|
|
|
|
1939/40
|
|
The Dutch are lowering raw materials such as linseed oils and standoils as well as high-quality paints and coatings into the Zuider Zee (Ijssel Sea) to safeguard them from seizure by the Germans who laid siege to the country from 1940.
|
|
1945 – 47
|
|
The materials – still intact for the most part – are reclaimed from the sea, to be sold for hard currency (US dollars and Swiss francs) needed for the rebuilding of The Netherlands. Thanks to his relationship with the Dutch delegate, Manfred Schlessinger is asked to handle the sale of these raw materials, paints and coatings in Switzerland.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1947
|
|
Manfred Schlessinger founds the trading company MONOPOL GmbH, and takes over the name of the national Dutch export company MONOPOL NV, as well as an emblem with the Dutch national colours as the company logo. Sales are good, but the Swiss are anxious about being dependent on imports in times of war. Consequently some of the paints and coatings are produced by a third party in Switzerland using the Dutch formulas.
|
|
1951
|
|
After the death of the father of the company founder, his company – Neo-Texta AG, which was in the cotton trade – merged with MONOPOL GmbH to become MONOPOL AG, and cotton trading ceased.
|
|
1954
|
|
Own production of synthetic resin matt paint starts in a private house in Baden. Another gap in the market is the coating of aluminium. The in-house manufacturing range is therefore increased to include a completely new type of paint (Lack) which gives aluminium the appearance of copper or brass.
|
|
1955
|
|
Expansion of product range through the sale of street-marking paints, also produced by a third party.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
1959
|
|
Move to the new factory in Fislisbach, 5 km from Baden. All products in the range at this time can now be manufactured in-house.
|
|
1965
|
|
As a building material, wood is increasingly replaced by steel and concrete as a building element, which is why new product lines are being developed especially for corrosion protection; there is no further development of the wood product line.
|
|
1971
|
|
A raw materials warehouse is built.
|
|
1972
|
|
MONOPOL becomes the first company in Europe to exhibit painted plastic parts, causing a sensation at the Surface Exhibition in Basle where they are first shown. Until then it was thought that plastic would supplant paint. By means of an extensive information campaign, the plastics manufacturers were persuaded that plastic too must be protected with paint to improve the surface from a chemical and mechanical aspect. The ageing of plastic, caused by environmental influences, can be counteracted with suitable coatings.
|
|
1978/79
|
|
After only six months of construction work, the second phase with a new administration and operations building is ready for occupancy. An investment was also made in new block storage as well as in an efficient dust-removing and ventilation system. Very modern working conditions were thus provided. The automatic ventilation system ensures defined humidity, guaranteeing the removal of any static charges. In the meantime, there are now 26 members of staff. Development of the first water based coatings with a solvent content of over 20%.
|
|
1980
|
|
MONOPOL enters into a Co-operation Agreement with the Protective Coatings Division of the US concern, Ameron. To expand and strengthen its own corrosion protection range, MONOPOL AG represents for Switzerland and Liechtenstein the globally known products of this company for powerful corrosion protection, such as power stations, petrochemical installations, offshore constructions, steel hydraulic structures, etc.
|
|
|
1982/83
|
|
The recession forces MONOPOL to follow other companies and introduce 20% short-time for five months.
|
|
1984
|
|
Joins Association of Swiss Paint Manufacturers (VSLF).
|
|
1986
|
|
Manfred Schlessinger is elected as Member of the Board of VSLF, and as Vice President one year later.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1990
|
|
MONOPOL joins forces with three other Swiss paint manufacturers with the aim of promoting the environmentally friendly wet coating through Unicolor AG. Unicolor has developed a procedure, patented in many countries, with which, thanks to the use of solvent-free, water-dilutable paints and a new recovery system, it is possible to paint without wastage.
|
|
1991
|
|
Succession is assured: Lionel Schlessinger, the youngest son of the company founder, Manfred Schlessinger, takes over the operative management of MONOPOL AG. Manfred Schlessinger is elected as VSLF President. The ground is broken for the third building phase.
|
|
1992
|
|
1992 The modern extension is inaugurated. Turnover falls just short of the ten million mark.
|
|
1994
|
|
The product range is completed in the area of corrosion protection with an exclusive licensing agreement with Ernst Platt GmbH, Bochum, the most important German producer of the 1C-humidity hardening polyurethane surface coatings (1C-FH-PUR). These coatings are manufactured in Fislisbach and marketed under the name of MONOPUR.
|
|
|
1995
|
|
As the ninth organisation worldwide, and the first paint manufacturer in the world, MONOPOL AG receives the ISO 14001 certificate for its environmental management system. In the same year the quality management system is also awarded an ISO 9001 certificate.
Representation in Czech Republic started with establishment of MONOPOL Colors s.r.o. in Pilsen.
|
|
1996
|
|
Manfred Schlessinger resigns as VSLF President after 10 years activity for the Association.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
1997
|
|
For MONOPOL’s 50th anniversary, the long-established logo and emblem are replaced by the ones used today. MONOPOL Colors is launched as Corporate Identity.
|
|
1998
|
|
The export share exceeds the 10% mark for the first time.
|
|
2000
|
|
Acquisition of the industry sector of Trilacolor AG, Zofingen. Trilacolor’s strength in the area of two-component industrial paints and the TrilaMix® Colour Mixing System, which is already well accepted in the market, provide an ideal extension to the existing product line.
In order to provide improved and on-the-spot customer service, the MONOPOL Shanghai Representative Office is established in the People’s Republic of China.
|
|
2001
|
|
After six months of planning and five months of securing approval, in late autumn the ground is broken for the third extension, which involves a new high bay warehouse and expanded production facilities. The volume of the building is approximately 17,000 m2 and there will be room for about 1600 pallets in the new warehouse. In order to maintain and if possible improve MONOPOL’s accustomed high standards of safety, apart from extending the sprinkler system, an innovative water-foam extract (AFFF) fire extinguisher will be installed. In an emergency, the foam would float on the flammable solvents and smother the fire in a short time.
|
|
2002
|
|
UAB Imparatas, Vilnius represents MONOPOL Colors in Lithuania since the beginning of the year.
MONOPOL Colors is on the internet site with a completely new designed homepage.
Lionel Schlessinger has been appointed to the Commitee of the VSLF.
In summer, take over of the representation of Tigerwerke, Wels (Austria) in Switzerland for TIGER Drylac® Powder Coatings.
After 9 months of construction, the expanded production facilities and the new high bay warehouse were inaugurated and started running.
|
|
2003
|
|
New extension to the East by opening a Representative Office in Moscow.
In June, take over of the metallic façade coatings (powder coatings, PUR- and fluoropolymers) from The Valspar (Vernicolor) Corp. AG.
The company founder Manfred Schlessinger is celebrating in August his 80th anniversary in the best of.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
