The INTERMILLS site

Without the water from the Warche and Warchenne rivers as well as the presence of sheep farms providing the animals’ bones to make the glue required, the paper industry would not have developed in Malmedy. It was in 1750 that the first mill was built on the banks of the Warche, on the initiative of Nicolas Dewalck.
Foreseeing the profitability of the industry, the local monks took over the activity. It experienced difficult beginnings, but the arrival of Dom André Vecqueray (1714-1778) made a big difference. With good knowledge of paper making, he gave production a new boost.
However, with the arrival of the French, Vecqueray’s successor, Dom Henri Cavens, was imprisoned for refusing to pledge allegiance to the Republic. As a result, the buildings were sealed off.

Despite the temporary rehabilitation of the monks, the administrators finally decided to sell the buildings, which were purchased by three natives of Malmedy: Hubert Neuray, François Darimont and Henri Steinbach. Five years later, Henri Steinbach became the sole owner, leading to the name of the Steinbach family being etched in people’s memories. At this time, Malmedy boasted sixteen paper-works.

In 1848, Malmedy produced the first photographic paper to be marketed in Europe, which went on to acquire great renown in the sector of photography. In tandem with the invention of continually functioning machinery, the production tools were modernised,the facilities developed and production increased. In 1900, the Steinbach industrial complex employed 500 people and exported 70% of its production, running four machines. In 1908, the production output reached 40,000 tonnes per year!

The First World War had disastrous consequences for the paper-works, which lost 45% of its customers, but the return of Malmedy to Belgium in 1920 revived its production. Nonetheless, the Second World War brutally halted the factory’s promising growth. In the following years, the Steinbach paper-works became a subsidiary of the Intermills group. However, at the beginning of the 2000’s, the poor economic climate unfortunately put paid to this industry and the factory was forced to close down.