Sikkens
The Sikkens heritage began in 1792 with Wiert Willem Sikkens; a painter and decorator who used his expertise of woodcare to produce and sell lacquers to fellow painters, decorators and enthusiasts. As the company has grown over the decades, so has the drive for innovation. Revolutionary synthetic coatings such as Rubbol AZ have pushed Sikkens to the forefront of product formulation and finish.
How to use this timeline: Hover over the image to move the timeline right and left through the ages. To view information about each year, click on the lozenge for that year.
Painter and glazier Wiert Willemszoon Sikkens opens a small paint and varnish works from a gatehouse in the city wall of Groningen.
His son, Geert Willem, continues the business and enters into partnership with his cousin by marriage, Willem Penaat. Their company trades under the name G.W. Sikkens & Co and becomes synonymous with specialization in the production of wood lacquers.
Due to the success of premium quality products and service the company is granted the title of 'Royal' and changes the name to Koninklijke Lak- en Japanlakkenfabriek G.W. Sikkens & Co.
World War I breaks. The Netherlands was neutral and so is debarred from trading with any of the warring nations. The country's borders are closed and, in one fell swoop, 70 percent of Sikkens' turnover is lost. There is only one way to survive - increase sales in the Netherlands - so depots with Sikkens® products are set up all over the country
Understanding the need for better formulation within the market greater investment of time and resource is put into research and product development.
The result of the investment into formulation sees a range of car finishes and carriage lacquers under the name of Rubbol.
A manufacturing facility is built next to the still new paint factory to house the brand new company, Sikkens Cellulose lakfabriek. On December 14, 1928, at the official opening, wholesalers are introduced to the new cellulose products Nitro Rubbol® and Nitro Reparatie Zwart.
Years of outstanding premium product and performance once again result in a royal title 'Hofleverancier' translated 'supplier to the Royal Family'
The threat of war is imminent. Management wants at all costs to move to the new site before the war upsets things. In a lightning move on September 13, 1939, everything is relocated from Groningen to Sassenheim.
The company sets up its own fire brigade and an air defense squad. Two years later, it becomes clear just how necessary these organizations are because, following an air raid, a fire caused a great deal of damage. Production fell to zero.
The shortage of raw materials is a thing of the past and manufacturing is again running flat out.
The expansion of G.W. Sikkens & Co. results in the acquisition of wall paint factory Alpha and Tjallema.
The Sikkens Prize is inaugurated in 1959 on the initiative of A.M. Mees, the director of the Sikkens Paint Factory in Sassenheim. The prize is introduced as an appreciation of artists, architects and designers whose work created a synthesis of space and color.
The Sikkens Group becomes part of Koninklijke Zout-Ketjen (KZK), which includes Gembo, a manufacturer of water glass, printing inks and Valspar® paints.
Two years later, Sikkens took over the Valspar® paints activities from Gembo.
CetaBever, a manufacturer of DIY products, and Talens, a producer of artists' paints based in Apeldoorn, also became part of Sikkens.
The Autoflex® product line has more than 500 ready-mixed colors. To help bodyshop sprayers identify paint colors accurately, the company introduces the Sikkens® Car Color Selector, an innovative color selection book.
KZK merged with Koninklijke Zwanenberg-Organon to create Koninklijke Zout-Organon (KZO). From that point on, Sikkens shares the same history as that of KZO, becoming part of Akzo in 1969.
Towards the end of the 1980s, Sikkens introduces computer technology to link its successful color database to its equally successful on-site mixing machines.
Akzo merges with Nobel Industries, whose portfolio includes significant coatings activities. The merger brings with it decorative coatings brands such as Sadolin® and Crown® Berger, which are incorporated into the Coatings division of the newly-created Akzo Nobel.
Akzo Nobel's acquisition of the British Courtaulds adds even more coatings operations.
In recent years the merger with AkzoNobel has secured Sikkens as a market leader whose intrinsic history produces a range of products designed to help enhance and preserve woods natural beauty.
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