The history of TETENAL
From the birth in 1847 to the restart in 2019
In 1847, the pulverizing and cutting facility of Berlin pharmacist Theodor Teichgräber was registered in the commercial register - the cornerstone of a significant company in the photo industry.
The company founder, with his initials "TT", gave the later established brand TETENAL its name, which has developed into a synonym for photo chemistry over the decades.
The TETENAL 1847 GmbH, which was restructured after the insolvency of the former Tetenal Europe in April 2019, is now a leading provider of imaging chemicals with a focus on the segments of photo, industrial X-ray, pre-press, and micro. In addition to the TETENAL portfolio, the company also offers development and manufacturing of imaging chemicals for OEM partners.
Since 1847, we at TETENAL have significantly contributed to the history of the photo industry and achieved important milestones.
1847 – 1972
Professional Imaging Products
The company Theodor Teichgräber is registered in 1847 as a joint stock company in the Commercial Register of Berlin. The company's laboratory soon produced not only pharmaceutical products, but also the necessary chemicals for the first experimental photographers.
The brand "Te-Te" is branded as a developer and fixer bath and under the name TETENAL ready-made photo paper. With the introduction of the new Neofin concept, TETENAL is the first surface developer in the world to launch the new generation of developers for high-resolution films that are still in use today. At the end of the 1950s, the foundation stone for a photochemical plant on a total of 20,000 m2 of operating space was laid in Norderstedt near Hamburg – the central and globally operating manufacturing facility for color, X-ray, repro and B/W chemicals.
1972 – 2018
Innovation with ecological ambition
As part of the Safe Chemistry research programme, TETENAL has launched several products with improved occupational safety and environmental compatibility. Examples include formaldehyde-free stabilizing baths for use in finishing, minilab and professional laboratory applications, as well as minilab processes (C 41 SLR, RA-4 CD SLR) with the lowest replenishment rates.
Since the beginning of the 1990s, TETENAL has been setting new ecological standards: As the first manufacturer in Germany, we offer our specialist customers a product delivery and disposal cycle. In the field of medical imaging, we are launching the first specialized developer for mammography applications, Roentoroll RA, which offers improved cancer screening capabilities.
With Roentoroll AC, the first hydroquinone and glutaraldehyde-free X-ray developer for all film types, as well as innovations in the field of dental technology, Tetenal strengthens its position as a specialist for X-ray photography applications.
At the end of the 90s, the user-friendly Minilab range Ergoline and the professional Colortec product line with odourless and reduced allergy formulas were added to the range.
2018 – March of 2018
Premature end of an era
The application for insolvency proceedings of the old Tetenal Europe GmbH went through the photo press like a purgatory. The entire analog photo industry was shocked. 172 years of tradition out and over? The end of a legend seemed sealed.
But when the need was greatest, the employees intervened. With a courageous initiative, four employees together with around 40 employees decided to take over the company and lead it into the future.
SINCE APRIL 1, 2019
The birth of the new TETENAL 1847 GmbH and the realignment
After successfully concluding a contract with the insolvency administrator, the initiative now owns the production machines, recipes, registrations, Tetenal trademark rights and the know-how from 172 years of analog photochemistry production. The foundation for a successful restart.
Since 1 April 2019, the new company has been producing at its old location and is focusing exclusively on the production and distribution of chemical products. In the meantime, TETENAL 1847 GmbH has also met the need for a direct presence to the end customer and is modifying its product range and dividing it into two main groups: Professional Imaging (b2b) and Consumer Imaging (b2c).
Starting from mid-2023, our company will continue to operate as a supplier for TETENAL chemicals and produce the familiar quality at the new location.