Bayer to celebrate 150 years of innovation and change

“Bayer can look back on a long and highly successful history as an inventor company,” explained CEO Dr. Marijn Dekkers. “What started as a small but innovative dyestuffs factory in the Barmen district of Wuppertal is now a global enterprise with more than 110,000 employees. In the past 150 years, Bayer inventions have time and again helped improve people's quality of life. This great tradition is also our commitment to the future – entirely in line with our mission of Bayer: Science For A Better Life.”

Throughout 2013, Bayer is planning a series of events and projects worldwide. These will focus on the company’s employees and their families – but neighbours, customers, partners and the scientific community are also to be included in the celebrations. Bayer can actually look back on 150 years of ongoing change and renewal. “A company cannot exist in the long term without changing and adapting,” emphasized Dekkers.

The company was founded as “Friedr. Bayer et comp.” on 1 August 1863 by Friedrich Bayer and Johann Friedrich Weskott in the Barmen district of Wuppertal. Bayer initially produced synthetic dyestuffs but the range of products grew significantly over the years. In 1881, the company was made a joint stock corporation – “Farbenfabriken vorm. Friedr. Bayer & Co.” – and developed into an international chemical company. In the course of expansion, Bayer relocated its headquarters to Leverkusen in 1912. Following the First World War, in 1925 the company became part of the I. G. Farbenindustrie AG conglomerate. It was re-established as an independent company named “Farbenfabriken Bayer AG” in 1951.

One of the projects being prepared is a travelling exhibition that will visualise topics related to health care, agriculture, and high-performance materials. This exhibition is scheduled to visit more than 20 sites throughout the world. A further highlight will be an airship displaying the Bayer Cross that will travel to all continents during 2013. Various publications are also being prepared. According to Bayer, these will provide detailed and sometimes surprising insights into the inventor company.