Competent by tradition - Novapor since 1958
When Hans Lau founded the Novapor company in 1958, he wanted to create a company that stood for reliability, innovation and consistency. A brave step in difficult times, but this vision paid off. Novapor is now successfully managed by the third generation and can look back on a great history.
1905
Novapor's company founder Hans Lau was born in Kollmar in Dithmarschen.
Already after the 2nd World War the merchant is quite successful with shops in Hamburg.
1945
Together with his wife Lilly and his daughters Irmgard and Elke, he runs several shops that sell coffee, tea and jams.
1949
Together with his wife and daughters, Hans Lau builds a commercial and residential building in Garstedt, today's Norderstedt, and opens another shop there.
1952
After BASF introduced the Styropor® had invented, Hans Lau was interested in this material with its extraordinary properties early on and recognized the potential for a new business area here. (Photo source: ©BASF)
1958
Just 6 years later, Hans Lau founds the company Novapor. The first seat of the company is in Hamburg Lokstedt. Styrofoam blocks are foamed there and insulating panels are cut.
In addition to the production of normal insulating panels, the focus of the company will then be on building cold rooms.
1960
Hans Lau can benefit from the many contacts he has with fruit growers and tree nurseries through his birthplace Kollmar.
The Novapor company and the name Hans Lau are now quickly becoming a good name when it comes to the insulation of cold rooms and warehouses.
1965
Since the Hamburg location soon ran out of space, Hans Lau builds the first production facility on his own premises near his home in Garstedt.
Hans Lau makes the first attempts in the area of EPS molding production and creates an automatic molding machine and an EPS cutting line.
1972
Company founder Hans Lau dies at the age of 68. The sons-in-law Günther Mühlenberg and Herbert Hildebrand take over the management. The oil crisis hits the company hard in the 1970s, as the raw material produced from crude oil is allocated to the processing companies.
1980
In addition to styrofoam, polyethylene is now also being processed and successfully sold.
Discontinuation of the production of molded parts and further expansion of the production of blanks and special parts.
1984-1990
Jörg Mühlenberg joins the family business and takes over the commercial management of the company.
Andreas Mühlenberg follows his brother. From now on, the mechanical engineering technician will take care of the technical needs of Novapor.
1994
The polystyrene range is expanded to include qualities from 11 kg/m³ to 60 kg/m³. Block dimensions of up to 4 meters in length are processed.
Unfortunately, since this space does not last long, another warehouse is rented in the vicinity.
1995 - 1998
The good business and order situation requires the construction of a new warehouse in Norderstedt. Managing Director Herbert Hildebrandt retired in 1997.
A year later, Managing Director Günther Mühlenberg retires. However, he continued to support the company in an advisory capacity until the year 2000.
2000
Construction of a new production area of approx. 1500 m² and relocation to Kaltenkirchen.
2005
The number of employees has meanwhile doubled and therefore Novapor is expanding the capacity by a further 600m² with the construction of another warehouse.
2013
55th company anniversary and topping-out ceremony for the new 1000m² extension. This means 600m² of additional storage space, 200m² of additional production space and over 200m² of office and storage space for the company's technical department.
With Julian Mühlenberg, the 4th generation of the family joins the company. He takes over the management of quality management and supports sales.
2014-2015
The machine park is expanded with the areas of lasers and laminating.
Successful certification according to ISO 9001:2008.
2016-2020
Novapor relies on young people and will in future train trainees in the profession of office management clerk.
Successful certification according to ISO 9001:2015.
2019-2020
Novapor expands the area of training and further education. In addition to two trainees in administration and production, there are now also two dual students in IT and business administration with a focus on warehouse logistics at Novapor.
2021
Successful certification in the field of environmental management according to DIN EN ISO 14001:2015
2021
Groundbreaking for the new building! Novapor is building a new production and office building on the new 17,000m² site on Nikolaus-Otto-Strasse in Kaltenkirchen.
2022
Opening of our Sales Office South/West in Frankfurt. With our new field service, which is based in Frankfurt, we can offer our customers in the southwest of Germany an even better service.
2022
The move is complete. Novapor has completely moved into the new building at Nikolaus-Otto-Strasse 15.
2023
With Novapor Nordic, we are opening our new facility in Denmark and strengthening our presence in Scandinavia.
In the future, our Danish employee will look after our customers in Scandinavia.
2024
At the start of 2024, Julian Mühlenberg, the 4th generation of the family, was appointed to the management.