# Henkel 150th anniversary and educational investments

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/henkel-150th-anniversary-and-educational-investments
> Updated: 2026-09-25T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 18. Developments: 2.

Henkel is marking its 150th anniversary, tracing its history from a small detergent manufacturer founded in 1876 to a global consumer goods and industrial products leader. The company, which reported an annual turnover of 20.5 billion euros in 2025, has undergone significant strategic shifts, including the 2008 acquisition of National Starch and a 2023 reorganization that resulted in approximately 3,500 global job cuts.

To commemorate this milestone, Henkel has announced a double-digit million euro investment through 2030 to expand its ‘Henkel Forscherwelt’ educational initiative. This includes establishing a new STEM education center at its Düsseldorf-Holthausen headquarters. The company also plans to build four international STEM laboratories and introduce mobile educational offerings in six additional countries by 2030, aiming to expand its educational presence to over 30 countries.

## Claims

- Fritz Henkel founded Henkel & Cie in Aachen on September 26, 1876, alongside two partners. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- The detergent brand Persil was launched in 1907. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- The company's first product was a universal silicate-based detergent. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Henkel acquired US adhesive producer National Starch from Akzo Nobel in 2008 for approximately 3.7 billion euros. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The merger of the brand business into the Consumer Brands division in 2023 resulted in approximately 3,500 job cuts worldwide. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Henkel reported an annual turnover of 20.5 billion euros in 2025. (single source)
- Henkel is a global company with approximately 47,000 employees operating in more than 70 countries. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-25: Henkel celebrates 150 years of global operations

Henkel marks 150 years since its founding in 1876, evolving from an Aachen-based detergent maker into a global consumer and industrial giant with 47,000 employees.

12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/henkel-celebrates-150-years-of-global-operations

### 2026-09-21: Henkel to invest millions in new STEM education center in Düsseldorf

Henkel is investing double-digit millions to expand its STEM education initiative, including a new center in Düsseldorf and four international laboratories by 2030.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/henkel-to-invest-millions-in-new-stem-education-center-in-dsseldorf

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Cite as: Henkel 150th anniversary and educational investments. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/henkel-150th-anniversary-and-educational-investments