Discover our history
2020
With effect from 01 April 2020 Stephan Schnabel takes over as Chairman of the HELM AG Executive Board.
With this, the family-owned company will also once again be family-managed.
2017
HELM Japan celebrates its 50th anniversary
HELM Japan initiates the new jubilee by a firm pledge to develop HELM’s group presence in Japan supporting Japanese customers and suppliers with HELM’s global reach in Marketing.
2015
HELM opens regional Head Office in Singapore
By opening a regional Head Office in Singapore, HELM generates a dynamic growth in Asia’s emerging markets.
2014
Share increase at Methanol Holdings (Trinidad) Ltd.
HELM increased its indirect shareholding to 25% of the shares in the production site for core products like methanol, UAN (urea ammonium nitrate solution) and melamine.
2012
Dieter Schnabel takes over as Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
2012
Hans-Christian Sievers becomes Chairman of the Executive Board of HELM AG on 1 January.
2009
In Saudi Arabia, production begins with 330,000 metric tons of vinyl acetate monomer and 460,000 metric tons of acetic acid per annum.
Of these production volumes, HELM markets 300,000 metric tons and 180,000 metric tons, respectively.
2007
The Oman Methanol Company, in which HELM holds a stake, starts to operate the production plant in Sohar.
1.05 million metric tons of methanol are produced there each year. HELM is the exclusive marketing partner.
2006
HELM Japan Ltd. moves to Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
2006
Sales revenues of the HELM Group exceed the 5 billion Euro mark for the first time, at Euro 5,811,355.
2005
With Saudi partners HELM founds a joint venture in order to produce acetic acid and vinyl acetate monomer.
2004
HELM invests in the Arab world.
HELM takes a stake in the Oman Methanol Company (OMC) in Sohar.
2002
Foundation of a legally independent distribution company in Guangzhou, China, and establishment of a distribution business for chemicals
2000
The HELM group celebrates its 100th anniversary.
1998
Start to successful cooperation
Via the marketing joint venture MIDER-HELM METHANOL Vertriebs-GmbH, customers are supplied with methanol from the TOTAL refinery in Leuna, Germany.
1993
Science advances at HELM.
The first in-house developed pharmaceutical generic medication Calcitonin, used to combat osteoporosis, is rolled out on the market.
1984
Dieter Schnabel becomes Chairman of the Executive Board.
Hermann Schnabel hands the management of HELM AG over to his son with the words: "Take care Dieter." The development from trading to international marketing begins.
1984
HELM begins with marketing methanol from Trinidad & Tobago.
Today 4.1 million mt of methanol per annum are produced in five plants at that location.
1978
HELM becomes a family-owned stock corporation.
1972
HELM moves into the building at Nordkanalstrasse 28 in Hamburg, the Group’s corporate headquarters to this day.
1967
Now the focus also lies on Asia: HELM Japan Ltd. is founded in Tokyo. In the following decades, the international expansion was intensively pursued.
1966
HELM dares to take the leap across the pond: HELM de México, S.A. is established in Mexico City.
1962
The first foreign subsidiary is established: HELM Skandinavien A/S, Copenhagen.
1950
Hermann Schnabel takes over the company from Karl O. Helm.
With primary focus on chemicals he constitutes the company that today operates worldwide.
