HERMES ARZNEIMITTEL - Company History

Company History

Progress with tradition
HERMES ARZNEIMITTEL GMBH is a modern, medium-sized pharmaceutical enterprise. Initially specializing in herbal teas, its planted-based product range was later continuously expanded. In the 60s, HERMES began to manufacture and sell vitamin effervescent tablets, thus paving the way for the company’s future success.

Milestones from 1907 to the present day
From the first “breakfast tea” through to the first multivitamin effervescent tablet (1960) and the launch of the OTC product doc Ibuprofen pain relief gel (2010) – the HERMES product portfolio has been constantly expanded. The enterprise is now THE competence centre for the development and production of quick soluble pharmaceuticals. Rapid progress and new business domains such as contract manufacturing have served to strengthen the company’s established practice, and so the spirit of 1907 lives on 100 years later: single-mindedly implementing its vision – and shaping its future with progress and tradition.

HERMES PHARMA
The Austrian company HERMES PHARMA, with its head office in Vienna and production plant in Wolfsberg, Carinthia, became part of the enterprise in October 2003.

Initially specializing in the manufacture of herbal teas and later in plant-based pharmaceuticals, Franz Gradinger founds HERMES ARZNEIMITTEL GMBH in Munich in 1907.
The pharmaceutical enterprise stays in the family: in 1934 the founder’s son-in-law, Albert Burges, takes over the management. More and more plant-based pharmaceuticals are now incorporated in the company’s product range.
The company moves to Grosshesselohe, south of Munich where its headquarters have remained on the premises of the so-called Montgelas Castle to the present day.
Dr. Ernst Richter’s herbal breakfast tea is one of the most frequently consumed slimming teas in Germany in the 50s. Numerous other products supplement the product portfolio. In total, customers now have a choice of four different HERMES teas.
In the 60s, HERMES launches its first multivitamin effervescent tablet. By using the TOPO granulation process, HERMES lays the foundations for its cutting-edge position in the field of “bubbling” health.
Johannes Burges becomes the managing director and, in the years to come, transforms HERMES into a leading supplier of OTC products in Germany.
In the same year the new generation takes over, HERMES is also granted the licence for the TOPO technology according to Dr. Gergely, and its utilization on a large scale begins.
The OTC brand Optovit is launched. Optovit, particularly valued by patients with rheumatic joint complaints, quickly advances to a market leader and continues to assert its position in the future.
Launch of the mineral brand Biolectra: with Biolectra Magnesium, HERMES establishes itself in the pharmaceutical mineral market and rapidly becomes the Number Two in the market for OTC magnesium products.
In 1989, HERMES ventures into a new field of business, contract manufacturing. This division has been operating under the name HERMES PHARMA since 2003 and is now the most successful contract manufacturer for solid soluble dosage forms in Europe.
With HERMES Cevitt, HERMES launches yet another top seller. Step by step, the vitamin C product with different innovative dosage forms such as effervescent tablet, hot drink, granules and capsules conquers the market.
HERMES inaugurates the first section of its production plant in Wolfratshausen. More than 800 million effervescent tablets are manufactured in these high-tech facilities per year.
HERMES celebrates the inauguration of the high-rack warehouse and the completion of the second section of the production plant in Wolfratshausen.
By securing the Austrian contract manufacturer Viatris Pharma, HERMES expands its customer portfolio. Since that time, the production facilities in Vienna and Wolfsberg have been operating under the name HERMES PHARMA.
HERMES acquires the highly specialized Austrian aroma manufacturer TOPO-Pharma.
In 2008, HERMES receives a very special distinction and is conferred the Industry Award of the district of Wolfratshausen/Bad Tölz. The prize recognizes and distinguishes outstanding entrepreneurial performance.
The new plant in Wolfsberg is completed. After only 18 months of construction, one of the most high-tech pharmaceutical facilities in Austria is born.
HERMES acquires the doc brand and starts to sell doc Arnika Salbe (arnica ointment) available exclusively in pharmacies. In the same year, HERMES registers another top product: doc Ibuprofen Schmerzgel (pain relief gel).