer in Japan.

1977 founding of a TAMPOPRINT sales office in the US/Chicago by an member of staff from the tool shop.

TAMPOPRINT special machine construction was introduced in 1977.

1977 Founding of the "ALFA TOOLS Wilfried Philipp GMBH" machine construction company in Westerheim.

1980 Investment in the "ALFA TOOLS Spezialmaschinenfabrik GmbH" machine construction firm in Westerheim.

After various new developments, the world's first rotary tampon printing machine was built and sold in 1981.

The world's first pneumatically driven tampon printing machine with "hermetically sealed ink/doctor system" was presented at K'83 in Düsseldorf in 1983 - it was known as the "ENCODER" (patented)

1984 Move into the bottle cap industry

1985 Takeover of "ALFA TOOLS GMBH Spezialmaschinenfabrik". By 1990 this grew to 80 members of staff.

1987 First vertical rotary tampon printing unit for music cassettes

In 1988 the first mechanical high-performance built-in tampon printing machine with a "hermetic" system was presented - this was the "Rapid 2000" tampon printing machine.

1989 The ground was broken for the new "TAMPOPRINT GmbH" building at Lingwiesenstr.1, Korntal-Münchingen, Germany.

Founding of the TAMPOPRINT subsidiary "TAMPOPRINT S.a.r.l." in France.

Mr Wilfried Philipp

1990 Acquisition of the current German headquarters of TAMPOPRINT AG where 170 highly trained members of staff work.

The first ALFALAS inscription laser was presented.

1993 Mr Wilfried Philipp had the innovative idea of producing a tampon printing cliché using laser technology. Construction of a laser system was begun in the same year.

1994 Construction and acquisition of the company's own building in France/Lyon. 1995 Official opening ceremony for the TAMPOPRINT subsidiary "TAMPOPRINT S.a.r.l.".

1994 Founding of TAMPOPRINT's subsidiary in Florida, US: "TAMPOPRINT International Corporation".

1995 First "VARIO" tampon printing machine

1996 Vision of a three-dimensional digital printing system. A key role is assumed here by the piezo inkjet procedure using pigment inks containing solvent. Today's large-scale "DMD" industrial inkjet system was born.

First "TSG" tampon printing machine

1997 First "Rotoprint" rotary tampon printing machine

1998 First "V DUO" and "TSQ" standard tampon printing machines presented at the K'98 trade fair.

1998 40th anniversary for the founder Mr Wilfried Philipp and his company. More than 250 guests from all over the world are invited to the Forum in Ludwigsburg.

1999 First "V-DUO" standard tampon printing machine.

2000 Acquisition of new building for "ALFA TOOLS Spezialmaschinenfabrik GMBH"

Takeover of the "CMI S.A." dealer / wholly owned subsidiary in Spain and founding of the TAMPOPRINT subsidiary in Barcelona, "TAMPOPRINT IBERIA S.A.U.".

First "Closure Print" rotary tampon printing system

First "Top Spin" rotary tampon printing system

2001 TAMPOPRINT GMBH's capital is raised to €2 mill. Reorganisation as company changes from a GMBH (limited liability company) into TAMPOPRINT AG (public limited company).

2002 Acquisition of extension to the "TAMPOPRINT AG" headquarters in Korntal-Münchingen, Germany. First "Concentra" multi-coloured tampon printing machine

2003 first "MOF" ALFALAS laser for inscribing the inside of plastic sealing caps. First laser for ringpull system components.

2004 First "DMD EP 1600" industrial inkjet system.

First "MOF" laser systems for crown corks

2005 First multi-coloured "Top Spin"

2006 "50th" anniversary of the company's founder Mr Wilfried Philipp.

2007 First tampon printing machine with integrated cliché production using laser engraving - "Hybrid 90-2"