HISTORY OF SOPREMA
INTEGRATION OF PRENOTEC
Prenotec GmbH was taken over by the Soprema Group about three years ago. As it has excellent products in the field of liquid plastics, these formed an ideal complement to the ALSAN range of Soprema AG.
SOPREMA ACQUIRES A MAMMOTH
To perpetuate the family history of the SOPREMA Group, whose emblem is a Mammoth, Pierre-Etienne BINDSCHEDLER decided to acquire a real Mammoth skeleton.
SOPREMA Iberia
The companies TEXSA, TOPOX and ASFALTEX merge under the name SOPREMA Iberia!
FIRST FACTORY IN CHINA
SOPREMA is opening its first production unit in China, in Changzhou, to meet the growing demand of the Chinese construction market. This initial phase of investment, focused on the production of PVC synthetic waterproofing membranes, also includes a technical training centre to improve the quality of installation of waterproofing solutions.
BIOMASS GASIFICATION
At the end of February 2017, SOPREMA started up a biomass gasification system at its Strasbourg industrial site. This is the first time in France that a gasifier of this type has been implemented in the building materials industry.
FRANCE, 2016
SOPREMA supplements its range of natural insulating materials by taking over PAVATEX, a french company specialised in the wooden fibre insulation.
NEW PRODUCTION SITES
A polyurethane insulation plant in Drummondville (Canada).
A bituminous waterproofing plant in Hof, Germany.
A NEW FACTORY IN FRANCE
A new extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation plant is opened in Savigny-sur-Clairis, France.
EXTRUDED POLYSTYRENE INSULATION
A new range of XPS insulation is launched under the EFYOS brand. Insulation boards for multiple uses with excellent thermal and mechanical performance.
2015, devlopment of the SOPREMA group
German
Development of the translucent domes activity: Eternit Flachdach
Spain
Development of the sealing activity: Asfaltex
France
Development of the overhead lighting activity: SIH group
Italy
Development of the extruded polystyrene activity: SIRAP Insulation
Spain, 2014
Acquisition of Texsa, which is a manufacturer of extruded polystyrene insulation.
Barcelona, Spain, 2013
Acquisition of Texsa company (3 factories throught Spain and the headquater in Barcelona).
Vancouver, Canada, 2012
Acquisition of Convoy Company (specialist of insulation and roofing overseas).
BLONIE, POLAND, 2010
Opening of a new production unit dedicated to waterproofing membranes in Blonie.
SOPREMA purchases EFISOL Funded in 1987, French-leader in manufacture of insulation products made of polyurethane foam or expanded minerals:
- 200 employees in France
- Production site for polyurethane boards
- 3 production sites for Perlite and Vermiculite
STRASBOURG, FRANCE, 2009
SOPREMA develops a novel combination of binder material with a new generation of reinforcements called Elium. Soprelium®, is the first waterproofing membrane to use the new technology, reducing the number and intensity of operations in order to enhance productivity and significantly improve working conditions by cutting down the weight of the membrane per unit area by over 35%, all the while increasing the area per roll by 25%.
SORGUES, FRANCE, 2009
Inauguration of a new production unit in Sorgues.
CESTAS, FRANCE, 2009
Opening of a new cellulose wadding in Cestas.
BORG EL ARAB, EGYPT, 2008
First SOPREMA plant in the Middle East.
STRASBOURG, FRANCE, 2008
SOPREMA releases Flaxline®, the first roofing underlay and rain barrier in the world to use natural flax fibres. SOPREMA is 100 years old.
ITALY, 2007
SOPREMA acquires the Italian company FLAG, worldwide specialist of synthetic waterproofing.
STRASBOURG, FRANCE, 2007
SOPREMA is the first French manufacturer to market a two-coat bituminous waterproofing solution with integrated photovoltaic cells that generate electricity using solar power: Soprasolar®.
THE NETHERLANDS, 2007
The Dutch company TROELSTRA & VRIES joins the SOPREMA group.
BURBACH, GERMANY, 2006
Acquisition of the German company KLEWA, specialised in the manufacture and marketing of waterproofing membranes.
VAL DE REUIL, NORMANDY, FRANCE, 2003
Inauguration of a new manufacturing unit in Val de Reuil.
ANTWERP, BELGIUM, 2001
Acquisition of a major Belgian manufacturer of waterproofing membranes, BITAL, renamed SOPREMA NV.
CHILLIWACK, BRITISH COLUMBIA, 2000
A second Canadian plant starts production near Vancouver.
STRASBOURG, FRANCE, 1999
SOPREMA invents Alsan® Flashing®, a single-component polyurethane bitumen resin that can be applied with no in-situ primer using a roller or a broad brush on upstands in new and refurbished constructions.
STRASBOURG, FRANCE, 1997
SOPREMA releases a range of liquid waterproofing systems using polyurethane resin called Alsan®.
WADSWORTH, OHIO, 1993
The sixth SOPREMA plant is inaugurated in the USA.
STRASBOURG, FRANCE, 1992
Pierre GEISEN hands the management of the company over to his grandson, Pierre-Etienne BINDSCHEDLER.
STRASBOURG, FRANCE, 1989
SOPREMA invents a green terrace roof system called Sopranature®.
The concept slows down rainwater runoff and improves the thermal and acoustic insulation of buildings.
DRUMMONDVILLE, QUEBEC, 1984
The development of sales in Canada leads to the opening of a plant in Québec.
STRASBOURG, FRANCE, 1975
Development of Sopralène®, the first range of waterproofing products using SBS elastomer bitumen reinforced with unwoven polyester. Exports grow across the world and sales subsidiaries are set up, first in Europe and then in North America.
AVIGNON, FRANCE, 1941
As World War II breaks out, the company is once again forced to leave its base. This time, it moves to Avignon, where Pierre GEISEN sets up a new company, called the "Société des Produits et Revêtements d'Etanchéité Mammouth".
STRASBOURG, FRANCE, 1933
Charles GEISEN's son, Pierre GEISEN, an engineer from the École Centrale des Arts et Manufactures takes over the management of the company. At the same time, Pierre improves the «Mammouth®» screed by covering it with a fine sheet of aluminium to protect it from temperature variations, the effects of the weather and ultraviolet rays, and thereby increasing its lifespan.
ZÜRICH, SWITZERLAND, 1914
The business moves to Switzerland when World War I breaks out. A company is set up in Zurich.
STRASBOURG, 1909 seeking to develop a fully waterproof fabric which would also be flexible and easy to install Charles GEISEN finds the solution by soaking jute fabric in hot bitumen. The result gives a lightweight but strong screed which comes to be known as "Mammouth®".
In 1908, Charles Geisen moved on to bigger things by setting up "Usines Alsaciennes d'Émulsions" in Strasbourg, company specialised in the fashioning of waterproofing liquids and paste made from natural asphalt and coal tar pitch.