JOKA - A company with history

It was actually the company founder's dissatisfaction with his sleeping accommodation that got everything rolling.
Johann Kapsamer also wanted a sprung bed insert at home, which he had come to know and appreciate on the occasion of his work in Salzburg in 1920. Thus the idea of manufacturing good beds was born.

1921

In 1921, at the age of only 21, Kapsamer founded JOKA without any significant capital or prior knowledge in the technical field and turned a two-man business into a prosperous enterprise. The first production workshop was located in the company founder's parents' house in Schwanenstadt.

Kapsamer derived the company name from the first letters of his name: JoKa = Johann Kapsamer.

^{KR Johann Kapsamer}

^{The first workshop in Schwanenstadt}

1922

In the first years of existence, only wire inserts and furniture springs were produced. The Bonell spring, the first knotted furniture spring, was to revolutionise the market with its advantages in the following years.

1925

The company's own wire drawing line was put into operation. After overcoming the economic crisis in the
the 1930s, spring core production was added to the production.

1939

A new production facility was put into operation in Schwanenstadt: the Graben plant. Industrial production of the JOKA spring mattress started there.

1945

After the Second World War, production could only be continued on a very small scale for the time being. Only bed inserts, spring inserts and mattresses were produced. Due to the procurement problems of drawn steel wire, wire production was expanded. For this purpose, it was necessary to expand the Graben plant.

1951

The economic situation in Austria returned to normal. JOKA was the first company in the German-speaking market to purchase American machinery to start the industrial production of one-piece innerspring mattresses.

1952

A new model series conquers the market: the JOKA all-space beds. The versatility convinces the customers. The first showrooms are opened in Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Linz.

1953

Dipl. Ing. Hans Kapsamer follows in his father's footsteps as an employee of JOKA-WERKE.

^{Dipl. Ing. Hans Kapsamer}

^{Exhibition bunk from the 50s}

^{JOKA Sitting corner from 1958}

1959 – 1964

The JOKA assortment is expanded to include upholstered furniture. The second plant in Oberndorf had to be expanded in the course of this. From administration and production to logistics, everything was brought up to the latest technical standards. The JOKA factories are still located there today.

In 1961, the JOKA manikin was introduced as a trademark together with the slogan "Only genuine with this brand". The little man made of wire, plastic, cord and (at that time) sheet metal is still hung on every mattress and upholstered furniture today.

The JOKA factories in the 1960s

1959: The groundbreaking ceremony for the Oberndorf plant took place on 15 January.

In September 1959, production starts in the new factory premises.

It was not until 1965 that the administration building was officially inaugurated.
In the picture: the mattress store

State-of-the-art at the time - internal company communication

In the upholstered furniture workshop (left) and the cabinetmaker's workshop

Work is centrally controlled in the administration building. Right: Production of a mattress.

In the upholstery workshop

In the upholstery workshop

In the cabinetmaker's shop

Stapling machine for mattresses

1965

The product range is expanded for the living and dining room. Mattresses of different firmness levels are launched.

1967

JOKA-Werke is awarded the prestigious »Coup d'Or« for the "exemplary taste manifested by the outstanding fashion design of the JOKA collections and the entrepreneurial spirit of the JOKA house".

The JOKA factories in the 70s

Visible from afar: the JOKA logo

Cutting the fabrics

Cutting and sewing surrounded by the large fabric warehouse

When cutting foam for the upholstered furniture

In the upholstery workshop

In the upholstery workshop (left) and cutting the fabric (right).

The work processes are coordinated at the head office.

In coconut mat production

In the sawmill

In the wire drawing room. The wire is further processed into feather core.

Stocktaking in the warehouse

In the upholstery workshop

1968 – 1977

Showrooms are opened in Vienna, Linz, Graz, Salzburg, Klagenfurt, Innsbruck and Munich. The product range is constantly expanded. In 1971, JOKA-Werke is one of the most important manufacturers of bedroom furniture in Europe. At this time, around 700 JOKA employees in Schwanenstadt are building furniture for relaxation and recreation. In 1972, a modern showroom is opened in Schwanenstadt, not far from the JOKA factory, in order to present the products appropriately.

^{The Schwanenstadt Showroom, 1972}

1982

The best-seller, »the Max bed«, was launched. Many Austrians still master the TV commercial's slogan today: "A JOKA bed got the Max...."

^{The Honeymoon Bed, 1986}

1989

Dipl. Ing. Johann Kapsamer, the grandson of the company founder, becomes a partner in JOKA and is active in the company as managing partner from 1990.

2000

Merger of " Plant Graben" and "Plant Oberndorf" at the current production site in Oberndorf near Schwanenstadt.

2009

JOKA repositions itself with a brand relaunch. The product range is revised, showrooms, trade fair appearances and catalogues are redesigned. "Living with charm" becomes the new slogan.

2010

JOKA - A family business: The JOKA company has now been owned by the Kapsamer family for almost 90 years.

2012

New management: In autumn 2012, Anna Kapsamer-Fellner takes over the management of the marketing and sales departments and thus represents the 4th generation of the Kapsamer family in the management of the company.

JOKA grows: On 2 May 2012, JOKA takes over the entire distribution and production of the ProNatura, FehrMed and Sanovit brands.

^{Mrs. Mag. Anna Kapsamer-Fellner}

2014

JOKA focuses on sustainability and natural materials from certified organic cultivation and introduces the new sales brand "JOKA- Feel the Nature" for mattresses, beds and bedding.

2016

A new flagship store opens in the heart of Vienna. The JOKA living worlds are presented in an upscale ambience on 300m². The showroom is awarded the Möbel & Design Guide special prize "Flagshipstore national". The architectural redesign of the property is by the renowned BEHF ARCHITECTS office, the interior design by Linz designer and set designer Stefan Brandtmayr.

The JOKA manikin Max gets a friend: Lilli

2017

JOKA is the only Austrian mattress manufacturer to be awarded the Austrian Eco-label UZ 55 bed mattresses.

2018

A modern, representative showroom is opened in Lauterach, Vorarlberg.

2019

In April, Johannes Kapsamer, MSc, great-grandson of the company founder, joins the company and becomes assistant to the management.

JOKA is awarded the »Austrian Interior Design Award 2019« in the category "Product Design / Upholstered Furniture" for the Crafted Collection lounge furniture series. The furniture series was created in cooperation with the solid wood joinery Wittmann and the design studio MARCH GUT.

Further showrooms will be opened in St. Pölten and Villach. Here, JOKA furniture is presented in a modern living ambience.

^{Johannes Kapsamer, MSc}

^{The award-winning "Crafted Collection"}

^{View of the St. Pölten showroom}

^{Young and trendy: The showroom in Villach}

2020

The siblings Johannes Kapsamer and Anna Kapsamer-Fellner jointly take over the management of JOKA Kapsamer Gmbh.

2020

The siblings Johannes Kapsamer and Anna Kapsamer-Fellner jointly take over the management of JOKA Kapsamer Gmbh.

^{Fotos: Foto Humer}

2019

In April, Johannes Kapsamer, MSc, great-grandson of the company founder, joins the company and becomes assistant to the management.

Further showrooms will be opened in St. Pölten and Villach. Here, JOKA furniture is presented in a modern living ambience.

^{View of the St. Pölten showroom}

^{Young and trendy: The showroom in Villach}

^{View of the St. Pölten showroom}

^{Young and trendy: The showroom in Villach}

^{Im JOKA-Museum erfahren Sie alles über die Geschichte des Unternehmens.}