History

AkzoNobel has a long and distinguished history. Since our inception in 1777 we’ve constantly delivered technical and product innovation. For example, in the 19th century we pioneered industrial-scale chemical manufacture. More recently we’ve led the way with high-tech coatings and artificial fibers.

Here are some more of the highlights over the years:

1777

Det Holmbladske Selskab, now Sadolin, is founded in Denmark.

1792

Painter and decorator Wiert Willem Sikkens starts making Sikkens lacquers in the Dutch town of Groningen.

1871

KemaNobel is established in Sweden. More than a hundred years later, in 1984, KemaNobel will merge with Bofors to form Nobel Industries, which will in turn be acquired by Akzo in 1994.

1895

Alfred Nobel (the man behind the Nobel Prize) founds Elektrokemiska Aktiebolaget – known as Eka – in Bengtsfors, Sweden. Its aim is to make chlorine and alkali. Today Eka Chemicals is AkzoNobel's Pulp & Paper Chemicals business.

1918

Koninklijke Nederlandse Zoutindustrie (KZO) kick-starts the Dutch salt industry in response to salt shortages during World War I.

1923

Saal van Zwanenberg establishes Organon to produce insulin from the pancreases of animals.

1968

UK man-made fiber company Courtaulds acquires International Paints.

1969

Algemeene Kunstzijde Unie NV (AKU) merges with Koninklijke Zwanenberg Organon (KZO) to form AKZO.

1994

Akzo and Nobel Industries merge to form AkzoNobel.

1998

AkzoNobel acquires UK company Courtaulds. Their products include high-tech industrial coatings and man-made fibers such as Courtelle and Tencel.

2007

AkzoNobel sells Organon BioSciences NV to Schering-Plough Corporation.

2008

AkzoNobel acquires Imperial Chemical Industries PLC (ICI).