Bernard Liban was born to Jude and Rachela, neé Bramberg on 9th February 1848 in Podgórze (currently one of Cracow’s districts). He graduated from the Real School at the University of Technology in Cracow.  While being a student, Liban took part in the January Uprising which resulted in serious consequences, including the expulsion from school.  In 1880’s he ran a factory „Bernard Liban – Wyrób Gipsu Wszelkiego Rodzaju” (”Bernard Liban – Making cement of all kind” ), a factory of the Portland Cement in Bonarka.  In 1903, Liban set up a factory of  Chemical Products in Borek Fałęcki, which was turned into one of the first joint-stock companies in the Cracow area nine years later. At nearly the same time, he set up the First Galician Soda…