From Humble Beginnings to a Leading Seal Specialist

The idea to establish a trading company grew out of a simple setup. To give the planned business a solid foundation, Bernd Willms decided to found a corporation.

The articles of association were signed on July 3, 1975, at the law offices of the notaries Kohn & Voscherau in Hamburg. Shortly thereafter, on August 27, 1975, the company was registered in the Hamburg Commercial Register under the name “GROMEX Warenhandelsgesellschaft mbH.”

The company’s registered purpose was: “Import and export as well as wholesale of goods of all kinds … including the assumption of domestic and foreign representation.” This gave Willms full flexibility regarding the products to be traded, though from the very beginning the focus has remained on technical seals in the broadest sense.

The first location at Katharinenstraße 30 in Hamburg-Neustadt housed both an office and a small warehouse. The initial product range consisted of O-rings and radial shaft seals. The O-rings were initially supplied by a distribution company for precision seals in Hamburg-Harburg, which sourced them from small manufacturers in the Bergamo region of Northern Italy. Later, these operations were transferred to the newly founded MAKO Gesellschaft für Herstellung und Vertrieb von Maschinen- und Konstruktionselementen mbH.

By the late 1970s, Alwin Höfert KG had joined as a supplier, playing a special role in today’s company group. Radial shaft seals were obtained through a Hamburg agency of Carl Freudenberg in Weinheim.

In 1980, after just five years, the company faced acute space constraints, prompting its first relocation. The new site at Carl-Petersen-Straße 55 in the Hamburg district of Hamm remained the company’s home until 1997.

After more than 20 years, the volume of goods had grown so much that a second move became necessary. A location with good access for trucks was required, and the company moved just across the street to Carl-Petersen-Straße 76, only a few buildings away.

Following the expropriation of numerous family-run small businesses, the GDR (East Germany) established “VEB” – publicly owned enterprises – which produced competitive products. During his first visit to a trade fair in Leipzig in the spring of 1981, Bernd Willms contacted the VEB Außenhandelsbetrieb Chemie in East Berlin, which led to a contract later that year for the supply of O-rings.

The O-rings were manufactured by the VEB Cosid-Kautasit Werke in Coswig, formed in 1970 from the VEB Kautasit Werke in Dresden-Niedersedlitz and VEB Cosid in Coswig, a specialist company for brake and clutch linings (formerly Jurid).

These O-rings were of specific qualities and dimensions required for mechanical face seals. This product attracted attention not only from a relatively small trading company but also from a major seal manufacturer: Goetze AG in Burscheid. Initially, the AHB referred exclusively to the contract with GROMEX, but later allowed direct deliveries to Goetze. Bernd Willms then approached the company, leading over time to a business relationship that continues to this day.

Today, GOETZE is primarily a brand name. The company has been part of the Federal Mogul Group since 1998 and operates as Federal Mogul Burscheid GmbH.

At the Hannover Messe in 1992, Goetze offered GROMEX the distribution rights for mechanical face seals (industrial seals), further strengthening their partnership.

Even before the end of the business relationship between GROMEX and MAKO, Holger Krause co-founded the Dichtungspartner Hamburg GmbH (abbreviated “dph”) in 1986, together with Klaus Höfert, who was managing the Alwin Höfert KG in the second generation, and another partner.

After finishing school, Krause had joined MAKO and completed an apprenticeship as a wholesale and foreign trade clerk. After his training, he remained with the company and was soon tasked with building up the export business. Since MAKO was a supplier to GROMEX, Bernd Willms and Holger Krause became acquainted through this business relationship, and in 1984 they traveled together for the first time to the Leipzig Trade Fair.

Two years later, in mid-1986, Krause left MAKO and, as mentioned, founded Dichtungspartner Hamburg GmbH with Klaus Höfert. The articles of association were signed on August 7, 1986, and the company was registered in the Hamburg Commercial Register on August 19, 1986. The company’s first location was on Marienthaler Straße.

One of the first customers of dph was GROMEX, and this remains the case to this day. Over time, the relationship has evolved, and dph has also become a customer of GROMEX.

In the early 1990s, it was only a small step for GROMEX to expand its product range from soft seals made of rubber compounds or plastics to include hard seals made of metal: piston rings. Initially, these were intended as spare parts for compressors and small engines. Later, piston rings for medium-speed large engines were added to the portfolio.

In recent years, GROMEX has also introduced special tools designed to simplify the installation of piston rings, making assembly faster and more efficient.

The present-day Alwin Höfert KG in Ammersbek traces its roots back to the founding of the partnership “Alwin Höfert” on January 7, 1963, in Hamburg. In October 1967, the company relocated to Hoisbüttel in Schleswig-Holstein. Since September 1, 1968, it has operated as a limited partnership, initially managed by Klaus and Gerd Höfert. In 1999, Dirk Höfert replaced Gerd Höfert as a partner.

The company’s first location in Hoisbüttel – which became part of the municipality of Ammersbek after a local government reform in 1978 – was at Ferdinand-Harten-Straße 3-5, near the outskirts of Hamburg. By the late 1990s, the space for production and logistics was no longer sufficient, prompting the Höfert family to plan a new building on a nearby plot at Ferdinand-Harten-Straße 15.

From the outset, it was intended that dph would also move into the new building. During planning, the future shared location was often referred to as the “House of Seals.” Upon completion in 2002, the entire complex at Ferdinand-Harten-Straße 15 officially received this name. The goal of the new building was to expand capacity, and the name emphasized the companies’ expertise in sealing solutions.

Alwin Höfert KG continues to be managed by father and son, Klaus and Dirk Höfert, in the second and third generation. Since 2002, Dirk Höfert has also served as managing director of dph, alongside Holger Krause.

and succession planning

In spring 2009, GROMEX GmbH relocated to Ammersbek, moving into the House of Seals. Since then, a production company and two sales companies have operated in close cooperation under one roof, all focused on sealing solutions. At the same time, GROMEX incorporated the term “DichtungsHaus” into its brand name.

With the relocation, Bernd Willms initiated the succession and generational change. In February 2009, Holger Krause and Dirk Höfert each acquired 30 percent of GROMEX GmbH’s shares from him. Holger Krause was appointed managing director of the company.

Höfert supplies GROMEX with seals from a very broad range, from standard O-rings in stock to special molded parts made from custom materials developed in-house for maritime applications.

In a second step, Bernd Willms sold the remaining shares he held in GROMEX GmbH in 2012 and withdrew from the company, which has since been solely managed by Holger Krause.

Over the course of its history, GROMEX has developed into a globally recognized trading house and manufacturer of seals of all kinds. The close relationship with Höfert KG has long been a hallmark of the company’s exceptional delivery reliability, for example, being able to supply any requested O-ring within 24 hours.

In addition to O-rings and piston rings (including tools), the product range also includes mechanical face seals, flat gaskets, and complete seal kits. The most significant source of revenue comes from piston rings, with deliveries for all medium-speed four-stroke diesel engines worldwide, as well as large high-speed engines. These include rings for pistons with diameters ranging from roughly 140 mm to almost 640 mm. GROMEX aims to provide not only individual piston rings but also complete seal kits for these engines.

Piston rings for large two-stroke engines are not yet supplied, but the company is already making good progress with complete seal kits for these engines.

The most important target group is shipping companies, which rely on the reliable supply of seals for routine maintenance and repairs. Ferry operators, such as TT-Line, are particularly interesting customers due to their operational needs. Shipyards, by contrast, are only significant customers if they maintain large repair departments in addition to their own requirements.

Undoubtedly, part of the success that Bernd Willms achieved with his company can be attributed to his personality. Building relationships came naturally to him, and from the very beginning, he actively participated in industry events and conferences. Whether it was the annual meeting of the Institute for Marine Engineering in Flensburg or a CIMAC Congress, which takes place every three years somewhere in the world, Bernd Willms was always present. Breaks and social events at these occasions offered a perfect platform for networking.

He also established early contact with the Hamburg Association of Marine Engineers through his products and, in 1981, secured a corporate membership for his company. He actively supported the association’s journal, the Schiffs-Ingenieur Journal, with both the familiar small strip ads and full-page placements.

Even when business was not always booming, it was particularly important to him to preserve and support maritime traditions, whether for the museum ship „Bleichen“ or, in particular, all initiatives related to the „Cap San Diego“. His wife actively assisted him, for example, by selling promotional items at the GROMEX booth during SMM 2012 to support the preservation of the ship.

When a new cylinder liner was installed in the main engine of the Cap San Diego in 2013, various seals were required—and GROMEX was, of course, involved. For Willms, it was a personal matter to ensure that this repair, which was also supported by other companies such as MAN Diesel & Turbo, received public attention.

Today, Holger Krause continues this tradition of relationship-building and marketing without compromise and is committed to expanding it internationally. He and his team regularly attend technical events, maintaining direct contacts with end customers.

Hamburg’s Traditional Company Celebrates Anniversary Aboard the Cap San Diego

When the cranes in Hamburg’s port lit up in the morning and freighters set sail, GROMEX was often quietly on board—supplying seals that kept the machinery running. For half a century, GROMEX has been an integral part of the maritime world, based in Hamburg and providing products used around the globe. From in-house manufactured O-rings to piston rings, mechanical face seals, and complete seal kits, GROMEX solutions ensured that machinery and engines on ships ran reliably—from the Elbe River to the most remote ports worldwide.

50 years of experience, reliability, and innovation in sealing solutions for ships and maritime systems—that is GROMEX.

But GROMEX has not only stood for technology—it has also demonstrated a deep commitment to Hamburg’s maritime heritage. For many years, the company has been actively supporting the preservation of maritime cultural landmarks, most notably the Cap San Diego.

The Cap San Diego—with its white funnels, red-painted hull, and the creak of the gangway—carries history in every plank. As the last seaworthy cargo museum ship in the world, it is not only a landmark of Hamburg but also a floating symbol of maritime tradition. Thanks to the support of GROMEX—including products from its own range—the Cap San Diego remains ready for new voyages.

And it was exactly there that the celebration took place.

On July 5th, 2025, GROMEX hosted a festive anniversary ball aboard the Cap San Diego. A warm summer evening on deck and in Hatch 3, with the harbour sparkling and live music drifting over the Elbe. Delicious food, engaging conversations, and a shared goal: celebration and giving back. With a raffle benefiting “DER HAFEN HILFT! e. V.”, GROMEX celebrated not only its history but also the people who made it possible—employees, partners, customers, collaborators, and the city to which the company owes so much.

A memorable evening bridging past and present, right in the heart of the Hamburg harbour.