Milestones

A success story spanning 115 years

Max Elb applied to the patent office in Dresden on 23.04.1903 to have the name “Caramba” registered and founded Max Elb GmbH. Seven months later, the patent office confirmed the name and registered it. This laid the foundation for a successful 115-year success story.

1903

1903

Max Elb applied to have the Caramba trademark patented

1922

Rütgerswerke AG obtains shares in Max Elb GmbH

1929

The German company Glühstoff GmbH, a subsidiary of Max Elb AG, launches “Caramba”. The multi-oil becomes a problem solver for the automotive industry

1948

1948

Production of Caramba multi-oil starts in Duisburg

1949-2

1949

Employees develop a proprietary aerosol system, patent registration

1952

The spray can conquers the market: Caramba is the first company in Germany to fill technical products in aerosol cans. Caramba graphite oil becomes the bestseller in the economic wonderland of Germany.

1965

1965

Caramba is the first German company to develop a complete range of car care products. Thanks to its outstanding success, Caramba becomes synonymous with all multi-oils.

1976

The 50-millionth “Caramba Super” is produced

1987

Caramba develops high-tech chemical equipment such as PTFE, adhesive and lubricating greases. The 100 millionth aerosol can leaves the production line.

1998

1998

Caramba multi-oils achieve an overall market share of over 40 percent (GfK)

2001

WIGO takes over the company Caramba. Effective immediately, Caramba operates as Caramba Chemie GmbH & Co. KG.

2003

Jubilee can “100 years of Caramba”

2004

Caramba officially becomes “brand of the century”

2007

Berner S.E. takes over the company. Caramba expands its B2B business. Takeover of TEGEE Bremen, which produces cleaning and care products for commercial consumers.

2008

2008

The Caramba Group becomes international: Acquisition of Rumler Chemie (Netherlands) and the Christian Maurer Group (Austria, Romania, Hungary).

2009

Relaunch of the professional chemical-technical range. Launch of the new Caramba Profi-Line.

2011

With the acquisitions of Ambratec, Kent, Matecra and ACC, the group is further expanded.

2012

Introduction of the Caramba product worlds

2012

Renaming of Caramba Bremen GmbH

2013

Renaming of Caramba B. V. (formerly Rumler)

2014

111 years of Caramba

2016

Introduction of the dual spray head

2016

Four sites within CCG become the Caramba Business Area

2017

Market launch of the I-Line, the first full industrial product range for industrial parts cleaning

2018

Market launch of the X-Line

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