Otto Röhm: The Visionary Behind PLEXIGLAS® and Enzyme Technology
Otto Röhm (1876-1939) was a pioneering German chemist and entrepreneur. After earning his Ph.D., he revolutionized the leather industry with enzyme-based tanning processes, leading to the founding of Röhm & Haas in 1907. His later research culminated in the 1933 registration of PLEXIGLAS®, a transparent acrylic glass that won international acclaim and found widespread applications. Röhm's innovative spirit, leadership, and numerous patents established a lasting legacy, with Röhm GmbH continuing his impactful work in chemical advancements.
Otto Karl Julius Röhm, born in 1876, was a German chemist whose innovations profoundly impacted industrial chemistry. Starting as a pharmacist, he pursued chemistry, earning his Ph.D. in 1901 with a thesis on acrylic acid polymerization. Influenced by his mentors, Röhm pioneered the use of animal enzymes for leather tanning, a revolutionary bating process that led him to co-found Röhm & Haas in 1907. The company's OROPON® product quickly became a success, enabling further research into enzymes for detergents, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.Röhm's dedication to research eventually led him back to acrylate chemistry. By polymerizing methacrylate, he developed polymethyl methacrylate, which he trademarked as PLEXIGLAS® in 1933. This transparent and durable acrylic glass earned a Grand Prix at the 1937 Paris World Fair and expanded into diverse applications, from granulates for molded parts and dental prostheses to components for the automotive and architectural industries. Röhm was a prolific inventor, holding over 70 patents, and was known for his demanding yet fair leadership style. He valued punctuality, frugality, and clear communication.Beyond his scientific and entrepreneurial achievements, Röhm was involved in civic duties and cherished art and culture. His legacy extends beyond his death in 1939, with streets named in his honor and Röhm GmbH, founded in 2019, continuing to innovate, notably with the environmentally friendly LiMA process for methyl methacrylate production. Röhm's pioneering spirit remains a core inspiration for the company he helped establish.
