{"id":146,"date":"2026-02-10T13:21:28","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T12:21:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/noelken-backup2.local\/?page_id=146"},"modified":"2026-07-13T12:00:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T10:00:08","slug":"firmengeschichte","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.noelken.de\/en\/ueber-uns\/firmengeschichte\/","title":{"rendered":"Company History"},"content":{"rendered":"
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From dealer to full-service manufacturer\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In 1982, Ernst N\u00f6lken 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.<\/strong><\/p>

Soon after its founding in 1982, N\u00f6lken's portfolio not only grew, but the company itself also expanded and continuously enlarged its own production facilities.<\/p>

In 1997, N\u00f6lken 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.<\/p>

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, N\u00f6lken opened another production facility in Nowogrodziec, Poland.<\/p>

Since 2010, Ernst Markus N\u00f6lken and Ulrich Daniel N\u00f6lken have been leading the family business in the second generation.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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N\u00f6lken Hygiene Products GmbH \u2013 over four decades of experience\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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1982<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>
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Founding of the trading company<\/div>
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On January 1, 1982, Barbara and Ernst N\u00f6lken founded the company N\u00f6lken GmbH as a trading company with the business purpose of \u201edistribution of moist toilet paper and oil cloths.\u201c The first company headquarters was the family's apartment in Rheinbach.<\/p>

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1988<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>
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Start of own production<\/div>
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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 \u201eN\u00f6lken family\u201c grew steadily. In addition to producing moist toilet paper and wet wipes from pre-made stacks of material, breast pads were also packaged.<\/p>

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1993<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>
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Founding of the Polish subsidiary<\/div>
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In the early 1990s, like many companies at the time, N\u00f6lken 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.<\/p>

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1997<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>
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Start of pad production<\/div>
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The expansion continued rapidly: On January 1, 1997, N\u00f6lken began production of breast pads in Windhagen.<\/p>

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2005<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>
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Start of liquid filling<\/div>
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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.<\/p>

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2008<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>
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Structure of the Formulation and Mixing Department<\/div>
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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.<\/p>

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2010<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>
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Generational change<\/div>
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The family business is moving into the second generation: Ernst N\u00f6lken is handing over the business to his two sons, Ulrich Daniel and Ernst Markus N\u00f6lken.<\/p>

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2014-2019<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>
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Expansion of production<\/div>
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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.<\/p>

In 2015, the expansion of liquid filling was completed, which was made possible by the acquisition of a building in the immediate vicinity.<\/p>

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).<\/p>

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2020<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>
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RHEOSOL\/NW-Chemie becomes part of the NOELKEN GROUP<\/div>
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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.<\/p>

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2021<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>
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Establishment of the new Neustadt production site<\/div>
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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.<\/p>

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