SIMONA AG - From Past to Present
2007 marks the 150th anniversary of SIMONA. Established in1857 as a leather processing business,
Carl Simon Söhne soon evolved into a company of international renown, reaching its zenith in the
first decade of the 20th century. However, the two world wars that followed resulted in the total
collapse of the European leather industry – precipitating SIMONA into a full-scale crisis. The
company sought out new lines of business – and found them in the plastics industry. Since then,
SIMONA has flourished and grown, establishing itself as a leading player within the field of
plastics manufacturing. Channelling all our energy, dynamism and passion into this field of
expertise, we shall continue to pursue our ambitious goals and meet our customers' exacting
standards – worldwide, with total commitment, and always one step ahead of others. The following
chronology presents some of the key milestones in our company's history:
| 1857 | The leather factory Carl Simon Söhne is founded in Kirn/Germany.
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| 1907 | In its 50th anniversary year Carl Simon Söhne is a company of global repute, employing more than 1,200 people at its plants in Kirn, Rokitzan (Bohemia) as well as Madras (India). | |
| 1954 | Two world wars have taken their toll: Dr. Wolfgang Bürkle joins the company as an advisor.. | |
| 1955 | Dr. Bürkle is appointed as Managing Director alongside Hellmut Simon. For the first time in years, the company is able to post a profit. | |
| 1956 | Dr. Bürkle conducts initial trials for the production of plastic sheets, using a company-made press. | |
| 1961 | The first press developed specifically for the production of plastic sheets is installed, together with the first sheet extrusion unit. | |
| 1965-1975 | The company changes its name to "SIMONA GmbH, Kunststoff-Halbzeuge". For the first time, revenues generated with plastic products marketed under the SIMONA brand exceed those achieved by the company's leather production unit. Subsidiaries are established in France and Italy; production of plastic pipes commences at the company's Ringsheim plant, based in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Leather production is discontinued after 116 years. | |
| 1988 | SIMONA GmbH becomes a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft – AG). | |
| 1990 | Initial public offering of SIMONA AG; the company establishes SIMONA UK in Stafford, England. | |
| 1993 | Certification in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001. | |
| 1995 - 1999 | Subsidiaries are established in the Czech Republic, Hong Kong and Poland; production start-up of high-purity piping system components at the company's Ettenheim plant. | |
| 2001 | The subsidiary SIMONA IBERICA is established in Spain, and a sales office is opened in Shanghai. SIMONA environmental management system is certified according to ISO 14001. | |
| 2002 | A production joint venture (located in Ettenheim) is formed with Georg Fischer for the manufacture of high-purity piping system components made of fluoropolymers. | |
| 2004 | SIMONA AMERICA Inc. is established. Entry into the American market with company-operated production facility for extruded sheets and own sales team in Mountaintop, Pennsylvania. | |
| 2006 | SIMONA AG acquires the plastics division of Deutsche Holzveredelung Alfons und Ewald Schmeing oHG, based in Kirchhundem-Würdinghausen (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany). | |
| 2007 | The company celebrates its 150th anniversary. SIMONA AMERICA Inc. relocates to its own production plant in Hazleton (Pennsylvania). Preparations are made for the launch of production sites in the Czech Republic and China. | |
| 2008 | Market roll-out of PP-DWU AlphaPlus product family and launch of next-generation twin-wall
sheets.
SIMONA’s first multifunctional production facility in Litvinov/Czech Republic comes into partial operation. |
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| 2009 | DIBT approval for SIMONA® PP-DWU AlphaPlus® - first and only manufacturer of semi-finished plastics with own accreditation for a PP compound. The company's facility in Litvinov, Czech Republic, commences full operations. The plant in Jiangmen, China, starts test production. | |
| 2010 | Official opening of new plant in Jiangmen, China, in April.
Death of Anita Bürkle, major shareholder and widow of Dr. Wolfgang Bürkle, former Chairman of the Management Board and Supervisory Board of SIMONA AG. Certification of quality and environmental management system at Litvinov plant |
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| 2011 | New subsidiary in Russia | |
| 2012 | Introduction and certification of an energy management system based on international standards | |
Technical Newsletter
SIMONA.report
SIMONA AG
Teichweg 16
55606 Kirn
Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 67 52 14-0
Fax: +49 (0) 67 52 14-211