KESLA PHARMA WOLFEN GMBH – Excellence Rooted in Tradition, Driven by Innovation
KESLA PHARMA WOLFEN GMBH stands on a strong historical foundation: Its origins trace back to the renowned Farbenfabrik Wolfen, once part of IG Farben, where the development and production of disinfectants began even before World War II. Until German reunification, Wolfen was the leading manufacturer of disinfectants in East Germany.
Following the fall of the Berlin Wall, a dedicated group of chemists took on the challenge of preserving pharmaceutical production at the site. After an initial privatization attempt in 1990, a second effort succeeded in 1993, supported by both the state government and the Treuhand agency. Thus, KESLA CHEMIE WOLFEN GMBH was founded through a management buy-out, securing jobs, know-how, and the future of pharmaceutical manufacturing in Wolfen.
Through entrepreneurial spirit, long-term vision, and consistent reinvestment, KESLA quickly gained a firm foothold in the market. The company has experienced double-digit growth in most years and continued to create new jobs. In 1996, the company was renamed KESLA PHARMA WOLFEN GMBH to reflect its focus on pharmaceutical-grade products.
KESLA was the first chemical company in Saxony-Anhalt - and only the third industrial company in the region - to be registered in the EU’s Environmental Management System registry. Soon after, the company’s quality management system was certified under DIN EN ISO 9001.
Our Strength: Peracetic Acid (PAA) – The Ideal Disinfectant
KESLA is renowned for its high-performance disinfectants and antiseptics based on peracetic acid (PAA). This active ingredient is considered the gold standard in disinfection: fast-acting, highly effective against bacteria, fungi, viruses, and spores - while breaking down into nothing but oxygen, water, and minimal traces of acetic acid. No persistent residues. No compromises.
Wolfen has been a pioneer in PAA-based hygiene since the early 1970s. The product "Wofasteril®" first developed in 1972, became synonymous with PAA throughout East Germany and remains one of the most effective disinfectants listed in the German market today.
KESLA also developed Germany’s first veterinary medicines based on PAA - such as Upersan-dip (for udder antisepsis) and Uterofertil neu (a uterine therapeutic for cattle). Today, multidisciplinary teams of chemists, microbiologists, pharmacists, veterinarians, and food technologists continue this innovative work. Since 1994, the company has expanded its in-house capabilities for high-level chemical, physical, and microbiological testing.
At the same time, existing production facilities were modernized and expanded with new construction and infrastructure upgrades representing an investment of around €10 million. The result is a future-ready production site that bears little resemblance to the pre-reunification era.
KESLA HYGIENE AG – Market-Facing, Customer-Focused
In 1999, KESLA HYGIENE AG was founded as a spin-off, assuming responsibility for all marketing, sales, and customer service activities. Since 2000, it has acted as the "foreign ministry" of the KESLA Group building bridges between KESLA’s scientific excellence and the real-world needs of the market.
A Future Secured by Foundations
In 2004, ownership of KESLA PHARMA WOLFEN GMBH was transferred from private hands to two newly established foundations. 70% of the company is held by the non-profit Schreiner Foundation for Research and Education, and the remaining 30% by the Schreiner Family Foundation.
The Schreiner Foundation also established the Academy for Applied Hygiene in 2004 as a non-profit training institution. Since 2007, the Academy has hosted annual practice-oriented symposia, and in 2013 it launched an educational partnership with the Cooperative State University (BA Sachsen, Plauen) in the field of food safety. The externally conducted module “Cleaning & Disinfection” is now a core part of the curriculum.
Conclusion
KESLA PHARMA WOLFEN GMBH combines tradition, scientific precision, and sustainable innovation. With a strong commitment to quality, environmental stewardship, and public health, we deliver future-proof solutions for hygiene in medicine, veterinary care, and the food industry.
