Milestones
schülke's long company history is characterized by true pioneering work, innovation and the mission to protect lives worldwide through our work. Join us on a journey through schülke's 130-year corporate history and to the origin of the company as we know it today.
1889
In April 1889, the merchants Rudolf Schülke and Julius Mayr met in a comptoir in downtown Hamburg to sign a contract that laid the foundation for the company Schülke & Mayr. Production of the first brand disinfectant Lysol began as early as April of the same year. A small sensation at the time, because hardly anyone knew what disinfection meant and why it was so important.
1892
In the hot summer of 1892, a cholera epidemic broke out in the Hanseatic city and claimed many lives. But for the first time, such an epidemic could be contained with the help of the brand disinfectant Lysol, saving many human lives. Lysol quickly became an established name, and the demand for the preparation grew enormously worldwide.
1893
On March 31, 1893, the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg awarded the Schülke & Mayr company a gold-plated certificate of honour for its effort and educational work during and after the epidemic.
1913
The first preparation Lysol (1892) was followed by numerous other new and innovative products that set milestones in the company's history: buraton ® , primasept ® , gigasept ® in the medical sector and grotan ® , parmetol ® and euxyl ® in the industrial sector, to name just a few. After years of hard work, research and development, chlorinated phenols were patented as active ingredients in 1913. In the same year, this led to the introduction of the well-known disinfectant Sagrotan, which is still a synonym for hygiene and disinfection today.
1920
The US trading company Lehn & Fink acquires the share capital of Schülke & Mayr. At that time, the two companies already had a longstanding business relationship. Since 1892, Lehn & Fink has been selling the brand disinfectant Lysol worldwide. When Rudolf Schülke and Julius Mayr withdrew from the business, Lehn & Fink took over the production of Lysol.
1939-1945
Like many industrial companies, Schülke & Mayr was requested to set up alternative businesses in “less endangered locations” during the Second World War. Thus, branch factories were set up in Brand, a small town in the Fichtelgebirge and in Wesel, which were only dissolved after the war. The fact that the company continued to exist despite all the burdens is due to only two circumstances: the loyalty and skill of its employees and the luck that no bomb hit the production facilities.
1961/1976
Even if the production facilities of Schülke & Mayr have survived the past decades largely unscathed, it was now time for a new start. In 1961, the foundation stone for a new factory was laid in Glashütte, Norderstedt.
1961/1976
A factory with bright rooms, the latest production facilities and state-of-the-art chemical and bacteriological laboratories.
1961/1976
Back then, the employees laid a hand-made box in the cornerstone containing newspaper reports, advertisements and photos.
1961/1976
This box was rediscovered during construction work in 1976.
1972
The Rudolf Schülke Foundation was established in 1972 in honour of the founder Rudolf Schülke. The aim is to promote research and development in the areas of hygiene and microbiology beyond internal company boundaries of Schülke & Mayr. Every two years, the foundation awards the prestigious Hygiene Prize to outstanding scientists who have developed outstanding solutions in the fields of hygiene, microbiology, preventive medicine and public health.
1978
In the same year, Schülke & Mayr launched its first preservative for cosmetic products, Euxyl K 100.
1989
Schülke & Mayr celebrates its 100th anniversary in 1989! A long time and not always an easy path have brought the company thus far. Time to take stock and take a look to the future: numerous patents, worldwide sales of products and over 500 employees. Schülke & Mayr has further consolidated its core competence, has a loyal customer base and is striving for constant development through innovation.
The then managing director Dr. Heinz Eggensperger gave a speech on the gala evening at the Norderstedt town hall for the employees and the invited specialist audience.
1989
The company launches the antiseptic Neo-Kodan. Based on the high-performance active ingredient combination Octeniderm, which contains the innovative and patented active ingredient Octenidine, Schülke & Mayr revolutionises skin disinfection.
1990
Schülke & Mayr launches Octenisept, a novelty on the market for mucosal antiseptics. The rapid onset of action and its above-average persistence are convincing characteristics. Because of these properties, the product is used in particular in gynaecology, urology and proctology as well as in the preoperative setting in hospitals.
1996
In 1996, the French group Air Liquide acquires Schülke & Mayr. The French group offered Schülke & Mayr the chance for a fresh start, stability and a strong partner for the future. Schülke will remain a subsidiary of the group for over 20 years.
2009
The roots and headquarters of the internationally operating company have been in northern Germany since its foundation. For all functions are represented in Norderstedt: production, logistics, quality assurance, research and development, human resources, product management and the German sales organization. This is also evident from the consistent expansion at the Norderstedt site. The new logistics centre, with an area of 10,800 m², opens in 2009.
2019
In April 2019, schülke celebrates its 130th anniversary. 130 years is a long time, and schülke looks back on an eventful, successful and at times challenging period. The company has weathered epidemics, wars and many business changes and has emerged from them stronger every time.
Our mission "We protect life worldwide" was already then, 130 years ago, the vision of Rudolf Schülke and Julius Mayr for their company and its products. And a small North German company has become an international company.
2022
schülke acquires the Danish company Wet Wipe, a specialist and market leader for surface disinfection in the healthcare sector in the Scandinavian market - Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway. The company is based in Copenhagen, Denmark. schülke is thus successfully continuing its growth course and entering the Scandinavian market.
2022
Vesismin Health's mission is to develop and promote innovative disinfectants with a proven specialisation in hospital infection control. The company offers market-leading chlorhexidine-based antiseptics, surface disinfectants and highly effective disinfection solutions for medical devices and equipment based on state-of-the-art technologies. With Vesismin Health, we are expanding our group with a high-calibre company for infection prevention and hygiene solutions in the healthcare sector.
2022
With mikrozid® universal wipes green line, schülke is launching the first medical disinfectant wipes on the market that are 100 per cent plastic-free and produced in a climate-neutral way. With this product innovation, schülke emphasises its claim to protect life worldwide - through effective products for the treatment and prevention of infections and the consistent commitment to the environment. The mikrozid® universal wipes green line offers users the usual application safety - and at the same time contributes to making everyday hospital and care routines more sustainable.
2023
As one of the pioneers in the industry, schülke has been dealing with sustainability issues for many decades. At the heart of this is the conviction that ecological sustainability always goes hand in hand with social and economic sustainability. With the use of ethanol made from 100 per cent renewable raw materials in its tried and tested hand disinfectant desderman®, schülke is committed to greater sustainability in everyday clinical practice.* Over 90 per cent of the pharmaceutical alcohol used comes from EU agriculture and is chemically identical to ethanol from fossil sources.
*Ethanol content calculated. Only valid for the above-mentioned product in Germany.
2023
schülke is awarded the Ecovadis Gold Medal and is now one of the top four per cent of companies in its sector. With this latest award, schülke emphasises its pioneering role within the industry when it comes to sustainability. In addition to ecological sustainability, social and economic sustainability are also firmly anchored in the company. In a globalised world, schülke assumes responsibility for current and future generations.
2023
A consortium led by ATHOS, a Munich-based single family office, will become a new long-term shareholder and partner of schülke.
Together with the consortium, schülke, under the leadership of CEO Jan-Dirk Auris, will build on its 135-year tradition as a provider of high-quality, holistic solutions for infection prevention and treatment. As a new shareholder, the consortium will support schülke in further realising its mission "We protect lives - worldwide". The collaboration will focus on continuing the sustainability agenda, accelerating investment in new product innovations, further strengthening customer loyalty and tapping into additional geographical markets.