Kolmar

About

North America's Premier Custom Formulator and Manufacturer of Color Cosmetics, Skin Care and Personal Care Products

Story

Kolmar’s creation came about because someone had the power to dream and the desire to make their dream a reality. This heritage is the foundation of what Kolmar continues to do for our customers each and every day – make their dreams a reality.

The year was 1921 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Lessing L. Kole was employed by one of the area’s largest industrial firms. Mr. Kole’s long held dream was to start his own business. Women’s interest in the power of cosmetics was growing and Mr. Kole knew this was the opportunity he was looking for. Mr. Kole was joined by Mr. Marsek, Chief Manufacturing Chemist for Palmolive, and the combining of their names resulted in this newly created company being called Kolmar.

One of the many patented inventions credited to Kolmar is the ability to press powder onto what was then called a metal disc, giving birth to a tradition of offering the cosmetic industry beautiful powder formulations for face and eye pressed into pans. It’s hard to imagine our industry today without this capability and, thanks to Kolmar, we don’t have to!

Another important invention by Kolmar was a unique powder processing method using high air pressure to produce very small and uniform particle sizes, delivering never before offered smooth and silky powder textures with even color distribution. Fully aware of the importance this processing invention would forever have on the cosmetic industry, Kolmar offers today the most advancing powder milling technologies. Kolmar’s commitment to product and process innovation remains a key part of our company’s strategy.

As a testament to Mr. Kole’s commitment to succeed, Kolmar’s business grew during the Great Depression as a direct result of his foresight in positioning Kolmar as a provider of quality products at competitive pricing. This endures today.

Kolmar’s commitment extends to our employees, our customers and our community. Kolmar came to the east coast in 1937 and to Port Jervis, NY in 1943, where we remain today as one of the top 3 leading employers in the tri-state area. Sustainability at Kolmar encompasses both environmental and social responsibility. We operate with the well-being of our employees, customers, community and the broader environment in mind. We are proud to boast many of our employees commit their entire careers to Kolmar and many of our customer relationships began over 25 years ago. Commitment is always in fashion at Kolmar!

Mission

Striving for continuous improvement towards operational excellence and the creation of the highest quality products, Kolmar's mission is to build seamless partnerships with our customers and the best service record in the industry. With every product delivered, Kolmar brings an innovative approach to product development and manufacturing. Encompassing brand analysis, product trends and consumer desire, Kolmar successfully blends these key industry elements with robust manufacturing processes to ensure the delivery of the highest quality, most successful products available.

Products

Color Cosmetics, Skin Care, Personal Care & Body/Hair Care