Bochemie

Bochemie a.s. is an electrochemical and specialty-chemicals manufacturer based in Bohumín in the Czech Republic. The company traces its industrial origins to 1904, when its predecessor, Österreichisches Chemikalienwerk Rudolf Goldschmidt & Co., was established to produce aniline dyes. During the First World War, sugar shortages created strong demand for saccharin, leading to the formation of the Bohumín Chemical Works with Saccharin A.G. The business subsequently used saccharin and other chemical products as a foundation for wider diversification. In the interwar period, the Bohumín plant expanded beyond sweeteners and dyes into basic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, horticultural and agricultural products, photographic chemicals, zinc paints, chloramine, artificial shellac, and aspirin. Its 1936 product list reportedly contained more than 250 items. The company experienced severe pressure during the economic crisis of the 1920s, including a sharp reduction in employment and the abandonment of a planned subsidiary in Kraków, Poland. Following restructuring, it returned to profitability in 1925. The plant was affected by the political upheavals surrounding the Second World War. After the occupation of the region, it was confiscated in 1940 and transferred through German corporate ownership. Following the war, it came under government administration and was later incorporated into the nationalization of the Czechoslovak chemical industry beginning in October 1945. After the Velvet Revolution, the plant was privatized in 1991, became a joint-stock company, and adopted the Bochemie Bohumín name. During the 1990s, Bochemie developed subsidiaries and affiliated businesses in neighboring markets, including Slovakia and Poland. At the turn of the millennium, these activities were consolidated into the multinational Bochemie Group. The company’s modern portfolio combines industrial chemicals with branded and professional products. Its principal areas include wood protection, metal-surface treatment, household and professional disinfection, active materials and electrode plates for nickel-cadmium batteries, and metallized textiles produced using its MEFTEX technology. Several products have long industrial histories. Feropur is a metal-surface-treatment product manufactured at Bohumín since the 1960s, while the Bochemit line comprises wood-impregnation and wood-protection products. Savo, introduced in 1973 as a household disinfectant, became widely used in several Eastern Bloc countries. Unilever acquired the Savo brand in 2013, while Bochemie continued to manufacture it. Bochemie also began producing active battery materials in 1951 and later expanded into complete electrode plates for GAZ nickel-cadmium batteries. The group’s battery activities were reshaped after it acquired GAZ Geräte- und Akkumulatorenwerk Zwickau, a German manufacturer of industrial batteries and storage systems, in 2019. In January 2025, GAZ was separated into GAZ Energy a.s., described as a sister company of Bochemie a.s. within the Bochemie Group. Bochemie therefore combines a long-established Czech chemical-production base with a broader regional group structure and a portfolio spanning industrial materials, consumer and professional chemical products, electrochemical components, and functional textiles.

Bochemie’s industrial history began in 1904 with the establishment of Österreichisches Chemikalienwerk Rudolf Goldschmidt & Co. in the Bohumín area. The original business focused on aniline dyes. During the First World War, shortages of sugar increased the strategic and commercial importance of saccharin. Rudolf Goldschmidt consequently founded the Bohumín Chemical Works, also known as Oderberger Chemische Werke, together with Saccharin A.G., then a major saccharin producer in Austria-Hungary. Saccharin A.G. retained an important shareholding position and received royalties connected with applied technologies. The saccharin business benefited from a government-supported cartel price in interwar Czechoslovakia. This helped the plant generate funds for diversification, despite the severe economic crisis of the 1920s. The company expanded into basic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, horticultural and agricultural products, photographic materials, zinc paints, chloramine, artificial shellac, aspirin, and other products. A 1936 catalogue listed more than 250 items. The depression pushed the company close to bankruptcy and substantially reduced its workforce. After restructuring, it returned to profitability in 1925, although a proposed subsidiary in Kraków was ultimately abandoned in 1930. Political and military events again transformed the enterprise after the collapse of Czechoslovakia. The Bohumín plant was occupied first by Polish forces and then by German forces in 1939. In 1940, it was confiscated and placed under a commissary manager before being sold to two German companies. After the Second World War, the plant passed into government administration and became part of the broader nationalization of Czechoslovakia’s chemical industry that began in October 1945. The postwar plant gradually developed a portfolio that remained connected to industrial and consumer chemistry. Active materials for batteries were added in 1951. From the 1960s onward, the Bohumín site produced Feropur, a metal-surface-treatment agent, and developed the Bochemit range of wood-impregnation and wood-protection products. In 1973, it introduced Savo, a household disinfectant that became popular across several Eastern Bloc markets. Following the Velvet Revolution, the plant was privatized in 1991, converted into a joint-stock company, and renamed Bochemie Bohumín. During the 1990s, Bochemie established subsidiaries in countries including Slovakia and Poland and acquired interests in related businesses. These activities were consolidated around the turn of the millennium into the Bochemie Group. The company later broadened its electrochemical activities, including the production of complete electrode plates for GAZ nickel-cadmium batteries from 2020 and the development of textile metallization using its proprietary MEFTEX technology. Bochemie’s corporate history also includes the 2013 acquisition of the Savo brand by Unilever. Although ownership of the brand changed, Bochemie continued producing Savo. In 2019, Bochemie acquired GAZ Geräte- und Akkumulatorenwerk Zwickau, a Saxon manufacturer of industrial batteries and storage systems. In January 2025, GAZ was separated into GAZ Energy a.s., a sister company of Bochemie a.s. within the Bochemie Group. The present business consequently combines historic Czech chemical manufacturing with activities in wood protection, metal treatment, disinfection, battery technology, and smart or functional textiles.

1. 2025GAZ separated into GAZ Energy

   In January 2025, GAZ was spun off into GAZ Energy a.s., a sister company of Bochemie within the Bochemie Group.

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2. 2020Complete battery electrode plates produced

   The Bohumín plant began producing complete electrode plates for GAZ nickel-cadmium batteries.

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3. 2019GAZ acquired

   Bochemie acquired GAZ Geräte- und Akkumulatorenwerk Zwickau, a German manufacturer of industrial batteries and battery-storage systems.

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4. 2013Savo brand acquired by Unilever

   Unilever acquired the Savo brand, while Bochemie continued manufacturing the products.

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5. 1991Privatization and adoption of the Bochemie name

   After the Velvet Revolution, the plant was privatized, became a joint-stock company, and adopted the Bochemie Bohumín name.

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6. 1973Savo introduced

   Bochemie introduced Savo as a household disinfectant; the product later became widely used in several Eastern Bloc countries.

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7. 1960Feropur and Bochemit production era begins

   From the 1960s, the plant produced Feropur metal-surface treatment and the Bochemit range of wood-protection products.

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8. 1951Battery-material production added

   The Bohumín plant added active materials for batteries to its manufacturing portfolio.

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9. 1945Nationalization of the chemical industry

   After the Second World War, the plant entered government administration and was incorporated into the nationalization of Czechoslovakia’s chemical industry.

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10. 1936Broad interwar product range documented

    The company’s product list contained more than 250 items, reflecting its diversification into chemical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, horticultural, and photographic products.

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11. 1925Return to profitability after restructuring

    Following the economic crisis of the 1920s, the company completed restructuring and returned to profitability.

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12. 1910Bohumín Chemical Works formed

    During the First World War, Rudolf Goldschmidt formed the Bohumín Chemical Works with Saccharin A.G. in response to strong demand for saccharin amid sugar shortages.

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13. 1904Industrial predecessor established

    Österreichisches Chemikalienwerk Rudolf Goldschmidt & Co. was established in the Bohumín area, initially producing aniline dyes.

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An industrial electrochemical and specialty-chemicals manufacturer serving construction-material protection, metal treatment, hygiene, energy storage, and functional-textile applications.

• BochemitWood preservatives1960

  Bochemit is Bochemie’s range of wood-impregnation and wood-protection products. The line is associated with the company’s long-running activity in protecting timber against deterioration and is intended for construction, maintenance, and related wood-treatment applications.

• FeropurMetal-surface treatment1960

  Feropur is a metal-surface-treatment agent produced at the Bohumín plant since the 1960s. It represents Bochemie’s continuing role as an industrial chemicals supplier for surface preparation and treatment processes.

• SavoDisinfectants1973

  Savo is a household disinfectant brand introduced by Bochemie in 1973. It became widely popular across several Eastern Bloc markets. Unilever acquired the brand in 2013, while Bochemie continued to manufacture Savo products.

• Battery active materialsBattery materials1951

  Bochemie has produced active materials for batteries since 1951. This activity forms part of the company’s electrochemical manufacturing base and later supported its involvement in nickel-cadmium battery components.

• Nickel-cadmium battery electrode platesIndustrial battery components2020

  Since 2020, Bochemie has produced complete electrode plates for GAZ nickel-cadmium batteries. The product area connects Bochemie’s chemical and electrochemical expertise with industrial energy-storage applications.

• MEFTEX metallized textilesFunctional textiles

  MEFTEX is Bochemie’s proprietary technology for metallizing textiles. It extends the group’s activities beyond conventional chemicals into functional and smart-textile applications.

• 2025GAZ separated into GAZ EnergyStrategy

  The Bochemie Group reorganized its battery-related corporate structure after the GAZ acquisition.

  What changed. In January 2025, GAZ was spun off into GAZ Energy a.s., described as a sister company of Bochemie a.s. within the Bochemie Group.

  Aftermath. The separation placed GAZ Energy alongside Bochemie within the group rather than directly within Bochemie a.s.

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• 2019Acquisition of GAZM&A

  Bochemie sought to strengthen its position in industrial battery and energy-storage activities.

  What changed. Bochemie acquired GAZ Geräte- und Akkumulatorenwerk Zwickau, a Saxon manufacturer of industrial batteries and battery-storage systems.

  Aftermath. Bochemie subsequently produced complete electrode plates for GAZ nickel-cadmium batteries from 2020.

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• 2013Savo brand acquisition by UnileverM&A

  Savo had become a widely recognized household disinfectant brand after its introduction by Bochemie in 1973.

  What changed. Unilever acquired the Savo brand, while Bochemie retained a manufacturing role.

  Aftermath. The transaction separated brand ownership from production, with Bochemie continuing to manufacture Savo products.

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• 1991Privatization and corporate reorganizationStrategy

  The post-communist economic transition created the basis for the privatization of the Bohumín chemical plant.

  What changed. The plant was privatized, converted into a joint-stock company, and renamed Bochemie Bohumín.

  Aftermath. During the 1990s, Bochemie expanded through subsidiaries and investments in related businesses, contributing to the later formation of the Bochemie Group.

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• 2025GAZ separated into GAZ Energy

  In January 2025, GAZ was spun off into GAZ Energy a.s., described as a sister company of Bochemie a.s. within the Bochemie Group.

  M&A
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• 2019Bochemie acquires GAZ battery manufacturer

  Bochemie acquired GAZ Geräte- und Akkumulatorenwerk Zwickau, a German producer of industrial batteries and battery-storage systems.

  M&A
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1. Bochemie