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The blue original

Happy 60th Birthday!

Sterillium®. For 60 years in safe hands.

Sterillium® – making healthcare and everyday life safer

Since 1965, Sterillium® has stood for reliable protection – in hospitals, care facilities, and at home. As one of the most recognized hand disinfectant brands worldwide, Sterillium® plays a vital role in infection prevention, safeguarding patients, healthcare professionals, and loved ones alike. Our blue icon is more than just a disinfectant – it represents quality, responsibility, and innovation, helping make life safer for over 60 years.

It's not without a reason that healthcare professionals around the world trust Sterillium®, the standard in hand disinfection. Our products are essential when it comes to improving patient safety, creating safe working conditions in healthcare settings, protecting the lives of medical staff, and ensuring the well-being of loved ones at home.

That's why the most important part of Sterillium® is the science behind and the people around. Those that work every day to improve its effectiveness, secure its quality and research for infection prevention. As well as the ones using it to protect the lives of their patients and loved ones. From the beginning to the present day.


Sterillium®. 60 years in safe hands.

The Sterillium® Brand

Development of a market leader

The first Sterillium® bottle left BODE Chemie’s German plant in Hamburg-Stellingen on 4 June 1965. Back then, hardly anyone could imagine the product’s triumphal success within such a short time and that its name would become synonymous with hand disinfection.

Sterillium
Hand Disinfection

Based on this competitive advantage, BODE has leveraged the expertise gained to develop a sophisticated product portfolio, which is tailored to different hand disinfection needs, and ranges from the still-modern skin-friendly classic Sterillium®, the colourant and fragrance-free Sterillium® classic pure and the extensively active Sterillium® med to the powerful, virucidal Sterillium® Virugard®.

In the early 1960s, medicine – particularly heart surgery – gained new heights. With cardiac pacemakers and the first heart transplantation, the discipline moved on rapidly. However, at that time, the hygienic conditions in hospitals left much to be desired: nosocomial pathogens resistant to antibiotics and surgical site infections dominated daily routine in clinics and cast a shadow over the innovative surgery methods.

hygienic conditions in hospitals
handwash procedure

On ward rounds, healthcare staff often even skipped the cumbersome handwash procedure due to time constraints. The alternative: in front of each patient room, there was a large bowl with formaldyhyde-based solution, in which the personnel washed hands before treating the next patient.

Out of curiosity, heart surgeon Dr. Peter Kalmár from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) in Germany carried out a microbiological examination of such a used solution. The result was stunning – the solution contained countless pathogenic bacterial species. A major threat to patients and staff.

Dr. Peter Kalmar
Escherichia-coli

Kalmár knew from daily routine which criteria a new hand disinfection product needed to fulfil: rapid effect, long-lasting and a broad spectrum of activity against the skin’s own and foreign pathogens, and skin friendliness.

For the implementation of his ideas, the physician relied on the expertise of Bacillolfabrik Dr. Bode & Co. in Hamburg, which had often collaborated with the hospital successfully already. And so the scientists from Dr. Bode & Co. and the physicians of the UKE began their extensive research for a suitable preparation.

Bacillolfabrik Dr. Bode & Co.
Sterillium®

It was soon evident that only alcohol possessed the necessary spectrum of activity and had no toxic effects on the human body. Only its skin-irritant potential gave rise to problems. Hence, the scientists from Dr. Bode & Co. added skin-nourishing and moisturising substances to avoid skin irritations.

Sterillium® was born. Following extensive bacteriological testing, the first marketable alcohol-based rub-in hand disinfectant was authorised for practical use. In early summer of 1965, the first Sterillium® batch left Bacillolfabrik Dr. Bode & Co. In addition to its broad spectrum of activity and the skin-friendly properties, the new product convinced by its application independent of washbasins.

In 1965, the first Sterillium® batch left Bacillolfabrik Dr. Bode & Co

Sterillium® as a synonym for hand disinfectant

The name says it all: Sterillium® has once again been selected as “Brand of the Century”. The award, given by the ZEIT publishing group, honours German brands that exemplify an entire product category.
Signet Brand of the century 2025 with Sterillium® products

An award in indefinite for a true blue icon

The induction of the brand into the top class of German brands is entirely proactive – without prior application – by an independent jury and is free of charge for the companies that are selected. The jury of the ZEIT publishing group follows a set of binding rules and relies on selected facts that speak for the success of a brand. For example, factors such as the age of the brand, whether it belongs to a family business, its internationality or whether it has become a staple of German life are taken into account. The selected brands and companies are presented in detail in the book “Deutsche Standards – Marken des Jahrhunderts 2025” (German Standards – Brands of the Century 2025).

’Since the birth of Sterillium®, we have continued to develop the brand. To mark its 60th birthday, we have given it a new look. This process of transformation will continue in the future, accompanied by further innovative product variants.’ (Hossein Gouhari, Senior Product Manager Hands & Skin)

Sterillium® the blue icon

Sterillium®: An innovative classic since 1965

As the world's first marketable alcohol-based hand disinfectant, being at the same time highly effective and yet skin-compatible, Sterillium® revolutionised hand hygiene in 1965 and set standards in terms of effectiveness and tolerability. Since then, the brand name Sterillium® has been synonymous with hand disinfectants – thanks to its constant innovation. The now numerous products in the brand family continue to set standards in the field of hygiene: Sterillium® classic pure - the colour- and perfume-free version for particularly sensitive skin. Sterillium® med - the virucidal variant according to EN 14476 for hygienic hand disinfection. Sterillium® foam extra care - the extra caring disinfectant foam.

The brand's leadership in innovation was also in 2005, Sterillium® was the first hand disinfectant to be approved for surgical hand disinfection with a shortened exposure time of only 1.5 instead of 3 minutes. Last but not least, Sterillium® Virugard® was the first virus-effective, alcohol-based hand disinfectant to be listed by the Robert Koch Institute in 1995.

An broad range of products for home care and private use completes the portfolio: hand disinfectants have been available in pharmacies under the Sterillium® brand for years, and surface disinfectants, including a combination product, have been available since 2024.

The comprehensive efficacy and outstanding skin compatibility of Sterillium® products also has a decisive effect on their success: Sterillium® is now available in more than 50 countries. Even before the Coronavirus pandemic, over four billion hand disinfections were carried out annually with Sterillium® products. Sterillium® – then as now a timeless, globally appreciated brand that is trusted.

Sterillium® all over the world

Sterillium® – The first and one of the leading hand disinfectant

Since its market launch in 1965, Sterillium® has become one of the most successful hand disinfectants in the world. In 2025, the brand celebrates its 60th anniversary.

60 years in safe hands: High protection for patients and healthcare professionals – this is what hand disinfection with Sterillium® has stood for for 60 years now. Since the first bottles left the BODE Chemie factory in Hamburg on June 4, 1965, Sterillium® has permanently changed everyday clinical, nursing and medical practice and has become one of the most successful hand disinfectants in the world. Sterillium®, once again named “Brand of the Century” in 2025, has become synonymous with effective and skin-friendly hand disinfection and has now been a faithful companion for those taking care of those who care for six decades.

Happy 60th Birthday Sterillium®

Sterillium® – hand hygiene redefined

Frequent skin irritations and low acceptance of hand hygiene – this was the clinical practice before Sterillium® was introduced. The success story of Sterillium® began with the vision of developing a hand disinfectant that was as effective as it was skin-friendly and pleasant to use. The result was a product that won over medical staff with the combination of efficacy, science and skincare. Thanks to its unique, skin-friendly formula, Sterillium® enables quick and easy disinfection without drying out or irritating the skin. Sterillium® is now available in over 50 countries. Every year, about 4 billion hand disinfections are performed with the Sterillium® range of products.
Medical staff performing surgical hand disinfection

Constantly reinventing hand hygiene to set a new standard

Since its market launch in 1965, Sterillium® has continued to reinvent hand hygiene and set new standards. In 1995, Sterillium® Virugard ® was listed by the Robert Koch Institute as the first virus-effective, alcohol-based hand disinfectant. Sterillium® underpinned its pioneering role with its approval as the first hand disinfectant for surgical hand disinfection with a shortened exposure time of just 1.5 instead of 3 minutes. Today, the brand family comprises a wide range of products for hand and surface disinfection – including gel, spray, foam and wipes – which offer protection and care not only to medical staff, but to every consumer in every situation. With Sterillium® Protect & Care, a range of disinfectants for use at home and on the go has been available since 2018. The latest addition to the Sterillium® product range, Sterillium® foam extra care, sets new standards in skincare. The low-drip foam is not only highly effective against germs but has also been shown to improve skin hydration.1

1. Brandt M et al. (2023): SGS-Studie 22.0359-39. Unpublished Study – Data at BODE Chemie GmbH.
Product portfolio of Sterillium®

60 years in safe hands

Whether in hospitals, medical practices, nurseries, on the go or at home – clean hands are the key to preventing infections and stopping them from spreading.

Sterillium® has been the reliable partner at your side for 60 years.

Signet 60 years in safe hands
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