Recticel Rubber Co
of the Netherlands (1948)
of Corby (UK subsidiary)
1919-1939: Coopall (of the Netherlands) opened a new department producing synthetic and natural resins that were used as raw materials for the paint and varnish industries.
1948 Danish patent by the Recticel Rubber Co of the Netherlands: "Process for making articles of rubber, rubber mixtures or similar elastic material"
1952 The Royal gunpowder factories of Wetteren (which were connected with Coopall) bought the licence from Bayer for the production and marketing of polyurethane foam (PU). The Group's first steps in this field consisted of the production and transformation of flexible foams.
c.1957 Other raw material suppliers entered the market, which allowed production leaders and chemists to improve control over production. This led to the development of polyether foam, used with increasing success in the furniture industry.
Early 1960s: PU foam rolls became increasingly popular because of their use in the textile industry.
1964 the production of rigid polyurethane foam for thermal insulation started
1966 the PU department of Cooppal was renamed to Eurofoam, after a 50/50 joint venture with PRB (Poudrerie Réunies de Belgique).
1967 Cooppal merged into PRB. PRB started to acquire other interests in the chemical industry.
Recticel was a small Dutch company in the PU business and part of the PRB group.
1968 Recticel NV patented "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A SUPPORT FOR CHAIR-CUSHIONS"
c.1976 Recticel gave its name to all the PU activities of PRB.
1985 Société Générale de Belgique, the majority shareholder of PRB, grouped all its chemical activities including Recticel in the company PRB and renamed it Gechem.
1992 After several divestments and increased focus on the more profitable PU business, Recticel remained the only activity of the Gechem group. The name Gechem was replaced by the name Recticel.
1992 Recticel UK Ltd was a subsidiary of the Belgian group. The final stages of incorporating Harrison and Jones and Beaverfoam into the group took place.[1]
1995 Recticel was a European market leader in polymeric products. With expansion of both the product and customer base, a 30,000 sq. ft. greenfield site is being created in the Corby area to commence supply ...(automotive)[2]
1990s Acquired Declon (presumably)
1998 Recticel became independent of Société Générale de Belgique. The latter was replaced by Compagnie du Bois Sauvage, as main shareholder, together with management and other investors.
Having gradually diversified its activities in the bedding sector, and having played an active role in the consolidation of the European polyurethane industry, the Group expanded its activities in the automotive sector by introducing a new PU-based technology for interim trim parts. The Group was then structured around four Business Lines: Flexible Foams, Bedding, Insulation and Automotive.
2015 Recticel divested Kingspan Tarec Industrial Insulation.
2016 Recticel acquired 50% of Turvac, producer of vacuum insulated panels.
See Also
- [1] Recticel