Sikkens – a success story

The first factory was built outside of Groningen. Shortly after, a subsidiary was set up in Emden to cater for the growing demand in Germany.

The inauguration of a further factory in Groningen's Helpmann industrial area. Later on, a laboratory was added to the complex to monitor quality and develop new products.

Sikkens introduces cellulose lacquer, which was manufactured in a special factory. The new, sprayable lacquer is particularly used in industrial applications.

The new synthetic Rubbol AZ lacquer heralds a new era in the painting trade. Even then, Sikkens continually kept people in the whole industry informed of its state-of-art products and processing methods.

The whole company moves from Groningen to Sassenheim. Sikkens uses the involuntary break in the Second World War to develop artificial resins in its labs.

The development work during the war led to the establishment of the "Synthese" man-made resin factory, which is now known as Akzo Nobel Kunstharze. At the same time, Sikkens introduced an efficient maintenance plan that guarantees long-term building protection, thus saving costs.

They merged with Koninklijke Zwanenberg Organon (KZO).

KZO was then merged with AKU, the Algemene Kunstzijde Unie – and Akzo was born. In Germany Lesonal Farbfabrik and in France Astral are purchased; together with the Sikkens Group they comprise Akzo Coatings. This laid the foundations for growth in western and eastern Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa.

Akzo merges with Sweden's Nobel, which has specialised in lacquers and polishes since 1871, to form Akzo Nobel. The famous brand names, such as Rubbol paints, Cetol glazes, Alpha wall coating were kept, as was tried-and-trusted quality introduced in 1792.

Disney and McDonald‘s choose Sikkens as their global supplier of coatings for wooden components.

Out of Sikkens Holzbau came Sikkens Wood Coatings, in order to put the focus and expertise for wood coatings at the centre.