A look behind the scenes at how shower gels, shampoos and creams are produced - that was on the CosmeticBusiness project team's wish list this year. At the invitation of Jan Rudel, Head of Contract Manufacturing at dreiturm GmbH, the team visited the production facility in Steinau, Hesse, at the end of October 2024. They travelled along the historic "Via Regia" trade route from Leipzig to Steinau, where the company has been based since 1930.

Tradition meets modernity

Founded as a soap factory in 1825, the company has developed into a modern manufacturer of hygiene, health and beauty products. Today, dreiturm sells its products in over 20 countries worldwide and produces over 40 million units annually with a workforce of 320 employees. "Our work at dreiturm combines almost 200 years of tradition with state-of-the-art technology. We are particularly proud of the fact that we can offer everything from product development, stability and dermatological tests to contract manufacturing and packaging from a single source," says Jan Rudel. From small batches to large quantities - dreiturm has the capacity to fulfil customer requirements.

A tour of the production facility

Together with Jan Rudel, the CosmeticBusiness team visited the various production areas for pharmaceutical and hygiene products. Extensive machinery consisting of bottle, jar and tube fillers, sachet, pouch and soap machines and many other production machines enable the manufacturing, filling and packaging of conventional cosmetics and natural cosmetics.

Divided into the three pillars of hygiene, health and beauty, dreiturm produces in three shifts according to customer requirements and can also fulfil requests at short notice thanks to its flexibility. "If production at one of our customers is cancelled at short notice or our own capacities are no longer sufficient to meet consumer demand, we are contacted and have to react quickly. At such times, the triad of resources, availability and technology plays a decisive role in reliably guaranteeing the highest quality 'Made in Germany'," explains Jan Rudel.

Hygiene: With a wide range of cleaning products, dreiturm serves professional users, from building cleaners to hospitals and retirement homes. Products such as disinfectants and hand care set standards in terms of cleanliness and protection.

Health: dreiturm has been pharma-certified since 2001 and specialises in medical applications. From wound ointments and allergy products to nutritional supplements and medical sun care - the company's innovative strength is particularly evident in this area.

Beauty: Dreiturm has established itself as a pioneer in certified natural cosmetics. The company developed BDIH-compliant formulations back in the 1990s and today offers comprehensive contract manufacturing solutions for cosmetics producers. Whether liquid or paste-like products - dreiturm supplies everything from a single source.

From the fragrance of a perfume to the creamy consistency of an ointment, products are developed and manufactured with precision at dreiturm. "On site, we were able to experience first-hand how much commitment and expertise goes into every single product. Whether filling shampoo or packaging creams - we were impressed by the variety of production processes. The insight into contract manufacturing with modern vacuum systems was particularly exciting. As organisers of CosmeticBusiness, it was also great for us to see how the exhibitor network along the entire cosmetics value chain - from ingredients to packaging - is reflected at dreiturm in the warehouse and in production," sums up Project Director Ivonne Simons.

A look into the future

The CosmeticBusiness team said goodbye with the promise to return in summer 2025 for the 200th anniversary. There will then be a big celebration with guests from politics and the regional economy.

The visit made one thing clear: dreiturm is not only a traditional company, but also a driving force for innovation and quality. The production facility in Steinau is an impressive reflection of how a company with almost 200 years of history is constantly reinventing itself - and focussing on sustainability and perfection in the process.