Bravery enjoys a long tradition at CWS. The roots of the company stretch right back to the 19th century. Right from the very beginning, our development has been spurred on by people brimming with entrepreneurial spirit. What began with Bernhard Burmeister’s textile rental company soon evolved into a driver of innovation and a trailblazer for an entire industry. Today, in addition to the innovations like the CWS cotton towel dispensers now found in washrooms all over the world, the concept of renting workwear has also established itself. These developments are part of a long line of industry-revolutionising concepts for better hygiene in daily life and improved safety at work. The joint venture with Initial in 2017 was a fundamental step on our journey to becoming the market leader in Europe. Today, sustainable thinking and action drive us in all areas. We at CWS are also making the most of all the opportunities that present themselves here. Using state-of-the-art technologies such as chemical-free wastewater plants, we reduce our CO2 emissions. Diversity and inclusion are also key elements of our strategy: in 2020, we founded the Diversity & Inclusion Council, a committee that actively and consistently promotes equality and diversity in the company. We utilise our strategic participations to improve our customer service further and develop new markets. Here we employ our unique combination of experience and inventivene talent to develop bold new, customer-centric solutions and establish them in the market. Milestones Since its founding in 1899, CWS was quite active. Come with us on a little journey through time! 2021 CWS Cleanrooms acquires Dutch cleanroom cleaning specialist WERO. 2021 Development of the "Think Circular" principle for sustainable action in the context of the circular economy. 2021 CWS Cleanrooms opens new cleanroom laundry in Lauterbach, Germany. 2021 CWS Fire Safety takes over IGS Industrielle Gefahrenmeldesysteme GmbH and enters the safety technology sector. 2021 CWS Fire Safety merges with Hefas Branddetectie B.V. and opens the first location in the Netherlands. 2020 Signing of the Diversity Charter to officially commit towards consistently driving diversity and inclusion forward throughout the company. 2020 CWS wins the German Brand Award 2020. With the award "Excellence in Brand Strategy and Creation", the jury recognises the company's strategy for repositioning the CWS brand. 2020 CWS Fire Safety acquires MARANG, a specialised service provider for fire extinguishing systems and fire protection systems. 2019 CWS acquires profi-con, a service provider specialising in cleanroom cleaning. 2019 Acquisition of hygiene solutions specialist Vendor. 2019 Introduction of the new brand CWS All activities are placed under the international brand CWS. 2019 Strategic Partnership with Smixin 2018 CWS becomes strategic investor in the digital laundry "Jonny Fresh" 2018 Eröffnung Waschraum der Zukunft 2017 CWS and Initial launch their joint venture 2016 CWS takes over the management of customer toilets for companies with Loovio by CWS 2016 Second place at the German CSR Prize CWS-boco Supply Chain Management win the 2. place at the german CSR prize in the category "CSR in supply chain". 2016 First fairtrade collection boco launches the first workware profi line collection with fairtrade cotton. 2015 Launch of the Paradise Air Bar The CWS Paradise Air Bar got introduced. It provides scent concepts for a comfort room air atmosphere. 2013 Award CWS ParadiseLine Stainless Steel The stainless steel dispenser line CWS ParadiseLine Stainless Steel won the award "Design Plus powered by ISH 2013". 2012 New laundry in Neuss CWS-boco starts operating the new laundry in Neuss seit 2011 Auszeichnung des CWS Stoffhandtuchspenders mit dem Blauer Engel Zertifikat Alle CWS Stoffhandtuchsysteme in Deutschland, BeNeLux, Schweiz, Italien und Irland werden mit dem renommierten Umweltzeichen „Blauer Engel“ ausgezeichnet. 2009 Videos to the washroom CWS-boco markets the first cotton towel dispenser with flat panel screen, bringing videos to the washroom. 2008 CWS-boco The company HTS is renamed into CWS-boco. 2001 HTS International The Haniel Group integrates both brands, boco and CWS, under the roof of "Haniel Textil Service GmbH "HTS" in Duisburg. 1999 Einführung der Corporate Fashion Kollektion boco launches Corporate Fashion, the first individually washable business clothing range. 1998 CWS und boco treten gemeinsam als HTS auf den Markt 1998 Haniel übernimmt boco Die Haniel Gruppe übernimmt boco aus dem Familienbesitz. 1998 High-Tech-Wäscherei in Bielefeld boco baut Europas größte High-Tech-Wäscherei in Bielefeld. 1993 CWS Cleanseat CWS bringt den weltweit ersten selbstreinigenden Toilettensitz auf den Markt: CWS Cleanseat. 1981 Haniel takes over CWS from the family estate 1976 Micro-processor CWS innovation: easy-to-operate fabric towel dispenser with micro-processor. 1975 First boco workwear boco develops the first workwear for the craft trade. 1970 CWS dirt trapping mats CWS launches into rental service with dirt trapping mats. 1968 Soap dispensers for industry CWS sets hygiene standards with soap dispensers for industry. 1967 First CWS laundries in Germany CWS opens the first of its own laundries in Germany. 1960 Launch rental service boco launches rental service for workwear. 1958 First CWS cotton towel dispenser Founding of CWS Germany. European market launch of the first CWS cotton towel dispenser. 1954 Gründung CWS Switzerland Conrad Wolfgang Schnyder founds CWS Switzerland. 1906 Merger boco Burmeister, Oszmer and Co. merge into boco. 1899 Foundation Bernhard Burmeister starts with a laundry rental service in Hamburg. Find out more about our products and services Our Management Board Facts & Figures Sustainability Distributors About the brand
