About Us

Management Board of the Cooperative

The company’s history

After the war, Kraków faced difficulties that also affected the pharmaceutical industry. Three masters of pharmacy: Stanisław Szymański, Aleksander Kaszycki and Jan Szustow could not look at the empty shelves in their pharmacies, so they decided to do everything to be able to cure people again. They found  seven more pharmacists willing to invest all their savings to create a drug factory and help people. The task was not easy, however they achieved a great success! They started with the production of bandages for hospitals, which treated numerous wounds of the Polish soldiers. As the company was developing, the decision was made to start drugs production.

Although the Espefa’s portfolio has changed significantly, some drugs reminded the company’s brand to date.

• 1946

  Launching ATOM Pharmaceuticals Worker Cooperative

• 1949

  Changing the name to ESPEFA

• 1950

  Production of the First Aid Kits

• 1952

  Production of bandages and patches for the army

• 1953

  Production of new preparations based on own chemical synthesis

• 1957

  Launching the production of Ascofer and Guajazyl

• 1961

  Launching the production of Methocarbamol Espefa

• 1965

  Successive modernisation of equipment, technology and extending the drug’s range

• 1984

  Building of the new manufacturing plant

• 1989

  Moving to the new manufacturing plant on the  Lea Street 208

• 1993

  The sales and service pavilion

  Obtaining a license for wholesale trade in medicinal products

• 1996

  Espefa enters foreign markets

• 2004

  Becoming an ISO 9001:2000 certified company.

• 2006

  Espefa gets certified the introduction of the Good Manufacturing Practice

• 2006

  Obtaining the Recommendation of the Polish Gynecological Society for the use of ASCOFER in obstetrics and gynecology

• 2007

  Launching of the microbiological laboratory

• 2007

  The name Aspargin changed into Aspar Espefa

• 2011

  The syrup Guajazyl gets nominated for the “Teraz Polska” Emblem for the best products and services of the year in the 21^st edition of the competition.

• 2012

  Espefa gets the European Certificate of Good Manufacturing Practice

  Espefa gets a permit for wholesale trade in substances of the gr. IV P

• 2015

  Expansion of the controlled substances warehouse

• 2016

  The Cooperative is awarded the Gepard Biznesu award

• 2020

  Introduction of new product lines: cosmetics, biocidal products under the ESPEFALABORATORY+ brand

• NOWADAYS

  Continuous introduction of new products, contractual cooperation with many entities, expansion of the production plant with modern equipment and technology, performance of specialistic laboratory tests

SUBSIDIES FROM EU FUNDS

Certificates and Awards