The village took a great step in its development when the railway carriage works was converted into the "Vereinigte Kunstseidenfabrik" ("United Rayon Factory"), later "Vereinigte Glanzstoff AG". This factory then governed the village's – later town's – development for the better part of the next hundred years. At the time the factory went into operation, Kelsterbach had a population of roughly 3,000. The factory lasted until 2000 when it finally fell victim to globalization. There are great worries now as to what to do with the factory's old lands, a vast area right in the middle of town.