History of Formica Group

1922 Formica is first registered as a trademark 920x600

1927 Formicas first decorative laminate was launched 920x600

1931 Formica Group invent cigarette proof laminate 920x600

1932 Formica laminate is used in ocean liners 920x600

1950 Brooks Stevens designs the iconic Skylark pattern laminate 920x600

1952 Formica laminate is recognised for being a great material for a modern kitchen 920x600

1953 Formica invent new postforming techniques to bend laminates 920x600

1954 The Formica laminate Skylark pattern is renamed Boomerang 920x600

1978 Formica had to protect its trademark 920x600

1982 Formica launches their ColorCore through colour laminate line 920x600

1988 Formica celebrates its 75th anniversary 920x600

1990 Formica Group introduces an international collection of Metal laminates 920x600

2001 Formica rebrands their meal range as DecoMetal 920x600

2011 All Formica plants achieve GREENGUARD certification 920x600

2012 Formica Group launches magnetic laminate 920x600

2013 Formica group celebrates its 100th anniversary by publishing the book Formica Forever 920x600

2017 Formica group launch 20 new decors into thier TrueScale range 920x600

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1913

Daniel J. O'Conor, while working at Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company (Westinghouse), files a patent application for a process to make laminated insulators. O'Conor and Herbert A. Faber leave Westinghouse and, with Banker John G. Tomlin, join partnership as "Formica Products Company". The partners plan to produce commutator V-rings, in which laminate replaces mica. The company's first order was placed by Chaimers Motor Company.

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1917

The Formica Insulation Company makes first contact with the infant radio industry and develops communications components for the U.S Navy and Signal Corps.

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1921

During the 1920s radios were often assembled at home from kits, with exteriors made of polished Formica^® brand laminate in black or brown.

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1922

Formica^® is registered for the first time as a trademark.

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1927

The company creates the first decorative laminate using amino resins and an opaque barrier sheet to block the dark interior. This signifies the beginning of a shift in focus from industrial to decorative products.

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1931

A cigarette-proof laminate is invented by adding a layer of metal foil, paving the way for laminate to be used on tabletops in popular soda fountains, cafes, night clubs and restaurants.

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1932

Formica^® laminate is used at Radio City, Manhattan. The interiors of ocean liners, zeppelins, and railroad cars are covered in Formica laminate as are the stations, lobbies and lounges.

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1936

Formica^® laminate is installed in bathrooms, doctors' quarters, and the clothes washing facilities of Cunard's ocean liner RMS Queen Mary when it begins service.

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1950

Industrial designer Brooks Stevens designs Formica Group’s first graphic invention, the still iconic 'Skylark' pattern.

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1952

A production facility is set up in Kolho, Finland - Formica IKI Oy was founded in 1952.
De Le Rue reports that the use of Formica laminate has expanded considerably internationally as the recognised material for equipping a modern kitchen.

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1953

New postforming techniques allow fabricators to bend and shape the laminate edges with curves.

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1954

Skylark pattern is renamed 'Boomerang'.

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1970

In the late 1970s, Formica Corporation establishes the Design Advisory Board (DAB). A group of influential architects and designers are tasked with bringing Formica brand laminate out of the 60s and into the present.

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1978

The U.S Federal Trade Commission (FTC) seeks to cancel the Formica brand trademark, charging that the word 'Formica' has become a generic term. This action creates an uproar in the business community which views this as an attempt to eradicate the function of trademarks in the economy. Ultimately the FTC's action was dropped.

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1982

The company introduces ColorCore^®, Formica Group's patented through-colour laminate line.

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1988

Celebrating its 75th Anniversary, Formica Group publishes the book 'Formica and Design: From the Counter Top to High Art' by Susan Grant Lewin.

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1990

Formica Group introduces an International collection of Metal laminates.

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2001

The rapidly growing Formica Metallics range is rebranded as Formica DecoMetal^®

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2011

All plants producing Formica brand laminate around the world achieve GREENGUARD^® Indoor Air Quality certification.

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2012

Formica Group becomes the first laminate manufacturer in the world to be awarded the Carbon Trust's Carbon Reduction Label. Formica Magnetic laminate is launched. Formica Group buys Homapal Plattenwerk GmBH, a specialist metallic laminate producer.

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2013

Formica^® Brand celebrates 100 years with the book ‘Formica Forever’.

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2017

The launch of Formica Infiniti^®, an enduring matte laminate, and the addition of 20 new decors to the TrueScale range. Formica Group invests £40 million into staff and facilities in the UK plant and head office.

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2018

Aria^® range of colour-through compact worktops is launched in the UK, providing the look and performance of stone with the durability of laminate. Available in full sheets Europewide through ColorCore^® Compact range.

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2019

Formica Group became part of the f the €1bn+ global materials division of Broadview Holding alongside other well-known companies.

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2022

Formica Group UK Showroom opens in the heart of London.

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2023

Formica Group celebrates 110 years of laminate design and launches the book ‘Beyond Boomerang: A celebration of 110 years of Formica Patterns’.

Having been in business for so many years, we're lucky enough to have collated an archive of assets. We'd love to share a few of our favourites with you…

Formica Group Celebrates 110th Anniversary in 2023

2023 brings the fantastic opportunity for us to reflect on and celebrate 110 years of Formica^® Brand Patterns. We’ll be revisiting the stories from some of the most unique, interesting and perhaps famous Formica^® Patterns from our history.

Explore

Brooks Stevens' Skylark pattern was launched in the 1950s

Ad from the Australian Women's Weekly

We discovered the video 'A Bright New World' that was created in the 1970s when Formica Group (owned by De La Rue at the time) opened a new 'laminated plastics' factory in Tynemouth, England. The video takes you on an exciting tour of the facilities and the laminate manufacturing process. This site is still very relevant to Formica Group today as it's now home to our European Head Quarters.

Formica Group De La Rue factory Tynemouth

The 1965 World's Fair competition

Advert from the official guide to the 1964-1965 New York World's fair, image courtesy of Bill Young.

A Formica 1927 sales meeting, image from the book 'Formica: Forty Years of Steady Vision' (1953). It's great to take a look back on our history and see the teams that worked hard to further the Formica brand.

Our History