History

The founders took advantage of the geographical position and an important traffic crossing of the city of Bohumín in the industrial area of Silesia, which was also rich in mineral sources. Their focus on a wide range of specialised chemical products created the prerequisite for a long-term and practically uninterrupted prosperity of the company. In spite of all unfavourable political, economic and social events that hit the region, the company has always been successful. The company survived two direct occupations, air strikes and front line crossing during World War 2, and also nationalisation and subsequent centralised state management characterized by frequent changes in the organizational integration of the enterprise and its manufacturing programme.

MAJOR MILESTONES IN THE COMPANY HISTORY

1904  - Foundation of Oesterreichisches Chemikalienwerk R. Goldschmied & Co. Kom. Ges.

        - Production of Saccharine, tar dyes, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals

1920  - Boom in the production of SACCHARINE, the company supplies it all over the world

1923  - Beginning of the production of ZnCl₂ used in zinc dipping shops

        - The first production of disinfectant CHLORAMIN T

1935  - Production of CHLORAMIN B

1951  - Introduction of the production of ACCUMULATOR MASSES

1966  - Start of the production of chemical compound FEROPUR for stainless steel surface treatment

1973  - Production of the cleaning and disinfecting agent SAVO

Among the historical treasures of the company there are such famous products as ASPIRIN and artificial sweetener SACCHARIN that were successfully produced in Bohumín and exported all over the world. During post-war years, the manufacturing programme was concentrated on the development and production of the most advanced inorganic chemical substances, electro-chemical materials, semi-conducting silicon, and extremely pure gases for microelectronics. Some of the manufacturing programmes introduced during the 20th century have continued in the company until these days, the products are further developed and improved, they make up the basic pillars of the company business and, in the spirit of traditions, they are exported to many countries all over the world.

MODERN HISTORY OF THE COMPANY

1991  - Detachment from Lachema Group

1994  - Privatisation of the company, foundation of BOCHEMIE s.r.o.

1995  - Creation of supranational BOCHEMIE GROUP

1998  - Beginning of the consolidation of BOCHEMIE GROUP

2005  - Termination of activities in the field of photochemistry

2007  - BENSON OAK CAPITAL becomes a new owner of the company

2008  - Merger, foundation of BOCHEMIE a.s.

2008 - Bochemie a.s. has acquired the Hungarian company EVM, cleaning agents producer, from the Eurovalue investment company

2009 - The majority interest of Bochemie a.s. in the Czech pharmaceutical company Herbacos-Bofarma was sold to Italian group Recordati  

In 1991, the chemical plant in Bohumín became independent of Lachema Group Brno. The breaking year of the company’s modern history is the year 1994, when by privatising in a public tender BOCHEMIE became a private Czech company, at that time in the possession of 9 owners, mainly persons of the business management. In the following year, supranational BOCHEMIE GROUP is founded and it includes manufacturing and trading companies in several countries. The parent company of this group is BOCHEMIE s.r.o. and the primary fields of activities include chemical specialities, photochemistry, and pharmaceutical industry. The company remained in the possession of its owners until 2007 and it successfully developed its manufacturing and trading activities in the Czech Republic and, in particular, abroad, owing to realizing its export intents. In 2007, the Czech investment company BENSON OAK CAPITAL became a new owner and on January 1, 2008, after a corporate merger, the company was renamed to BOCHEMIE a.s. In accordance with the expansion strategy Bochemie a.s. has acquired the hungarian cleaning agents producer, the EVM company. At the beginning of 2009 Bochemie a.s. sold its majority interest in the pharmaceutical company Herbacos-Bofarma as the next step towards the fulfilment of its new trading strategy.