vanBaerle

vanBaerle adds the innovative Ambiance product line to its hygiene range. The key feature of the Ambiance products is their use of microorganisms to break down the unwanted organic materials. vanBaerle acquires the professional hygiene business of MIFA, a Migros Group subsidiary, at a cost of CHF 4 million. Daniel Schenk succeeds previous major sha... reholder Rolf Eberenz as new major shareholder and Delegate of the Board of Directors. The last members of the van Baerle family leave the company. On 20 November 1990, vanBaerle receives the Basel Innovation Prize for its development of the RESOPLAN paper sizing process. The award is presented by councillors Feldges (Canton of Basel-Stadt) and Spitteler (Canton of Baselland). The company celebrates its centenary under the banner "Experience for the Future". vanBaerle starts up a new silicate production facility and builds a glass melting plant. vanBaerle successfully expands its paper chemicals business and starts production of styrene maleic anhydride copolymers (SMAC) as the basis for its specialty surface paper sizing products. The start of paper chemicals production marks the definitive transition from the old vanBaerle "soap factory" to a modern chemicals-sector company. The production of Ehasol resin size paves the way for the creation of the paper chemicals division. With RELAVIT/RELAXIN, vanBaerle becomes one of the first Swiss manufacturers to market automatic dishwashing products. Even before the war, a shift was emerging in vanBaerle's customer structure (up to then, household consumables). The advent of the automatic washing machine triggers a gradual decline in the domestic use of soap. It is superseded by washing powders, in which soap is partly replaced by so-called surfactants (manufactured by large chemical corporations). vanBaerle adapts to this development in 1945 by implementing various restructuring measures: the focus of manufacturing is shifted to products that cater for major buyers and bulk consumers. Light and heavy industry, and later ...Read More