The complete product range Product catalogue 2020 / 2021 “This is where they are made: simply great knives.” Professional knives ‘made in Germany’ are durable and reliable, day after day. That is what GIESSER represents. A genuinely good knife is more than a blade with a handle. Each and every one of our products represents the culmination of six generations of expertise in the art of knife-making. Now, as then, we work with a passion for precision, meticulously hand-pick our materials and never stop honing the quality of our knives. Our outstanding industrial manufacturing standards involve manual controls of every single knife. And we are especially proud to be extending the same care to the way in which we interact with our staff: strong, lasting employment relationships are at the heart of our company philosophy. As a provider of apprenticeships, we invest in the future, and our efforts pay off: our apprentices are regularly lauded as the best junior cut- ting-tool mechanics in Germany. We take this as proof that outstanding quality and sustainable management are enshrined in the DNA of the Giesser family. GIESSER – knives that last. Industry and catering professionals from more than 105 countries appreciate the reliability of our products. But we do not rest on our laurels. Creating value for our customers is our raison d‘être. We constantly expand our product portfolio and are at the forefront of progress when it comes to function, form and the economical use of resources. Such is the duty of tradition. We are pleased to present to you the latest issue of our catalogue, a splendid selection of new knives and the same high quality you have come to expect. Hermann Giesser Hans-Joachim Giesser Managing Director Managing Director 3 “ Our knives are solid, honest, highly functional implements for your everyday needs. “ Knife factory GIESSER products The history of our brand 06 Before you order An interview with Hans-Joachim The anatomy of a knife 40 and Hermann Giesser The colour code 42 GIESSER at a glance 14 Butcher knives 44 Facts and figures Kitchen knives 70 The present 16 Employees and manufacture Accessories 128 Manufacturing stages 24 Service 168 Cleaning 170 Materials 26 Sharpening 172 Steel and handles Knife management 174 Customisation 176 Our favourites 30 PremiumCut 32 BestCut 34 PrimeLine 36 5 Hans-Joachim and Hermann Giesser talk about the history, culture and plans of the GIESSER Messerfabrik knife factory. Johannes Giesser Messerfabrik. Then as now. Hermann Giesser (left) oversees the manufacture while Hans-Joachim Giesser (right) is in charge of sales. “We only make knives that we would love to keep materials, strive for consistent reliability and have for ourselves.” That is the maxim that underpinned a passion for product development. Their company the foundation of GIESSER more than two and family, both deeply committed to their values, centuries ago. Today, Hans-Joachim Giesser is grew organically over time: quick to emphasise: nothing has changed. He and his brother Hermann are the sixth generation What started in a small forge in 1776 has become of Giessers managing the traditional knife factory, one of the world‘s leading suppliers of quality and they are ready for the future. “We are running knives and accessories. Every day, more than an authentic, family-run company that has grown 8,000 professional knives are produced at the slowly and healthily out of a passion for precision. factory in Winnenden. The Giesser product The knives we create with our 130 employees catalogue comprises more than 2,500 forged and are honest, solid, durable work tools.” It is plain to stamped knives and accessories for the food see that the two Swabian specialists believe in processing industry. manufacturing excellent products from high-quality 7 8 Since the early 1980s, the company‘s global sales have risen sevenfold. Butchers and caterers have sworn by GIESSER knives for decades. “Side by side, year by year,” Hans-Joachim Giesser remarked. GIESSER moves with the times and adapts to the needs of its customers. “Personal contact with our customers is extremely important to us. We seek dialogue and are grateful for criticism, as it allows us to keep improving and advancing our products.” Top Solid growth requires more employees Functional does not equal boring: for several and new production facilities. In 2016, years, the company has been striving to make its GIESSER moved to its new, high-tech building knives visually appealing with beautiful designs in Winnenden-Hertmannsweiler. of excellent craftsmanship. 9 “We want our customers to enjoy holding our and catering industries. One thing is certain: The knives in their hands and looking at them,” the 2018 conversion of the old Winnenden factory to Managing Director says and goes on to explain a PremiumCut manufacture was both a milestone the future of the Giesser family: and a stepping stone to the future. “Our new ‘PremiumCut’ series has stirred emotions. Specialist butchers and five-star chefs all over “We absolutely rely on our long-term industry the world have shared their enthusiasm with us. partners, but PremiumCut also helps us address We are currently exploring ways of producing our potential new target groups. Everyone‘s cut out knives more sustainably to complement our for GIESSER knives, we’re sure of that.” The long economical use of resources.” GIESSER has clearly tradition of the iesser family remains on a firm carved out a niche for itself in the food processing growth trajectory. Top High-quality blade blanks from chromoly steel in more than 2,000 designs. 10 “When we were kids, we spent a lot of time in the production hall. We were always surrounded by knives! Our parents taught us to respect knifes, not to fear them.” Top Hans-Joachim Giesser at a packing station. His goal: to keep optimising GIESSER‘s economical use of resources. Left Product presentation. An attractive appearance and beautiful, high-quality designs are paramount to GIESSER. 11 “We believe that sustainability is a business virtue. It goes without saying that our production is as environmentally friendly as possible.” Left Processing and self-sufficiency. Heat is transformed in the engine room. GIESSER has embraced sustainability on all levels Hans-Joachim Giesser proudly emphasises: “Our as a fundamental virtue and a part of progressive methods are at the cutting edge of sustainability.” management. We are committed to recycling And he wants to go even further. GIESSER is resources such as exhaust heat and water in our considering various approaches to optimising its manufacture. “Our advantage is that we only work knife disposal system, for example. It will be a with three materials: steel, plastic and wood,” long process, but we are tackling the task with Hans-Joachim Giesser explains with regard to the confidence and optimism. hen it comes to company’s sparing use of resources. All waste staff management, our guiding principles are steel is recycled in full; some of it is melted down loyalty and fairness: wherever possible, we and reused. We also recycle coloured plastics. offer permanent employment to our apprentices Once mixed into black plastics, they become and guarantee them durable, solid work in the virtually invisible and make excellent handles. Giesser family. 12 Left Promoting continuous improvement – Hermann Giesser in a discussion with Adrian Popa (centre) and Patrick Buckel (right). Bottom Recycling at GIESSER: Once mixed into black plastics, the colourful plastic flakes become virtually invisible and make excellent handles. 13 Some facts for you. Johannes Giesser laid the foundation for GIESSER and started the manual 1776 production of knives and other cutting tools. 8.000 The GIESSER Messer- Today, GIESSER is one of the world’s leading fabrik produces more manufacturers of quality knives and accessories. than 8,000 knives Its customers are mainly professionals from the every day. food processing and catering industries. A history of success 1776 1865 1934 1961 In 1776, Johannes Giesser laid the Opening and commercial Production of hand knives. The The Johannes Giesser Messerfabrik foundation for GIESSER and started registration of a specialist shop company split into the Alfred celebrated the opening of its first the manual production of knives for steel products, including Giesser Messerfabrik, which expansion building. and other cutting tools. on-site production facilities. After produced machine blades, and the 1934: production of fixed-blade Johannes Giesser Messerfabrik. In hand knives. 1936, Giesser and Böhler Edelstahl jointly develop stainless blade steel. 14 GIESSER produces knife handles in twelve standard colours. The HACCP colour 2.500 coding allows our customers to distinguish between knives for different departments, 12 shifts or foods. 1050°C GIESSER‘s most durable knives The extensive Giesser product are made from first-class chromoly catalogue comprises more than steel and hardened in a vacuum 2,500 forged and stamped knives furnace at 1050 °C. This is one of and accessories for the food the world’s most advanced hardening processing industry. technologies. PremiumCut 130 Solid designs, precise sharpness and quality workmanship: the new GIESSER GIESSER currently employs PremiumCut series excels at all levels. You 130 members of staff. only need to look at them to understand our fascination with these impressive tools. (As at April 2019) 1981 2000 2016 2018 The first vacuum hardening plant GIESSER continued to expand and The company moved to its The old Winnenden factory was caused a rapid improvement in optimise its product catalogue, new, high-tech building in transformed into a ‘PremiumCut product quality. It considerably offering the right tool for any cut. Winnenden-Hertmannsweiler. manufactory’. increased the cutting-edge retention of the knives. 15 In the warehouse. Polished blades await processing. 16 The GIESSER production. Of knives and men.