About us - KAPPUS | Seife seit 1848

Kappus 1848 – Made in Germany since 1848

Welcome to the world of solid hygiene products.

These products consist of natural, biodegradable raw materials. More sustainability without long supply chains.

With over 90 highly motivated employees, we would be pleased to develop and produce your customised solid hygiene product.

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Founding

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Mio. Bars of Soaps per year

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Factory in Germany: Heitersheim

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Tons of soap base per year

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Employees

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Industry and retail customers

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Export markets

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Sustainability

Certified Quality

The finest raw materials and certified processes for greater sustainability and high-quality hygiene products. For nearly 175 years, that’s what we’ve stood for.

Made in Germany

With over 90 highly motivated employees we develop and produce your customised solid hygiene products for industry customers and cosmetic brands.

Our location

Heitersheim factory

Founded in Heitersheim in 1887, Hirtler, along with the KAPPUS Group, had a long history as one of the last independent and successful mid-sized producers of bar soap in Europe until 2015. Hirtler was acquired in 2016 by the former KAPPUS Group and incorporated into the newly founded KAPPUS GmbH in 2020 as a production site. Today the KAPPUS site in Heitersheim produces soap products – including toilet soaps, syndets, combars, alkaline soaps, speciality soaps and soap base for industrial processors – for prestigious branded goods makers, trademarks, industry customers and private labels. The site has been renamed in Kappus 1848 GmbH in 2023.

Soap since 1848

Our history

Since 1848 we have been lovingly and passionately developing and producing high-quality skin care and cleansing products – made in Germany.

1848

The first generation:
Perfume maker Johann Martin Kappus founds „M. Kappus Feinseifen- und Parfümeriefabrik“ in Offenbach/M.

1890–1933

The second generation:
His three sons Adolf, Ludwig and Martin Jr join the company and guide it safely through the First World War, hyperinflation and the Great Depression

1933–1975

The third generation:
Ludwig’s eldest son, Alfons, takes the reins at the company, 80% of which was destroyed in the Second World War. In spite of further dismantling, in 1947 Alfons rebuilds the company, which survives the “soap crisis” while 90% of its competitors are forced to close.

1960–1986

The fourth generation:
Wolfgang Kappus, son of Alfons, joins the company following his business administration studies and a three-year stay in Canada. Expansion of exports to more than 80 countries

1986

The fifth generation:
Patricia Kappus-Becker, Wolfgang’s eldest daughter, joins the company.

1992

Acquisition of the “Konsumseifenwerk” in Riesa and founding of Kappus Seifen GmbH Riesa & Co. KG.

2004

The company acquires the former Henkel subsidiary “Dreiring Werk GmbH”, which becomes its third production site.

2016

Acquisition of Hirtler, a prominent soap producer in Heitersheim.

2021

Renaming to KAPPUS GmbH. Acquisition of the company CosSavon in Kehl.

2023

Acquisition of the Heitersheim site by roell partners investor group. Renaming to KAPPUS 1848 GmbH.

QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS, REQUESTS?

Contact

There are countless possible applications for solid hygiene and cleaning products. Go exploring with us and discover the multitude of possibilities we offer. Looking forward to our future project. We will process your data only for the purpose of answering your questions. For detailed information, see our privacy policy.