We look back to a moving past
Let’s briefly give you a survey on the crucial milestones of our history: Founded in 1907, LICEFA has gone through eventful times such as World War One, World War Two, currency reform followed by the German economic miracle and last not least the topic of these days: digitalization. Quite a few people took care for the company and have made LICEFA to what it is now. Constancy is the guideline we stand for and hence our deep roots remain in Bad Salzuflen, East Westphalia.
Summary of the LICEFA history
2025
Christian Schmidt is appointed as the new Managing Director, strengthening the management under Dipl.-Kfm. Heinrich Horstmann.
2019
Change of name to LICEFA GmbH & Co. KG and appointment of Christian Schmidt as Managing Director Plastics
2018
Issuance of general powers of attorney for Stephan Alraun, director of optics, and for Christian Schmidt
2015
Commissioning of the new logistics center
2013
Takeover of the tools (ball hinge boxes, cases) and injection molding machines from Kreisel Kunststoffverarbeitung, Karlsruhe
2007
Licefa celebrates its 100th birthday
September 2003
Purchase of the property at Lemgoer Straße 9 and construction of a warehouse
December 1999
Closure of the Hille production facility and sale of the property
1989
Expansion of the company building and production at Lemgoer Straße 11
1983
Heinrich Horstmann joins the company as managing partner
1982
Change of name to LICEFA Kunststoffverarbeitung GmbH & Co. KG
12. October 1980
Death of Heinrich Horstmann Sr
18. July 1977
Death of Auguste Horstmann
1972
Appointment of the second managing director and new shareholder Hans-Gottfried Schmidt, stepson of Heinrich Horstmann
1970
Expansion of the warehouse by building a new hall at Lemgoer Straße 11
June 1962
Relocation of the Schötmaran production facilities from Asper Strasse to the new building at Lemgoer Strasse 11
October 1957
Relocation of the glasses production to the new building in Hille (Hille No. 730, today Horstbohlen 30)
23. August 1956
Birth of Heinrich Horstmann
May 1955
Acquisition of the properties of the former Müller'schen biscuit factory at Lemgoer Straße 11 in Schötmar
February 1954
Heinrich Horstmann marries Auguste Schmidt, née Blomeyer
October 1952
Participation in the first Düsseldorf plastics trade fair "Kunststoffe 1952"
June 1951
Commissioning of the first injection molding machine
May 1947
Production of celluloid frames for glasses, sunglasses and magnifying glasses in Hille/Westphalia in the former dairy (Hille No. 131, today Mindener Straße 116)
26. February 1947
Birth of Hans-Gottfried Schmidt
May 1946
Participation in the "First Leipzig Peace Fair"
January 1937
Merger of the companies "Meierhans & Co.", "Alfred Döhnel" and "Lippische Celluloidwarenfabrik Knigge & Lindloff" and continuation under this name, company location: Asper Straße 11
1936/1934
Acquisition of the celluloid companies "Meierhans & Co." and "Alfred Döhnel", Schötmar, by Heinrich Horstmann
September 1928
Entry of the company in the commercial register of the District Court of Bad Salzuflen, existence of the company for a decade “only on paper”, official company headquarters: Schötmar
May 1927
Deletion of the company from the commercial register of the district court of Lage
1926
Sale of the company building to the Wellmeier family
1925
closure of the company
24. May 1922
Death of Carl Knigge, continuation of the business by his widow and son-in-law Bernhard Dalbender
January 1910
Wilhelm Lindloff leaves the company
1. October 1909
Deletion of Wellmeier's company from the commercial register of the district court of Lage, new entry in the commercial register of the district court of Lage by the Bremen merchants Carl Knigge and Wilhelm Lindloff under the name "Lippische Celluloidwarenfabrik Knigge & Lindloff"
16. April 1908
Entry in the commercial register of the district court of Lage
August 1907
Foundation of the "Lippische Zelluloidwarenfabrik H. Wellmeier" in Ohrsen by Hermann and Gustav Wellmeier