In 1982, Ernst Nölken founded a trading company for moist toilet paper, which developed into one of the most successful suppliers of cosmetic care products for industry and trade.
Soon after its founding in 1982, Nölken's portfolio not only grew, but the company itself also expanded and continuously enlarged its own production facilities.
In 1997, Nölken expanded its product range by manufacturing breast pads, in 2005 the company began liquid filling, and from 2008 onwards, it built up a formulation and mixing department.
What began as a small company with a few items developed into one of the largest suppliers of cosmetic care products and hygiene articles in Germany. The construction of the Windhagen site began in 1991, and just two years later, Nölken opened another production facility in Nowogrodziec, Poland.
Since 2010, Ernst Markus Nölken and Ulrich Daniel Nölken have been leading the family business in the second generation.
On January 1, 1982, Barbara and Ernst Nölken founded the company Nölken GmbH as a trading company with the business purpose of „distribution of moist toilet paper and oil cloths.“ The first company headquarters was the family's apartment in Rheinbach.
On January 1, 1988, the first in-house production of makeup remover wipes under the brand **BarbaraN** began in Bad Honnef-Rottbitze. From then on, the „Nölken family“ grew steadily. In addition to producing moist toilet paper and wet wipes from pre-made stacks of material, breast pads were also packaged.
In the early 1990s, like many companies at the time, Nölken seized the opportunity to expand into Eastern Europe. The Polish subsidiary was founded in 1993. Primarily, labor-intensive activities such as folding and cutting stacks of cloth were carried out here.
The expansion continued rapidly: On January 1, 1997, Nölken began production of breast pads in Windhagen.
In 2005, liquid product bottling began. This significantly expanded the product portfolio and made it possible to supply customers with a complete baby care series (consisting of wet wipes, nursing pads, and baby care products) from a single source.
In 2008, another milestone was reached with the establishment of our own formulation and mixing department. From then on, not only could the contents for the jars, tubes, and bottles be developed and manufactured in-house, but the impregnation liquids for wet wipes, which had previously been outsourced, were also gradually brought into in-house production.
The family business is moving into the second generation: Ernst Nölken is handing over the business to his two sons, Ulrich Daniel and Ernst Markus Nölken.
Through the acquisition of new machines, the production of breast pads will be expanded in 2014 at the Windhagen site in a new production hall.
In 2015, the expansion of liquid filling was completed, which was made possible by the acquisition of a building in the immediate vicinity.
In 2018, the mixing department was expanded to meet increased demand, especially for rinsing liquids. In 2019, further investment was made in wet wipe machines at both locations (Windhagen and Poland).
The previous Wachendorff GmbH will become part of the Noelken Group as NW-Chemie. NW-Chemie GmbH is a brand manufacturer and, at the same time, a full-range supplier with the necessary accessories in the field of hygiene and disinfection.
Production capacities have been expanded through the acquisition of a new hall and office space in Neustadt/Wied. Further wet wipe production will start here in 2021.
