Soudal

Soudal is a Belgian company whose headquarter is located in Turnhout (Belgium). The company has developed into one of the most important independent producers of silicone and caulks (silicone, polyurethane, Marine Sealants, acrylics), Polyurethane-Foams and adhesives in Europe [ [http://www.top500.de/details/420/soudal_nv_belgium.php Soudal] ] .

Soudal realises a consolidated turnover of 340 million USD, and the company distributes his products to more than 100 different countries. The company is active in three markets: professional construction, Do it yourself (DIY) hardware stores and industrial applications. The company is still fully owned by Vic Swerts, who founded the company in 1966 [ [http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Swerts_Vic_53815229.aspx Vic Swerts] ] .

History

In 1966, Vic Swerts bought up a small producer of welding materials and of polyester putties for the repair of damaged car bodies, located nearby the Antwerp "Ossenmarkt" (E: ox market). Two years later he moved his company to Turnhout, on the location of the former market garden of his parents. He then invested heavily in a sophisticated vacuum mixer for the production of polyester putties and high quality silicone sealants as a competitor to the (much cheaper) knifing filler. In 1976, he moves to the industry area of Turnhout and renames the company Soudal (from "Soudeert Alles", E: welds everything).

In 1993, a heavy fire destroyed the factory in Turnhout, which was rebuilt within a year (Plant 1). A second production plant was built nearby (Plant 2). Plant 2 is the biggest production site of Polyurethane-Foams world wide [ [http://www.houseonline.be/nl/praktische_info_16.php?infoid=2336 SOUDAL: meer dan alleen 500.000 kokers silicone per dag] ] . In 1997, Vic Swerts acquired BAVG from Bayer, a company specialized in finished construction products. Since its acquisition the factory in Leverkusen doubled its production. In September 2004 he acquired his competitor Rectavit in Drongen. Rectavit continued to operate as an independent entity. In 1999, Soudal opened a sales office and storage space in Shanghai. In 2005 the company opened offices in Turkey, Norway and Portugal.

References

ource

* [http://www.nieuwsblad.be/Article/Detail.aspx?articleID=fv1ep3sp Soudal bouwt fabriek in Polen] (Dutch)
* [http://www.voka.be/startpagina/nieuws/Pages/Wijdoengewoononsbest.aspx Wij doen gewoon ons best] (Dutch)
* [http://www.houseonline.be/nl/praktische_info_16.php?infoid=2336 SOUDAL: meer dan alleen 500.000 kokers silicone per dag] (Dutch)

External links

* [http://www.soudal.com/ Soudal]