Øresunds chemiske Fabriker
Øresunds chemiske Fabriker was a Copenhagen chemical works best known for purifying Greenlandic cryolite for the aluminium, glass and enamel industries.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Øresunds chemiske Fabriker, literally “Øresund Chemical Industries” and commonly known as Kryolitfabrikken, was a Danish chemical manufacturing enterprise established in Copenhagen in 1859. Its original plant stood at Strandboulevarden and was created to process Greenlandic cryolite. The founding concept came from Professor Julius Thomsen, who proposed using cryolite to manufacture washing soda. The enterprise was initially established as Fabrikken Øresund by Th. Weber & Co., and its early activities also included an alum works and, later, a Stråmasse plant. The company encountered serious commercial difficulty after the market price of washing soda fell sharply in 1866, leading Fabrikken Øresund into administration. Gustav Adolph Hagemann, who had joined the business as a student in 1864, became an important figure in its subsequent development. Hagemann had been sent to the United States to supervise deliveries of Greenlandic cryolite to the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company. During his American work he also investigated bromine production from salt wells, obtained patents and established a bromine plant in Pomeroy, Ohio. In 1869, after discussions with C. F. Tietgen, Hagemann returned permanently to Denmark and acquired the Copenhagen cryolite works in partnership with Vilhelm Jørgensen. Hagemann and Jørgensen renamed the business Øresunds chemiske Fabriker in 1870. The same year they added a sulfuric-acid factory. The company gradually moved away from washing soda: soda production declined from the 1870s and ended in 1894, while sulfuric-acid production had already ceased in the 1880s following an arrangement with Fredens Mølle. From then onward, the enterprise’s principal activity was the purification of cryolite. This mineral, obtained from Greenland, was commercially important as a raw material and flux associated with aluminium manufacture and was also used in glass and enamel production. The business underwent several legal and ownership changes. It became an aktieselskab, or public limited company, in 1902. In 1912 it was converted into a kommanditselskab wholly owned by C. F. Jarl, the son of Vilhelm Jørgensen. A further structural change occurred on 1 January 1940, when the company’s cryolite business was transferred to Kryolitselskabet Øresund A/S. That entity had been established by Greenland’s Home Office, Kryolith Mine og Handels Selskabet A/S and Øresunds chemiske Fabriker. Kryolitselskabet Øresund A/S took over the Strandboulevarden premises, while Øresunds chemiske Fabriker moved its head office to Østbanegade 121. The original Strandboulevarden plant closed in 1990. Øresunds chemiske Fabriker subsequently merged with Incentive A/S in 1992. Incentive later entered bankruptcy in 2004, marking the end of the corporate succession associated with the historic chemical works. The company is therefore best understood as a nineteenth- and twentieth-century industrial enterprise rather than as a contemporary consumer-facing brand. Its historical significance lies in the industrial processing of Greenlandic cryolite and in the connection between Danish chemical manufacturing, Greenlandic mineral resources and the international aluminium-related supply chain.
History
Øresunds chemiske Fabriker originated in Copenhagen in 1859 as Fabrikken Øresund, founded by Th. Weber & Co. according to a manufacturing plan developed by Professor Julius Thomsen. The plan focused on using Greenlandic cryolite in the production of washing soda. The works expanded during its early years with an alum plant and later a Stråmasse plant. The soda business was vulnerable to commodity-price movements. When washing-soda prices fell sharply in 1866, Fabrikken Øresund was placed into administration. Gustav Adolph Hagemann, who had joined the enterprise as a student in 1864, had meanwhile gained experience supervising cryolite deliveries to the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company in the United States. He also developed expertise in bromine production and established a bromine plant in Ohio, but later returned to Denmark after C. F. Tietgen encouraged him to acquire the Copenhagen cryolite works. In 1869 Hagemann purchased the factory in partnership with Vilhelm Jørgensen. The partners renamed it Øresunds chemiske Fabriker in 1870 and added sulfuric-acid production. The company subsequently narrowed its focus. Soda manufacture declined during the 1870s and was discontinued in 1894. Sulfuric-acid production ended in the 1880s following a contract with Fredens Mølle. The remaining core business was purification of cryolite, a Greenlandic mineral used internationally in aluminium-related production and in the glass and enamel industries. The company’s legal form changed over time. It became an aktieselskab in 1902 and was converted into a kommanditselskab in 1912, when it became wholly owned by C. F. Jarl, Vilhelm Jørgensen’s son. On 1 January 1940, the cryolite business was ceded to Kryolitselskabet Øresund A/S, an entity founded by Greenland’s Home Office, Kryolith Mine og Handels Selskabet A/S and Øresunds chemiske Fabriker. The successor entity took over the Strandboulevarden site, while Øresunds chemiske Fabriker moved its head office to Østbanegade 121. The Strandboulevarden factory closed in 1990. Øresunds chemiske Fabriker merged with Incentive A/S in 1992, and Incentive later went bankrupt in 2004. The enterprise’s historical importance rests on its role in processing Greenlandic cryolite and on its place in the development of Denmark’s chemical and mineral-processing industries.
- 2004
Incentive A/S goes bankrupt
[1]The later corporate successor Incentive A/S enters bankruptcy.
- 1992
Merger with Incentive A/S
[1]Øresunds chemiske Fabriker merges with Incentive A/S.
- 1990
Strandboulevarden plant closes
[1]The original Copenhagen plant ceases operations.
- 1940
Cryolite activity is transferred
[1]The cryolite business and Strandboulevarden premises pass to Kryolitselskabet Øresund A/S, while the head office moves to Østbanegade 121.
- 1912
Conversion into a kommanditselskab
[1]The company becomes a kommanditselskab solely owned by C. F. Jarl.
- 1902
Conversion into an aktieselskab
[1]The business is converted into a Danish public limited company.
- 1894
Soda production ends
[1]The company discontinues its declining washing-soda production.
- 1870
The company adopts its later name
[1]Gustav Adolph Hagemann and Vilhelm Jørgensen rename the enterprise Øresunds chemiske Fabriker and add a sulfuric-acid factory.
- 1866
Washing-soda price collapse causes administration
[1]A sudden fall in washing-soda prices severely damages the business and sends Fabrikken Øresund into administration.
- 1859
Fabrikken Øresund is established
[1]Th. Weber & Co. establishes the Copenhagen works to manufacture washing soda from Greenlandic cryolite, following a plan by Julius Thomsen.
Products and positioning
A specialized Danish industrial chemical producer centered on the processing and purification of Greenlandic cryolite, with earlier diversification into soda, alum, sulfuric acid and Stråmasse.
Inorganic industrial chemical · 1859
Cryolite
The company’s principal long-term product was purified cryolite from Greenland. Cryolite processing became the core activity after soda and sulfuric-acid production were discontinued. The purified mineral was supplied for use in international aluminium, glass and enamel industries.
Industrial alkali · 1859
Washing soda
Washing soda was the original target of the enterprise’s manufacturing plan. The process was based on Greenlandic cryolite, but the business was undermined by a sharp price decline in 1866. Production declined from the 1870s and ended in 1894.
Industrial chemical
Alum
An alum plant was added during the company’s early expansion. The available source identifies alum as an important early product line but does not provide detailed production volumes, formulations or end-use markets.
Industrial acid · 1870
Sulfuric acid
A sulfuric-acid factory was added in 1870 after Hagemann and Jørgensen took control. Production had ceased by the 1880s following a contract with Fredens Mølle, after which the company concentrated on cryolite purification.
Chemical material
Stråmasse
A Stråmasse plant was added several years after the company’s establishment. The referenced material records the plant as part of the early product diversification but does not explain the product’s precise composition or commercial role.
Brand decisions
1940
Transfer the cryolite business to Kryolitselskabet Øresund A/SM&ABackground
The cryolite business was reorganized through a company associated with Greenland’s Home Office, Kryolith Mine og Handels Selskabet A/S and Øresunds chemiske Fabriker.
Action taken
The cryolite operations and Strandboulevarden premises were ceded to Kryolitselskabet Øresund A/S, while the head office was relocated.
Aftermath
Kryolitselskabet Øresund A/S operated from the former plant site, while Øresunds chemiske Fabriker retained its head office at Østbanegade 121.
1894
Discontinue washing-soda productionStrategyBackground
Washing-soda production had declined from the 1870s after the business was affected by a major price fall.
Action taken
The company ended production of washing soda.
Aftermath
The enterprise focused increasingly on purifying cryolite for industrial customers.
1870
Expand into sulfuric-acid productionStrategyBackground
After acquiring the works, Gustav Adolph Hagemann and Vilhelm Jørgensen renamed the company and broadened its chemical manufacturing activities.
Action taken
They added a sulfuric-acid factory to the Copenhagen plant.
Aftermath
Sulfuric-acid production was later discontinued in the 1880s, and cryolite purification became the company’s main activity.
Recent events
- 2004
Incentive A/S enters bankruptcy[1]
Bankruptcy
Incentive A/S, the company with which Øresunds chemiske Fabriker had merged, later went bankrupt.
- 1992
Øresunds chemiske Fabriker merges with Incentive A/S[1]
M&A
The company merged with Incentive A/S as part of the later corporate restructuring of the business.
- 1990
Strandboulevarden plant closes[1]
Other
The historic Copenhagen plant at Strandboulevarden ceased operations.
- 1940
Cryolite business transferred to Kryolitselskabet Øresund A/S[1]
M&A
The company’s cryolite activity and Strandboulevarden premises were transferred to Kryolitselskabet Øresund A/S, while the company’s head office moved to Østbanegade 121.
- 1870
Company renamed Øresunds chemiske Fabriker[1]
Other
After Gustav Adolph Hagemann and Vilhelm Jørgensen acquired the works, they changed its name from Fabrikken Øresund to Øresunds chemiske Fabriker.
- 1866
Fabrikken Øresund enters administration after soda-price collapse[1]
Pricing · Other
A sudden and substantial fall in the market price of washing soda severely affected the company and led Fabrikken Øresund into administration.
Sources1 sources
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