The VEKA success story

1969 Heinrich Laumann takes over VEKAPLAST. With 8 staff, the regional company
produces roller shutters and construction profiles reaching an annual turnover
of 1.7 million DM.
1970 Heinrich Laumann and his team prepare for the production of window profiles.
In close cooperation with window fabricators the first VEKA window system is
developed.
1971 The production area is extended and window profile extrusion begins. The PVC
window market share is about 10%
1974 Front door and sliding door systems are added to the product range.
The production capacity limits are reached, hence VEKAPLAST purchases a
115,000 m2 industrial site in Sendenhorst for a new extrusion factory.
1977 After completion of the 1st building phase, the new 10,500 m² factory is taken
into operation at the start of the year. The turnover this year is 30 million DM.
1979 The annual turnover amounts to 70 million DM. The production capacities again
reach their limits and the 2nd building phase is initiated to create a further
11,500 m².
1980 Due to the increasing demand for VEKA window systems (turnover
1980: ca. 100 million DM) both nationally and internationally the decision to
complete the 3rd building phase of 9,500 m² is made.
1981 VEKA opens their first mixing plant in Sendenhorst.
1983 Due to the national economic and market situation no considerable increase can
be expected. Hence export activities are increasingly expanded. This year
subsidiaries in Spain and the USA, initially together with an American partner,
are founded.
1984 The newly established subsidiary in France quickly becomes the French
market leader.
1985 VEKAPLAST begins manufacturing PVC sheets. These find wide use in a number
of branches such as construction, industrial and advertising.
1986 VEKA acquires the Belgian sheet manufacturer, Isoblec, in Battice. The partner
shares of the VEKA subsidiary in Spain are absorbed. VEKA UK starts production
in Great Britain.A new administration building is constructed in Sendenhorst.
The total turnover for this year is a staggering 212 million DM.
1987 In France the new factory in Thonon-les-Bains is taken into operation.
1988 VEKAPLAST Sendenhorst takes over the shares of the American partner,
so that VEKAPLAST USA becomes a 100% subsidiary.At the end of the year the
Belgian companies Azotherm and ACE are acquired, both PVC and PE foils
manufactures. In Sendenhorst the factory is expanded by a powerful mixing plant
and a production hall for further sheet extruders.
1990 The company is transformed into a corporation under the name of VEKA GmbH.
Sales amount to 454 million DM.
1991 The VEKA Umwelttechnik GmbH is founded in Behringen, Thüringen. The
founding stone for the first branch specific recycling factory is laid.
1992 VEKA GmbH becomes a public limited company. This new legal form creates the
necessary structure for the further expansion into international markets. The
shares remain in the possession of the Laumann family and annual sales rise to
552 million DM.The VEKA AG is the first company in its branch to receive DIN
ISO 9001 certification and thereby confirms their image as quality product
supplier.
1993 On premises covering 120,000 m2, the most advanced European recycling plant is
put into operation. The investment volume is ca. 30 million DM.The subsidiary
VEKA West, Inc. is founded in Reno, USA. At the same time VEKA Holdings Inc. is
founded, combining the business activities of the two American subsidiaries.
Meanwhile the VEKA AG employs over 1,500 staff worldwide and achieves a sales
volume of about 610 million DM.
1994 Foundation of the VEKA Polska Sp. z.o.o. in summer '94.The construction of a
new extrusion factory is started in Reno USA. The start up is scheduled for next
year. A joint venture is started in the Republic of China together with a Chinese
partner. The VEKA AG has a share of 75 %.
1995 A sales office is established in Singapore to support the Southeast Asian markets
of Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam.
1996 The former CIS markets are able to be serviced through the newly established
sales office in Moscow. Total sales of the VEKA group amount to 763 million DM,
with a total of 1,864 employees.
1997 Elke and Andreas Hartleif (Heinrich and Rita Laumann's daughter and son-in-
law) join their parent's company to assume executive HR and Group Planning
roles. VEKA Umwelttechnik is the first firm specialising in the disposal of PVC
windows to be certified by the Technischer Überwachungsverein (TÜV) thus
ensuring recycling which is 100% environmentally-friendly and in accordance
with recycling regulations.
1998 The Moscow based subsidiary "000 VEKA RUS" is established and the Chinese
subsidiary relocates from Jinan to Shanghai. The ACE foiling subsidiary is sold.
1999 Together with 2,200 guests from 37 countries VEKA celebrates the company's
30th anniversary. Heinrich Laumann receives honorary citizenship from the city
of Sendenhorst and is also decorated by the Federal Republic of Germany for his
entrepreneurial performance.VEKA is the first Western profile fabricator to open
a production site in Moscow. Two new subsidiaries are established: VEKA Plastics
(Singapore) charged with co-ordinating business in the Southeast Asia
region and VEKA Latina S.A., Buenos Aires, responsible for covering the South
American markets.
2000 Heinrich Laumann steps down from his Board of Director position to assume
chairmanship of the Supervisory Board. Hubert Hecker was named the new
chairman of the Board of Directors. After 30 years of "VEKA history" the
Managing Director Technology, Eugen Schlüter enters a well-earned
retirement.The subsidiaries: VEKA România S.R.L. (Bukarest), VEKA México
(Monterrey) and VEKA do Brasil (Florianopolis) are established. The VEKA
Group turnover amounts to 517.8 million EURO, hence exceeding the 1 billion
DM threshold for the first time.
2001 Dr. Werner Schuler takes over the Board position: Managing Director
Technology.
2002 VEKA Holdings Inc. (USA) takes over the Canadian extruder, Berlinex
(Edmonton) and transforms the company into VEKA Canada Holdings Comp..
The VEKA Plastics Co. Ltd. in Bangkok is founded as sales office for the market
in Thailand.
2003 Founding of the sales company VEKA India Pvt. Ltd. in Dehli. The VEKA
Umwelttechnik GmbH celebrate their 10th anniversary. The new "System
Technikum" is taken into operation at the VEKA head office in Sendenhorst.
2004 VEKA opens the new Service Centre in Sendenhorst. VEKA Polska celebrates
their 10th anniversary. Two celebrations are scheduled in Russia: the 5th
anniversary and the opening of the Novosibirsk branch in October.