Description
Martin Kappus began boiling soap in 1848 and moved his business to Luisenstraße in 1856. In the following years, he converted it into a factory with steam-powered mechanical production.
The simple functional buildings inside the block between Luisenstrasse, Geleitsstrasse and Frankfurter Strasse, which were constantly enlarged and modernized through acquisitions and extensions, were largely concealed by the surrounding residential buildings. The life story of the company founder is exemplary of a middle-class career in the 19th century: Martin Kappus went from being a craftsman and "1848er", co-founder of the gymnastics club and the voluntary fire department, to a liberal local politician and self-confident industrialist. His descendants continued this family tradition and today produce around 50,000 tons of soap a year at three locations. Kappus products can be found in over 80 countries around the world.