The world-famous German company Beiersdorf AG contributed to today's technology by inventing many products from stationery products to skin care products, thanks to the collaboration of two inventors, Oscar Troplowitz and Paul Carl Beiersdorf. Let's get to know these two inventors:
Photograph: Paul Carl Beiersdorf (left), Oscar Troplowitz (right)
Paul Carl Beiersdorf and Beiersdorf AG
Paul Carl Beiersdorf was born on March 26, 1836 in Neuruppin, Brandenburg, Germany. Paul Carl Beiersdorf, whose childhood and youth is not known in the sources, was among the partners of an optics company in Berlin in the 1870s. He opened his own pharmacy in Hamburg in 1880 and started to work on various pharmaceuticals. The ointment bandages he developed during this period brought Paul Carl Beiersdorf and his pharmacy to a very important position in the eyes of the Germans in terms of public health.
1836-1896
Later, Beiersdorf concentrated on adhesive resins and medical adhesive dressings. Paul Gerson Unna, a dermatologist who started working in his lab, was an expert in adhesive resins. The rubber-based adhesive tapes they developed together heralded the new era in adhesive tapes. Moreover, the resins they used gave successful results not only for medical adhesive dressings, but also as adhesives on different surfaces. The medical adhesive dressing, which they patented in 1882 and named Guttaperchapflastermulle, made the company a huge commercial success.
In 1886, Beiersdorf AG began producing medical adhesive dressings and adhesives, as well as creams and soaps. However, as the company grew and it became difficult to meet the demands of the market, Paul Carl Beiersdorf realized that he did not have enough time for scientific research and in 1890 he decided to sell the company to Oscar Troplowitz. In this way, the responsibility of the company was relieved and he created the ideal conditions to devote himself to scientific research. Oscar Troplowitz, who bought Beiersdorf AG with the financial support of his uncle, was much more experienced in company management than Paul Carl Beiersdorf.
Oscar Troplowitz
German pharmacist, co-inventor of the NIVEA cream. He was born in Gliwice and died in Hamburg. He came from a wealthy Jewish family.
Oscar Troplowitz was born on January 18, 1863 in Gleiwitz, Prussia. The son of a bricklayer named Ludwik, little Oscar greatly admired his father. And he wanted to be an architect one day. However, after finishing secondary school, he could not continue his education due to economic reasons. Having started to work as an apprentice in the pharmacy of his uncle Gustav Mankiewicz in Breslau, little Oscar became interested in this job, which he did not like at first. He studied pharmacy at the University of Breslau to improve himself in the field of pharmacy. Oscar Troplowitz, who graduated from the university in 1886, completed his master's and doctorate in chemistry at Heidelberg University to further improve himself.
1863-1918
In the second half of the 19th century, great discoveries were made in the field of natural sciences in Europe. New product types developed using these discoveries were affecting the health and pharmaceutical industries as well as in almost every field. The products, whose patents were obtained and mass produced, both benefited humanity and brought great commercial success to the manufacturer. German pharmacist and entrepreneur Oscar Troplowitz was aware of the importance of branding in ensuring such success. In 1890, when he bought the chemistry laboratory of Paul Carl Beiersdorf and continued his work there, he had set his mind to offer his own brands to the market in the future.
In 1892, Oscar Troplowitz modernized the production facilities of Beiersdorf AG. The factory he built on a 1,200 square meter plot in Lokstedter Weg accelerated the mass production processes. In this period when the transition from traditional production methods to modern production processes was experienced, the workers at Beiersdorf AG under the management of Oscar Troplowitz had many rights in economic and social areas, especially paid vacation and maternity leave. The name Beiersdorf continued to be used as the company's retail brand.
Oscar Troplowitz died on April 27, 1918 in Hamburg.
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Another brand that these two names contributed to its creation: Nivea.
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