We are Stockhausen

Our roots go back to 1873. At that time, a small soap factory was founded on the southern outskirts of Krefeld. One of the key figures was soap maker Philipp Traiser. In 1879, Julius Stockhausen joined the company as an authorized officer. Just one year later, on November 1, 1880, they jointly founded “Crefelder Seifenfabrik Stockhausen & Traiser”. The company produced soaps for the Krefeld textile industry.

After Traiser’s death in 1882, Julius Stockhausen took over full management of the company. He consistently expanded the business. A key milestone was “Marseille soap”, which became the most important product from 1884 onwards. It was mainly used in silk and wool processing. Through continuous improvements and close collaboration with customers, Stockhausen established new quality standards early on.

In 1896, Julius Stockhausen patented a process for producing a gelatinous soap. This led to the successful “Monopol soap”, which was also used in the leather industry. In the following years, the company developed additional chemical auxiliaries, including “Tetrapol” in 1904 as well as “Terpinopol” and “Tetralix” by 1912. The initials of these products formed the well-known “Triple-T”, which remained the company’s trademark until 2001.

In 1909, the grease-removing soap “Verapol” was developed based on Tetrapol. It proved highly effective against greasy dirt and blood stains and was widely used in laundries and hospitals. At the same time, benzine soaps were developed, significantly improving chemical cleaning processes, increasing efficiency and reducing fire risk.

In 1907, collaboration began with Farbenfabriken vorm. Friedrich Bayer & Co., which lasted for decades. Bayer took over international sales and acquired a stake in the company. In the same year, a second plant was built at Bäkerpfad in Krefeld. In 1912, this site was spun off as “Chemische Fabrik Stockhausen & Cie.”. Management was taken over by Hans Stockhausen, who led the company until his death in 1951.

After the end of cooperation with IG Farbenindustrie AG in 1945, Stockhausen began building its own international sales organization from 1947 onwards.

In the decades that followed, the ownership structure also evolved. In 1951, a stake returned to Bayer AG. In 1991, Hüls AG acquired this stake along with shares from the founding family, before taking full ownership in 1996.

At the same time, the product portfolio continued to expand. In 1927, “Praestabitöl V” was patented, offering high resistance to electrolytes, acids and alkalis and used across multiple industries. In 1934, Stockhausen introduced “Praecutan”, a soap-free, mildly acidic skin cleanser that was dermatologically tested and set new standards in skin care. This later became the foundation of the “STOKO Skin Care” business. The product line was particularly popular in industrial environments and among underground miners.

After World War II, business operations were reorganized. During this period, products such as the defoaming agent “Antispumin” and the flocculant “Praestol” were developed. Praestol is still used today in water treatment, mining, and the paper and oil industries. Between 1952 and 1962, the company’s revenue tripled. The Krefeld site was continuously expanded and reached its current size in 1980.

In 1979, Stockhausen expanded into the United States and established production in Greensboro, North Carolina. In 1980, the company was converted into a GmbH and underwent organizational restructuring. In the following years, individual business areas were further developed or divested. The superabsorber business was added in 1993. The leather division was spun off in 1996, the textile division was sold to Bozzetto GmbH in 2002, and the water treatment business was sold to Ashland Corp. in 2006, which is now operated under the name Solenis Technologies Germany GmbH in Krefeld.

A major growth driver became the superabsorber business. Research into these materials began in Krefeld in 1976. Superabsorbers can absorb liquid and turn it into gel. The key raw material is acrylic acid.

In 1985, Stockhausen developed a process for producing the high-performance superabsorber FAVOR®, used in baby diapers, hygiene products, agriculture and the food industry. The first large-scale production facility went into operation in Krefeld in 1986, followed by additional plants in Krefeld and Greensboro.

In 1998, a production facility in Garyville, Louisiana, was acquired. In 2006, Stockhausen also acquired the superabsorber business of Dow Chemical Company, adding further production capacity, including in Rheinmünster. Already in 1998, the company had acquired an acrylic acid plant in Marl and has since produced this key raw material in-house. In 2001, this activity was transferred into a joint venture with Rohm & Haas Company and further expanded.

Over the years, the superabsorber business developed into a leading position on the global market. With the founding of Evonik Industries in 2007, Stockhausen became part of the group.