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What does a factory's ability to stay in production depend on today? Some of the most important aspects that can influence the durability and longevity of a plant are its design and construction, preventive and periodic maintenance, quality of materials, up-to-date technology and equipment, adapting to regulatory compliance and efficient plant management.
Aspects that, for the most part and within their historical context, were surely also shared in their beginnings by the world's most long-lived factories that still maintain production.
We list 5 of the oldest and most representative:
1. Weihenstephan Brewery in Freising, Germany: is a renowned brewery located in the city of Freising, Bavaria. It is considered the oldest continuously operating brewery in the world, with a history dating back to 768.
It is part of the Technical University of Munich and is located on the Weihenstephan campus, where brewing education and research in the field of beer technology are conducted.
2. The Partagás Cigarette Factory in Havana, Cuba: considered one of the most famous and prestigious tobacco factories in the world, it was founded in 1845 by Don Jaime Partagás, a Spanish immigrant, and has been a benchmark in the production of high-quality Havana cigars ever since. For more than 175 years, it has maintained tradition and craftsmanship in cigar manufacturing, using ancestral methods and techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation.
3. The Jose Cuervo Tequila Factory in Tequila, Mexico: located in the city of Tequila, in the state of Jalisco. It is one of the oldest and most recognized tequila distilleries in the country, with a long history dating back to 1758. It is known for producing a wide variety of high quality tequilas, including white (silver), reposado and aged tequilas.
4. Gekkeikan Sake Brewery in Kyoto, Japan: is renowned for its rich history and production of high quality sake. Founded in 1637, it was established in the Fushimi region, known for its excellent water and rice. Gekkeikan focused on the production of premium sake, gaining a reputation among the nobility and aristocracy. It experienced significant growth in the 19th century, expanding its reach and exporting sake globally. Although it has adopted modern technologies, Gekkeikan remains committed to tradition and quality.
5. Clarks Shoe Factory in Somerset, UK: Clarks is a well-known footwear company with a history dating back to 1825, when brothers Cyrus and James Clark founded the business in the town of Street in Somerset. They were pioneers in the introduction of innovative technologies in footwear design, undergoing changes and modernizations in both their processes and their factory. However, they have remained true to their heritage and have retained some of the traditional craftsmanship in the production of their products.
In Impais we have participated in impressive rehabilitation works of old factories, such as the current Center for Contemporary Creation Matadero Madrid (2005-2012), the Ombú Building (2022), Acciona's office space from a project of integral recovery of an old gas plant built in 1905 or the Boetticher Building (2011), remodeling of the first elevator factory made in Spain, designed in 1934 by Eduardo Torroja.
We bringthe past to the most innovative present.
