Mr. Somkiat was born in Lampang province, Thailand and graduated from Mae Joh Institute of Agricultural Technology in Chiang Mai province, Thailand (currently known as Mae Joh University).
He began his career in Royal Forest Department of Thailand but resigned his position for his love of sales and marketing. Mr. Somkiat was determined to specialize in medicine profession. The medicine he produced must be of high quality but inexpensive at the same time in order to be suitable for people with low income. He used his knowledge to devise and develop medicinal formulas from local and international pharmacopoeias. His process involved purchasing raw materials from abroad mixed with other local ingredients in lengthy testing periods. Finally, he was able to develop an anti-bacterial formula for acne and flesh wounds. This formula was later packaged for
sale.
As sales increased, Mr. Somkiat wanted his formula that he created, to be labeled with a name. One day during the Second World War, whilst he was resting under a tree behind Thepsirin Temple in Bangkok, Thailand, he saw a plane fly overhead with paratroopers jumping from the plane. When he saw the sky filled with opened parachutes, he decided to use “parachute” as his brand name and called his antibacterial formula, “Vises Powder” (Vises means magical in Thai language). With his image incorporated into the packaging, his wife’s name, Somchitt, was used to form the company named, Somchitt Dispensary Company Limited.
The company was initially situated at no. 96 Chakrapaddipong Road, Nang Lueng Sub-District, Pranakorn District, Bangkok, Thailand. Vises Powder Parachute Brand was officially launched in Thai market on 19th August 1950.
In 1957 Mr. Somkiat completed his development of remedies for toothache (Anti-toothache Parachute Brand) and stomachic formula (Parachute M. Stom.), which were officially launched in Thai market by the end of 1957.
In 1962 The Ministry of Health issued a new regulation to change all medicinal product names that were misleading significances to their healing abilities. Therefore, Mr. Somkiat changed his product name from Vises Powder Parachute Brand to Pises Powder Parachute Brand, “Pises” simply means different from others.
In 1963 Mr. Somkiat moved his company location to no. 9/19 Soi Lardprao 23, Chankasem Sub-District, Chatuchak District, Bangkok, Thailand. A new single storey factory including printing house was built at this location.
In 1975 Mr. Somkiat decided to cease the production and distribution of Antitoothache Parachute Brand and Parachute M. Stom. as some raw materials were very hard to find.
In 1984 Mr. Somkiat rebuilt his factory into a seven-storey building and twostorey printing house. The factory was fully equipped with modern productions and packaging equipments from Germany.
In 1985 Mr. Somkiat established Pises Powder Parachute Brand Co., Ltd. as the sales and marketing subsidiary to drug stores in Thailand and other countries.
In 1989 Somchitt Dispensary Company Limited received the Certificate of GMP Compliance of Manufacturer that was approved by Thai Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand which was amongst the first group of pharmaceutical factories that received the Certificate of GMP Compliance of Manufacturer.
In 2004 The Company introduced a new product under the Parachute brand name, the “Parachute Balm”
In 2020 our company has moved the production side to Lam Luk Ka District, Pathum Thani Province, which was built according to GMP Standard. The new side area has more than 4,000 square metres, which allows us to increase the level of the production to meet both domestic and international customers. Moreover, we have planned to expand the line of products under the name of parachute brand in the near future.
