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26 January 2022 - Jann Raveling

Eight products from Bremen that nobody has heard of, but everyone uses

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Global market leaders that go under the radar

Shellac is used as a coating for chocolate candies - the raw material is processed in Bremen.
Shellac is used as a coating for chocolate candies - the raw material is processed in Bremen. © pixabay

Not long ago, we reported on products made in Bremen that almost everybody knows. This time, we want to present products that many of us have probably used at one time or another, but that are little known to be from Bremen.

Here are our top eight products that nobody has heard of, but everyone uses:

Plastic on the inside of bottle tops – one of the food industry’s typical uses of sealing compounds, such as those made by Actega DS
Plastic on the inside of bottle tops – one of the food industry’s typical uses of sealing compounds, such as those made by Actega DS

1. Sealing compounds made by Actega DS

The Bremen-based company manufactures sealing components for plastic and metal closures in the food and beverage industry. One example is the sealant used in the bottle caps of beers and soft drinks. As Actega DS is a global market leader in the sector, it is highly likely that every resident of Bremen has come across one of the company’s products.

2. Shellac produced by Stroever

At the mention of shellac, most people will think of old records. But this resin, excreted by the lac insect, is still an important material today. Among other things, it is used as a glazing agent in sweets, such as chocolates and jelly beans, as a coating for tablets and to provide shine in nail polish. Bremen-based Stroever (SSB) is the only manufacturer of dewaxed shellac in Europe.

3. Dog food made by Saturn Petcare

It is more than likely that our pets have already acquired a taste for Saturn Petcare. The company from Bremen, part of Heristo AG based in Lower Saxony, is one of the world’s largest pet food producers and manufactures tasty treats for cats and dogs on behalf of many well-known brands. It might not say Saturn Petcare on the outside, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts.

4. Fashion made by zero

Fashion retailer zero sells women’s wear at 400 locations across Germany and Austria. The label was launched in Bremen in 1967 and currently has a branch in the city centre. It was reopened in 2018 in the same retail space that the company occupied in the 1970s.

Individual container options
JO-BA is Germany’s only manufacturer of clothing collection containers © WFB/Jörg Sarbach

5. Synthetic fibres made by BWK Chemiefaser GmbH

As well as natural fibres like wool, much of our clothing also contains synthetic fibres such as cellulose, polyester or polyamide. These improve the product characteristics, for example by making the fabric non-slip, softer or more hard-wearing. BWK Chemiefaser GmbH, based in Bremen-Blumenthal, is a key player in the textile industry’s production chain. The company is one of Europe’s leading textile fibre finishers and supplies the global worsted spinning industry with slivers made of synthetic fibres. The worsted spinners mix the slivers with wool to produce blended yarns. These yarns are then woven into fabrics for use in high-quality suits, for example. If you take a look at the label in your favourite suit, you might find that the material was made with a little help from Bremen.

6. Waste disposal with JO-BA

Whenever you need to dispose of old clothes, shoes or electronic waste, you may be throwing it into a recycling container made in Bremen. JO-BA GmbH produces between 8,000 and 10,000 containers a year for customers in Germany, France, Greece, Italy and Switzerland. The company is Germany’s only manufacturer of recycling containers for old clothing and one of the leading vendors in Europe.

7. Calendars made by terminic

At the end of each year, many companies receive three-month calendars as promotional gifts. This practical format was invented in 1937 by terminic, a Bremen-based company, back then known as Buchdruckerei B. C. Heye & Co. Today, terminic is still one of the market leaders in Europe, producing millions of calendars.

8. Tickets from CTS Eventim

Anyone looking for tickets to musicals, operas, festivals or similar events will more than likely come across CTS Eventim. The company has evolved into Europe’s leading concert organiser and ticket vendor. This listed company was founded in Bremen, where it still has its head office. Its registered office is in Munich.

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