IN THE PAST AND TODAY
75 YEARS
MILESTONES
1949
The success story begins - with the founding of NORWAG-Werke GmbH in Witten. The first metalworking oils, window putty and waxes are produced.
At the beginning of the decade, the company was renamed ARDEX Chemie GmbH. The three-member management team, consisting of Gertrud Fortmann, Dr. Kurt Krafft and Fritz E. Fortmann, had promising visions for the company, which they poured into a business model that was both sustainable and viable for the future.
In addition to the launch of the first ARDUR floor levelling compounds, the business is expanded with the founding of ARDEX NOVAL S.A. in France.
1950s
1960s
The decade is characterized by innovations: ARDUPLAN 2026 is the first wall filler to be added to the range. ARDIT Z 8 is the world's first fast-setting cementitious floor levelling compound. The ARDURIT X 7 G tile adhesive is launched on the market and is still considered the epitome of thin-bed mortar today.
Expansion in the UK, Scandinavia and Austria is also being driven forward.
The product portfolio is being expanded with ARDURAPID 77, a floor levelling compound that is ready for covering after just one hour, and the universally applicable smoothing and levelling compound K15, the classic among floor levelling compounds.
The first non-European expansion takes place with the founding of ARDEX Inc. in Pittsburgh, USA.
1970s
1980s
The Witten 32.5 R-SF high-speed cement is another innovation on the market. Research and development activities become increasingly important and the new research and development center in Witten is opened in 1982.
Our quality management system is certified in accordance with DIN EN ISO. Investments in research and development pay off. The first flooring adhesives are introduced and two further tile adhesives are developed: ARDURIT X 5 and ARDURIT X 7 G Plus.
International expansion is also progressing in Sweden, Poland and Spain.
1990s
2000s
In this decade, the focus is on expanding international business. The W.W. Henry Company, USA, is acquired and Lugato and NORCROS, with branches in South East Asia, China and the Pacific region, are taken over. As well as start-ups in Finland and Korea.
PANDOMO, the division for decorative floor coverings, is launched. And a new state-of-the-art mixing plant is put into operation in Witten.
In addition to increasing growth, the focus is on numerous majority shareholdings, including Seire in Spain: Seire in Spain, QUICSEAL in Asia, CEMIX in New Zealand, DTA in Australia, New Zealand and the USA and the first foray into the South American market with the investment in Ceramfix in Brazil. New production facilities are being built in Turkey, Asia and Australia.
In Germany, GUTJAHR Systemtechnik, WAKOL, LOBA and KNOPP join the ARDEX Group. In addition, the ARDEXacademy West is opened as a new, state-of-the-art training center in Witten. And the new research and development center is being built.
The new flooring campaign "Die Teufelskerle" successfully repositions the product range of floor levelling compounds and flooring adhesives.
2010s
2020s
Investments in the family company's headquarters in Witten continue. The new logistics facility with state-of-the-art high-bay technology will open in April 2020. The company is also investing heavily in digitalization and sustainability. This includes the introduction of the new ecobuild TECHNOLOGY label, which identifies products that demonstrably meet important sustainability criteria. ARDEX A 828 COMFORT is the first product in the ecobuild family.
In 2021, ARDEX completes the largest acquisition in the company's history with wedi, further expanding its system expertise.
And it goes on ...
