A quick tour of our company's history:
The Early Years (1948-1960)
1948
Only a few years after the end of World War II and his return from a prisoner-of-war camp in the United States, Carl-Heinz Menke establishes the foundation for today's company. He becomes the sales representative in northern Germany for the tinware factories Bernhard Beckmann and Hermann Winkel Blechverpackungen. Initially, the product range includes funnel cans, hobbocks and milk cans, as well as tinplate cans, buckets and canisters.
1958
First product presentation in the exhibition halls in Hamburg - an important step toward brand recognition.
1959
Lease of the first small warehouse in Speckstraße/Kaiser-Wilhelm-Strasse in Hamburg (now the location of the Axel-Springer extension building).
1960
Publication of the first product brochure for marketing purposes.
Pioneering Work in Plastic Packaging (1962)
1962
A pivotal moment: On September 1st, Carl-Heinz Menke and his partners found Marwin Plastic GmbH. With the advent of plastic, he recognizes early on the enormous opportunities and future prospects of plastic packaging. Marwin Plastic establishes itself as one of the first plastic packaging manufacturers in Germany, producing canisters and bottles.
Expansion and Growth (1960s-1980s)
1960s/1970s/1980s
Continuous expansion of the commercial agency business with renowned manufacturers such as Delbrouck, Felser and Haugolit for buckets, canisters, drums and other packaging products. The company grows steadily, resulting in several warehouse extensions through relocations within Hamburg. The administration is relocated to Toetensen (Rosengarten).
1993
Relocation of the warehouse to Gustav-Kunst-Str. 2-16, 20539 Hamburg.
A Tragic Turning Point and New Direction (1997)
1997
In August, Carl-Heinz Menke dies in a tragic car accident. His eldest daughter Georgia Menke takes over the company management and leads the family business into a new era. The company name is changed to MENKE Industrieverpackungen.
Digitalization and Quality Assurance (2000s)
2000
MENKE Industrieverpackungen goes online. The company presents itself for the first time on the Internet at www.menke-industrieverpackungen.de.
2002
On December 10, MENKE Industrieverpackungen receives DIN ISO 9001:2000 certification - an important milestone for quality assurance.
2004
Expansion of storage capacity with the addition of another warehouse.
2006
The company is re-established as Menke Industrieverpackungen GmbH & Co. KG.
2009
On September 26, Menke Industrieverpackungen receives certification according to the revised DIN EN ISO 9001:2008 standard.
New Location and Modern Facilities (2012-2017)
2012
A new chapter begins: On January 1, the company moves into the new office and warehouse building in the SEEVETAL-BECKEDORF industrial park. The company receives a modern new home.
2015
In summer, a completely redesigned website goes online. Through responsive web design, it is now optimally adapted for smartphones and tablet computers. The "Retina ready" programmed website responds to the needs of high-resolution displays. More than 1,000 individual product photos and over 1,000 lids and accessories represent the company's huge product variety.
2016
A new warehouse at the location in the SEEVETAL-BECKEDORF industrial park is ready for occupancy, increasing storage capacity by 70%.
2017
The new MENKE warehouse, office and photo studio is ready for occupancy! In February, the ECO line goes online - a growing range of packaging made from renewable or recycled materials. This completely biodegradable packaging offers sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions.
Challenges and Continued Growth (2020-2023)
2020
The COVID-19 pandemic presents significant challenges for MENKE Industrieverpackungen as well. The company thanks its customers and suppliers for their trust and cooperation during these difficult times.
2023
A third floor is added to the office building to provide more space for the growing team. The 3rd floor is ready for occupancy in summer 2023.
From humble beginnings in post-war Germany to becoming a modern, sustainable industrial packaging company - the story of MENKE Industrieverpackungen is characterized by pioneering spirit, quality consciousness, and continuous development.
