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For over 147 years of doing business with compassion, B.Grimm is now a multi-business corporation active in the fields of energy, industrial, healthcare, lifestyle, transport and real estate, and has been the oldest infrastructure and healthcare company in Thailand.
Pioneers
In 1878, German pharmacist Bernhard Grimm and Austrian partner Erwin Mueller arrived in Siam and together established Siam Dispensary, the first supplier and manufacturer of European medicines in Siam at that time. This marked the beginning of B.Grimm, a company that has grown alongside Thailand for over 147 years.
Renowned for the quality and effectiveness of its medicine, B.Grimm became well known among the public and the royal court. In 1881, the company was granted a Royal Appointment as the official court pharmacy. It also played an important role in distributing medicine during the cholera outbreak and supported the founding of the first modern hospital in Siam (in the reign of King Rama V), which is now Siriraj Hospital.
In 1888, B.Grimm partnered with the Snidvongs family in the construction of the Rangsit Canal, spanning more than 1,500 kilometres. It was the largest irrigation project in Southeast Asia at the time and the first to utilize machinery in canal construction.
Growth and Business Expansion
In 1903, German pharmacist Adolf Link joined B.Grimm and played an important role in the company’s continued growth. Shortly after, he acquired full ownership of the business. One of his key steps was establishing “Bangkok Outfitting Company” to support the expansion of various businesses in Siam. He also began importing luxury and modern goods from Europe, such as clothing, accessories, and formal uniforms, which gained popularity among nobles and members of the royal court. B.Grimm was granted a Royal Appointment as an official supplier to the court and continued to earn trust from the royal family.
However, when World War I broke out, Germans in Siam, including B.Grimm, were designated as “enemy nationals.” The company was forced to close, and its assets were seized. Adolf Link, his wife, and their two sons, Herbert and Gerhard, were sent to a concentration camp in India.
After the war, Adolf Link wrote to the royal court to request permission to return to Siam. In 1917, B.Grimm was re-established with a focus on importing products that supported quality of life and national development.
Overcoming Crisis Toward a New Dawn of Change
At the end of World War I, Thailand was inevitably entering a period of global transformation and recovery. B.Grimm began contributing to technological development, infrastructure, and industry in Thailand. Notable milestones included the installation of the first telegraph system on Koh Si Chang, the first long-distance telephone line between Thailand and Germany, and the supply and installation of paper production machinery for the Thai Paper Mill in Kanchanaburi. During this time, Herbert Link, the elder son, joined the company while his younger brother Gerhard oversaw operations in Germany.
When World War II began in 1939, B.Grimm in Thailand was once again ordered to close. At the same time, Gerhard Link was drafted into the military and was later appointed by the Hamburg city government as a state representative in peace negotiations, which helped save many lives.
After the war, Herbert Link reopened B.Grimm in 1949 in front of the Burapha Palace. The company shifted its focus again, becoming a distributor of world-class products and technologies including Carrier air conditioners, Siemens electrical systems, Carl Zeiss microscopes, and Maquet surgical tables.
Alongside the growth of the business, Alma Link, wife of Herbert Link, devoted her life to charitable causes. In 1975, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej graciously bestowed upon her the honorific title “Khun Ying,” making her the first foreign woman to receive this high distinction, bringing great honor to the Link family.
A Century of Doing Business with Compassion
In 1978, Harald Link, third-generation heir of the Link family and son of Dr. Gerhard Link, joined B.Grimm and worked alongside his uncle, Herbert Link, after receiving his MBA from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. That same year marked the company’s 100th anniversary.
Harald Link became Chairman of B.Grimm in 1987 and expanded the company with a vision of creating shared value for society, guided by the philosophy of “Doing Business with Compassion.” In 1996, B.Grimm signed an agreement to construct its first industrial power plant, which began operations in 1998. This marked the company’s entry into clean energy production, supporting the sustainable growth of Thailand’s industrial sector.
Under Harald Link’s direction, B.Grimm experienced rapid growth and formed joint ventures with many leading companies in Thailand and internationally. The company also expanded into its own ventures across a wide range of industries including energy, building and industrial systems, healthcare, transportation, lifestyle, real estate, and digital technology.
Moving Forward and Empowering the World Compassionately
In 2017, B.Grimm Power was listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand to support its business growth, especially in clean energy. The company has developed a variety of power plants including industrial power plants, solar, wind, and hydropower projects. Today, B.Grimm is one of the global leaders in the energy sector, with operations in more than 15 countries worldwide.
B.Grimm continues to create shared value for society through partnerships, with foundations and social engagement projects in many areas. In education, B.Grimm has been providing scholarships for nursing students through the Princess Mother’s Charities Fund of Thailand. The company also supports community development through the B.Grimm Boworn (Village, Temple and School project in Aranyaprathet). In addition, B.Grimm supports people with disabilities through the Siri Watana Cheshire Foundation, promotes arts and culture through the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Foundation, encourages sports through the Thailand Equestrian Federation, and contributes to environmental sustainability with reforestation projects in various regions, becoming an integral part of society and contributing to the long-term development of the country.
In 2008, Caroline Link, the fourth generation of the Link family, joined B.Grimm after completing her MBA from the European Business School Madrid in Spain. She began her career at Merck Thailand, one of B.Grimm’s pharmaceutical joint ventures. Later, she took on a key role in B.Grimm, elevating the company’s brand perception and developing a people development system guided by B.Grimm’s four Core Values: “Positivity”, “Partnership”, “Professionalism”, and “Pioneering Spirit”
With a strong interest in the healthcare sector, Caroline now serves as Co-Chairman of B.GRIMM Pharma and focuses on growing the healthcare business sustainably to improve people’s quality of life. She oversees companies under B.GRIMM Pharma, including Unison, Medline, F.C.P., and All Research, which specialise in manufacturing and distributing pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmeceuticals, with the goal of making high quality healthcare products accessible to Thai people.
Caroline is also involved in many social engagement activities and has initiated new projects such as the Little Scientists’ House Thailand, to improve science education for children at an early age, and collaborating with the government to protect and restore Thailand’s tiger population through the Save the Tigers project.
For over 147 years, B.Grimm has remained committed to its founding philosophy of “Doing Business with Compassion.” Passed down from generation to generation, this philosophy has guided B.Grimm to become an integral part of society, fostering sustainable business growth alongside meaningful contributions and shared value for society at large.