OUR HISTORY
1978: Company foundation by Manfred and Brigitte Thonhauser
Manfred Thonhauser studied Fermentation Technology in Vienna, worked as a brewmaster for the Vienna Brewery Schwechat and helped establishing a cleaning chemical company in Europe before taking a big step towards entrepreneurship. “Cleanliness as the main principle” was his attitude and vision. Therefore no way was too narrow and no tank was too small.
1985: The Austrian winemarket changes
After the inglorious wine scandal Manfred Thonhauser saw the opportunity to establish the Austrian wine as a top quality product in the market. As the very first company in Austria Thonhauser provided tailor made hygiene concepts for quality wineries. That´s how he created one of the main pillars of the later international success of the Austrian wine.
1990: First laboratory
Thonhauser expands and moves to a new office in Perchtoldsdorf, Vienna, comprising a laboratory for microbiology and analytics. The activities in the Austrian wine industry are increasing. Also in 1990, Manfred Thonhauser employs the first trainee and Oenologist Mr. Peter Derkits and starts to create a strong competence center for wineries. Later on, Peter successfully manages the entire division of Oenology for Thonhauser.
1991: First patent
Manfred Thonhauser creates a patent for the Singulox process and introduces the concept of chlorine free wine cellar hygiene. The still highly demanded TM BIPUR, TM BISTERIL and TM TARTAREX are brought to market.
1994: First innovation award
Manfred and Brigitte are proudly accepting their first Innovation award for the development of the Concept of Chlorine free Cellar Hygiene.
1995: Cooperation with LALLEMAND
Thonhauser starts the cooperation with Lallemand and introduces selected dry yeast enzymes and bacteria exclusively to the Austrian wine industry
1997: Next generation
One of eth sons of the founder, Philip Thonhauser, decides to join the parent company. Based on the experience of his father in the filed of hygiene of breweries and beverage manufacturers, Philip starts to focus on the niche segment of Beverage Dispensing Hygiene. New ideas for the visualization of impurities are born.
1998: Thonhauser becomes international
Start of the Cooperation with Franz Mathes in Germany. Together with Mathes starts the successful market development in one of the most important Beer markets in the world
2000: Patent Farbtechnologie PST
The first patent for the PST color change technology has been granted. This patent constitutes the beginning of the Thonhauser as the industry expert for Inline-Color-Verification!
The worldwide first, chlorine free cleaner for dispensing systems in powder form with Color Indicator is produced and packed! The especially dedicated mixer for that product is named MAX, the name of Philip Thonhauser’s fist new born son!
2001: Product launch TM DESANA MAX
First exclusive launch together with BRAU UNION (HEINEKEN Austria)! Kick-off for a successful, global expansion of the product!
2002: Transfer of company leadership
Philip Thonhauser takes over the CEO position from his father Manfred.
2003: TM SMART TRACK
The idea of water free lubrication (first tested in 1996) was introduced to the beverage market with TM SMART TRACK!
2004: TM RECOND
Innovation award at the Intervitis-exhibition in Stuttgart for the TM RECOND system: For the first time, used wine barrels (barriques) can be treated to almost-new-condition without harming the wood quality.
2006: Expansion to CHINA
Thonhauser finds the proper partner in China and starts the distribution of TM SMART TRACK.
2008: Sales start in the USA
Thonhauser’s 100% subsidiary (Thonhauser USA, Inc.) starts its operation. One of the daughters of the company’s founder, Julia Singer-Thonhauser, starts to establish sales structure and activities for draught system cleaning in the US.
2009: Expansion of Thonhauser USA, Inc.
A newly created team of Thonhauser-craft brewery-hygiene experts are expanding the activity in the US.
2009: INNOVATION AWARD/DRINKTEC
In the same year, the company proudly accepts the 2009 Beverage Innovation Award at Drinktec, winning the price for the best environmental initiative!
2010: 
The worldwide very first MOBILE APP for checking the level of hygiene in Filling plants and beverage dispensing units is presented!
2011: Redesign of the cooperation with LALLEMAND
The successful cooperation with Lallemand started in 1996 continues under a new business model: Lallemand now distributes the TM cleaning agents for wineries, the two companies prolong their partnership!
2012: New head quarters in Gießhübl/Vienna
After 20 years in Perchtoldsdorf, Thonhauser now moves its headquarters to Gießhübl near Vienna, where the company opens its state-of-the-art laboratory and pilot plant.
2013: TM SMART GEL:
New addition to the PST-family of products: The Thonhauser-development team presents TM SMART GEL, the very first surface color-change detection gel with cleaning abilities!
2014: OSCAR-Nominierung
Thonhauser’s successful implementation of TM SMART TRACK technology in major US bottling plants is honored by the nomination of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce for the 2014 US-BIZ-AWARD!
2015: ISO ZERTIFIZIERUNG und TM PURISCOPE NG
Since 2015 THONHAUSER is successfully ISO 9001: 2008 certified and has developed the TM puriSCOPE NG, the next generation of mobile hygiene control.
2016: AFCO ACQUIRES THONHAUSER GMBH AND THONHAUSER USA
Thonhauser GMBH became a subsidiary of the European Entity, AFCO C&S, LTD and Thonhauser USA a division of the US entity, Alex C. Fergusson, LLC - our longterm partner since 2006.
We are proud, that our leading edge developments like PST (Color Change Technology), TM SMART TRACK (dry lubrication) or TM RECOND (barrique reconditioning) finally got a perfect platform in order to reach out to its beneficiaries around the world.
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Written over 53 years ago
