1452 - 2020

1452  
First documented reference to the mill. This makes SchapfenMühle the oldest company in Ulm still in operation.

1499  
Hans Kinkelin, an ancestor of the Künkele family that owns the mill today, establishes the "SchapfenMüller" generations known by this name.

1633  
From this year onwards, the name "SchapfenMühle" has been in use. The name is derived from the construction of the water wheel used at the time. Instead of boards, so-called "Schapfen" (vessels – "Schapfen" comes from the German verb "schöpfen" or "scoop") were attached to scoop up the flowing water and so drive the water wheel.

1891  
In 1891 the mill was acquired by Carl Künkele, a miller from Urach and grandfather of the current owner and Managing Partner, Heinz Künkele, or great-grandfather of the partners Ulrike Künkele-Seibold and Christina Künkele-Thieme.

1983  
On Whitsunday in 1983, the SchapfenMühle in the Ulmer city burns down. The new, larger and more modern mill built in the Ulm-Alb region's Jungingen district is the first fully computer-controlled mill in Germany. The nearness to growers of the grains used in the mill made this location attractive.

1998  
In 1998, a 30,000 m² extension spanning four floors was built to add space for production and storage. The adjacent, fully automatic high-bay warehouse provides 3,000 pallet spaces.

2000
SchapfenMühle, as an efficient refiner of flour, brings to market high-quality mill mixes for bakeries, as well as spelt and natural food products for food retailers.

2004 
The world's tallest grain silo to date is built, reaching a height of 116 metres and capable of storing 10,000 m³. Taken either directly from the field or from a close-knit circle of trusted producers, the grain is stored according to type in one of the most modern grain silos in the world.

2005 
The bakery sales division relocates and receives a new test bakery and its own logistics centre at the company’s second location in Dornstadt.

2006
The puffing and coating plant starts operations in Dornstadt.

2010
To expand contract farming in the region, SchapfenMühle takes over the "Alb Agrar" warehouse in the town of Neenstetten.

2013 
After five months of construction, the extension of the warehouse in Neenstetten's Eisental valley is completed. With a storage capacity of 12,000 tonnes, the 18 containers can store spelt, barley, oat, wheat and rape grains by type.

2016 
The new-build construction and extension of the administration building in Jungingen, as well as the new warehouse building in Dornstadt, are completed. In Neenstetten, the grain storage facility is again expanded to a total storage capacity of 25,000 tonnes.

2018 
Start of production for the new dehulling mill of the partner company Harries Mühle at the Groß Ippener site; the CO₂ pressure disinfestation plant also goes into operation at the company's location in Dornstadt. This innovative technology can be applied to a wide range of products, as the goods to be treated are exposed to high pressure with the addition of carbon dioxide. The differences in pressure destroy all pests, their larvae and their eggs, without affecting the goods in any way.

2019
In 2019, SchapfenMühle invests in a new silo facility for flours and flakes, thereby expanding its storage capacity and range of finished products. As part of this construction project, 32 silo cells – each with a capacity of approximately 25 tonnes – will be installed on the roof of the existing buildings. A silo cell has a height of 14 metres. This construction effort will increase the storage capacity for finished goods by over 1,000 tonnes. Investments are also being made in two new packaging lines for flours and flakes.

2020 
Commissioning of the silo plant and full automation of new bagging system for the hulling and flour mill. A new new bagging system for big bags, a new tray packer and an expansion of the packaging line for small packs were also installed.

2021 
Commissioning of the second puffing plant in Dornstadt.