In 1935, Jan Walczak began trading timber. Four years later, the outbreak of World War II disrupted his plans. Despite the difficult post-war communist era, his son Zdzisław later established the family’s own sawmill.
A family company with 90 years of tradition
We manufacture premium oak floorboards, parquet and mosaic parquet, which according to parquet fitters guarantee a solid floor installation in your home. Every order is an individual project for us.
production plants in Poland
qualified employees
industrial machines
Our journey through three generations
The history of the WALCZAK company is a story of passion for wood, courage in difficult times and the consistent building of a family enterprise.
Passion and determination
Our fascination with wood began many decades ago, when Jan Walczak started trading timber in Książ Wielkopolski. This young entrepreneur with a vision built the company from scratch, combining a tradition of craftsmanship with keen business instinct.
Jan Walczak — founder of the company
Years of trial
When World War II broke out, Jan Walczak was drafted into the Polish Army and sent to the southern front. After Lviv was encircled, the Polish army began retreating eastward and fell into German captivity. The soldiers were released some time later, and Jan returned to Książ. The company briefly resumed operations, but in 1941 the German occupying forces expelled its Polish owners. With the help of his uncle Wajnert, Jan fled with his family to Dolsk and began working at the Buliński sawmill. It was there that Zdzisław Walczak, his future successor, was born.
Post-war rebuilding
After the war, the whole family returned to Książ Wielkopolski. Jan resumed the company's operations and managed to re-employ some of its former staff. The communist authorities, however, increasingly discriminated against private entrepreneurs. These measures culminated in the introduction of a ruinous surcharge tax known as the “domiar” in 1952. The policy towards so-called “private enterprise” was not relaxed until 1956.
Breakthrough — building the sawmill
The breakthrough came when Jan Walczak learned of plans to open a full-scale sawmill in Książ and decided to get ahead of the competition. Across the Czech border, he managed to acquire his first machines — a frame saw, a planer and a tongue-and-groove machine — before beginning construction of the sawmill hall. The whole family was involved in production, including Jan's son Zdzisław, who was completing practical training at a technical school and preparing to take over the company.
Zdzisław Walczak — second generation. Photo from technical school training
The new generation takes the helm
Zdzisław Walczak graduated from the Faculty of Wood Technology at the Agricultural Academy in Poznań. After a year at the Oborniki Furniture Factory, he returned to Książ and, much to his father's satisfaction, took charge of the sawmill. A new chapter began — Zdzisław significantly expanded the company's wood-processing operations.
Zdzisław Walczak (second from left) during a riding competition
Defying the system
Communism was a strange time to run a private business — stranger still to organize equestrian competitions. Zdzisław Walczak, however, did not accept the limitations imposed by the system — he passionately developed the company, and after hours devoted himself to equestrian sport.
Expansion and second plant
When the site in Książ could no longer accommodate the growing business, Zdzisław bought former manor farm buildings near the town and began developing a second plant there. At the same time, he set about rebuilding and modernising the production facility in Książ. It was a period of hard physical work and investment in the future.
Sawmill hall in Książ Wielkopolski
A visionary decision
Though still young, Zdzisław was already an experienced entrepreneur and accurately anticipated the consequences of Poland's political transformation. He believed that the transition from an inefficient communist economy to a capitalist one would cause the currency to collapse before the system stabilised. To protect the company from inflation, he invested all his savings in timber, preserving its capital. For the next two years, production drew on these reserves, generating funds for further investment in democratic Poland.
Work at the frame saw in the Książ plant
Third generation
Zdzisław's son, Marcin Walczak, graduated in Wood Technology from the University of Life Sciences in Poznań. Together with his father, he introduced further innovations and built an extensive nationwide distribution network for WALCZAK wooden floors. In recent years, the company has significantly expanded its production capacity, modernised its manufacturing processes and broadened its product range, strengthening its position in Poland and abroad.
Documents, diplomas and certificates — a record of three generations' history
90 years of innovation
Marcin Walczak remains the company's president, representing the third generation to develop the family business. Its foundations continue to be the owners' personal commitment, consistently excellent product quality and respect for the exceptional natural material that is wood. The perfect floor combines the natural beauty of wood with modern technology. Over 90 years in business, we have developed numerous proprietary wood-processing solutions, recognised with protection certificates granted by the Polish Patent Office. We have always built our competitive advantage on innovation and the highest product quality.
Two plants, 100+ employees, 70 machines
From raw material from Polish forests to a finished premium floorboard — the entire process takes place in our plants in Wielkopolska.
Timber raw material storage
Manual quality control
Modern production line
Plant production hall
Applying the finish to a board
Cutting logs on the Primultini sawmill
200+ showrooms in Poland and abroad
Over the past 20 years, Marcin Walczak has built a strong partner network of carefully selected parquet installers and showrooms where our floors can be seen and touched. Together we make sure every WALCZAK board reaches the customer through professionals who know our product and can bring out the full natural beauty of the wood.
Presentation of the Classic, Vintage and Old Wood Edition collections
Partners visiting the production plant
Meetings with our distributor network
Joint presence at industry fairs
Sample presentations for partners
Find a distributor near you
We do not sell directly – we cooperate with a network of trusted distributors across Poland and Europe. Find the nearest showroom and see our wooden floors in person.
