HISTORY

On the 26th of October 1900, the businessman and millwright Hermann Kröner founded the wheat starch factory. The company named after him settled in the Bocketal in Ibbenbüren. The access to soft, iron-free spring water, the rail connection and down-to-earth and reliable employees were decisive factors in the choice of location.

The sons Hermann Junior and Wilhelm took over their parents’ company. After the sudden death of Hermann Junior, the third brother and lawyer Friedrich-Carl Kröner joined the company. In 1935, the company founder Hermann Kröner Senior passed away. During the Second World War, production was modernized and expanded in small steps despite two major fires and a forced interruption.

Friedrich-Carl Kröner became the solo owner of the company and focused on growth. The production facilities and the office and laboratory rooms were expanded. Storage capacities were increased and silo loading facilities were built. In addition, the energy supply was switched from coal to oil. Moreover, a wastewater treatment plant was put into operation, which was unique in the wheat starch industry at the time.

Hermann Kröner, grandson of the company founder of the same name and nephew of Friedrich-Carl, joined the company. Parts of the business were mechanized. For example, the initially time-consuming process of starch drying in the air was accelerated to just a few seconds by purchasing a hot air convection dryer.

The production process was given a computerized process control system.
Moreover, the first outdoor silos were built.

The in-house developed “Slurry-Process” was introduced and ensured that water consumption was reduced to a fifth. Other wheat starch manufacturers also adopted this process.

The waste water treatment plant and the biogas plant were also put into operation.

A new mainstay was created with extruder production.

Friedrich-Carl Kröner passed away.

After successfully completing his studies in food technology, Dr. Götz Kröner joins the company. The machines were upgraded to the world's most modern standards and capacity was tripled.

The energy supply was converted to gas and ISO 9001 certification was achieved.

Production in organic quality was started, enabling KRÖNER-STÄRKE to develop into Europe's largest producer of organic wheat starch.

Logistics and extruder production were expanded and automated.

KRÖNER-STÄRKE specialized in the production of niche products for the food industry by setting up a multi-component mixing plant and additional drying plants.

KRÖNER-STÄRKE turns 100 years old!

Due to the high quality awareness, certifications according to BRC, IFS and QS were acquired.

The expansion of personnel in the Research and Development department has resulted in a range of new products for various applications.

A new production building, equipped with state-of-the-art drum technology that meets the highest standards of food hygiene and product safety, was built. This created optimal conditions for the production of further niche products and clean label strengths.

Instead of gas, the company now relies on the crisis-proof solid fuel pulverized lignite, including a heat and power plant.

The capacity of the biogas plant has been doubled and expanded by an in-house power supply.

The long overdue construction of a new administration building started at the same time.

After years of process optimization, the limit value for gluten-free wheat starch of 20 mg gliadin/kg starch has been consistently adhered to.

The new logistics center with integrated mixing plant was put into operation in 2012. Since then, safe and carry-over-free filling of various highly sensitive products can be guaranteed. The preparation and filling of individual customer blends has also been made possible.

The bulk loading system was put into operation. This means that product safety can be guaranteed when loading silo trucks by means of sieving, magnets and detectors, as well as product quality and delivery reliability.

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The building complex of the logistics center will be expanded by another section. The production of pregelatinized prdocuts and meat substitutes was put into operation in 2024.