Ortlieb

Since Ortlieb was founded in 1982, the name has been synonymous with "waterproof". Today's Ortlieb Sportartikel GmbH was founded by Hartmut Ortlieb and has been based in Heilbronn near Nuremberg in central Franconia since 1997. It all began when Hartmut went on a bike ride in 1981, completely unnerved and soaked. The young student saw a truck pass by and noticed that his load remained completely dry and clean thanks to the tarpaulin. This event was the decisive step that would later develop into the Ortlieb company.

Immediately after his journey home, he put his idea into practice with the help of his mother's sewing machine and developed his first packing container made from red truck tarpaulin. Ortlieb fixed the lid with a piece of belt strap from the saddlery. He also attaches hooks from the DIY store to attach the unconventional packsack to the luggage rack of his bike. And because cycling invigorates body and mind, the industrious teenager produces numerous new ideas on how to improve and optimize his inventions. So at some point, one bag became two - in keeping with the pack donkey principle.

What began with the simplest of means was developed into a leading high-tech company with more than 130 employees. The ORTLIEB range has grown to over 500 individual products. Even today, all is still under one roof: from development to mechanical engineering, production to sales and shipping. ORTLIEB products are characterized by hermetic closure systems such as roll closure, waterproof zip, velcro or sealing lip. Many of the features are patented and continue to set new standards in the bicycle and outdoor segment. The tried-and-tested products with their inventive details are the result of ever new ideas from the multidisciplinary team, which always has its ears to the market, i.e. the increasing demands of users. As a result, the innovations continue over the years and are awarded top ratings on average every month by independent committees, specialist editors and design agencies. The principle of short lines of communication within the company ensures high flexibility within the product collection and makes it possible to respond to special customer requests. All products using the high-frequency welding process are manufactured at the Heilbronn site, "Made in Germany"! The guarantee on materials and workmanship is five years. ORTLIEB attaches great importance to its service, even after the sale, which is highly appreciated by end users and trade customers.

Whether hiking, cycling, on expeditions, in a canoe, on a horse, on a motorcycle, whether sleeping bags, maps, cameras, laptops or documents - all are packed reliably and waterproof with Ortlieb.