History

Online-Framing GmbH is a spin-off of Passepartout-Werkstatt (Mounts Workshop) and took over the company’s software development when it was founded in 2000.

1986 Passepartout-Werkstatt is founded by planner and programmer Reinhard Dreger using one PC -a far cry from the normal procedure at the time!

1993 Passepartout-Werkstatt is one of the first companies worldwide to use a computer-operated cutting plotter made by Gunnar. The company initiates the development of an “autoload” functionality that makes it possible to feed technical data directly into the computer-operated machines. Previously, measurements of mounts and frames had to be checked and the data entered using office software that had been developed specifically for this purpose. The ability to separate the customer’s order entry from production, along with the security of error-free data transfer, which is done through the company’s intranet, are major factors in the company’s lasting success.

1999 Passepartout-Werkstatt goes online and discovers the new possibilities offered by the internet, which enable the company to offer mounts and frames using graphical visualisation.

2000 Passepartout-Werkstatt signs over all its software development rights to Online-Framing GmbH. Over the course of the following years, this new company develops a graphical environment for the professional online design of frames and mounts, with the aim of marketing the software worldwide.

2002 The Gallery Generator is introduced. The three versions of the generator will be developed into full-blown content management systems designed for the creation of custom websites. They are optimised to meet the requirements of framers & gallery owners as well as artists & photographers. All generators include a Framing Studio that is targeted at the retail customer.

2004 This year sees the introduction of automated data transfer from the Framing Studio’s websites to computer-operated cutters. Processing the individual customer’s frame and mount measurements in this way brings with it an enormous boost in productivity. 60 mounts for an exhibition – and each may have different opening measurements – can be produced in less than half an hour and can be expected to be almost 100% error-free. A mount with 20 openings – no matter how complex their arrangement as laid out by the customer himself online –  takes less than 2 minutes to cut.

2006 The sections Mounts and Frames are complemented by a Fine Art Prints service, which we expect to become an industry standard in the field of photography in the near future. It offers artists many new ways to market their work.

2007 The complete system is ready to be marketed worldwide.

We would like to thank you, our customers, for the trust you have shown us by using our websites and we look forward to many new users in the future.

Echem, 28 April 2007                            Reinhard Dreger