From a grocery store to an international group

The history of Greiner Group began in 1868 with the opening of a so called „Greißlerladen“ (grocery and ironmongery shop) by Carl Albert Greiner in Nürtingen (Germany). More than 140 years later, Greiner Group is a global player in the foam and plastics industry.

  • 1868

    The company is established by Carl Albert and Emilie Greiner in

    Nürtingen, Germany. The young entrepreneur couple opens their

    grocery store on 7th September 1868 selling among other products

    soda water in bottles with homemade cork stoppers.

  • 1878

    During his visit to the World Exhibition in Paris Carl Albert Greiner

    finds and buys a cork cutting machine for the production of cork

    stoppers. Soon after this his business expands to supplying other

    beverage producers with cork stoppers.

  • 1899

    Hermann Greiner (the second son of Carl Albert) is given the

    task of setting up a “cork stopper factory” in Kremsmünster,

    Upper Austria. Hermann Greiner begins production with 45

    workers on the 1st of July 1899.

  • 1950

    The cork exporting countries introduce exorbitantly high export

    duties from 1950. The company responds by occupying itself

    with plastic and foam materials.

  • 1952

    In Nürtingen (Germany) a foam machine for the production of

    PU soft foam materials is set-up.

  • 1956

    Start of foam poduction in Kremsmünster

    with a small, not yet automated foam machine.

  • 1960

    The first injection molding machine goes

    on line in Kremsmünster.

  • 1963

    Production of the first petri dishes in Germany – the birth of

    Greiner Bio-One.

  • 1973

    Start-up for laboratory products in Kremsmünster.

  • 1986

    Restructuring as a holding company – Greiner Holding AG.

  • 1989

    Greiner is the first company to recognize the potential of the

    Eastern European transition countries as the Iron Curtain opens

    and to use it to the full with a step-by-step opening of these

    new markets. The first company in a transition country is

    acquired in Hungary.

  • 1999

    Each single company now acts as an independent business

    unit following corporate restructuring on 1.1.1999. The Group

    presents a broad and diversified corporate portfolio based on

    its core competences in foam and plastics.

  • 2001

    Greiner Bio-One International AG is established.

    Greiner Holding AG acquires shares in Greiner Bio-One

    International AG.

  • 2010

    The two new divisions Greiner Technology & Innovation and

    Greiner Foam International are established.

    Greiner Holding AG generates consolidated sales for the year

    2010 of 821 million euros, Greiner Bio-One International AG

    311 million euros. The two companies together employ some

    7,400 people at 123 locations worldwide.

  • 2012

    Greiner Foam International is founding a joint venture

    in South Africa – the first Greiner location in Africa –

    while Greiner Bio-One has its sights set on India.

     

    The Greiner Group ended 2012 with a total of 138

    locations in 31 different countries.