History of Formica Group
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Our History
With over 110 years experience in laminate manufacture, we've got a colourful history... scroll through our timeline to discover the story of Formica, and how we got to where we are today.
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



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

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
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
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



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
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




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



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








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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’.
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.
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.
1921
During the 1920s radios were often assembled at home from kits, with exteriors made of polished Formica® brand laminate in black or brown.
1922
Formica® is registered for the first time as a trademark.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1950
Industrial designer Brooks Stevens designs Formica Group’s first graphic invention, the still iconic 'Skylark' pattern.
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.
1953
New postforming techniques allow fabricators to bend and shape the laminate edges with curves.
1954
Skylark pattern is renamed 'Boomerang'.
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.
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.
1982
The company introduces ColorCore®, Formica Group's patented through-colour laminate line.
1988
Celebrating its 75th Anniversary, Formica Group publishes the book 'Formica and Design: From the Counter Top to High Art' by Susan Grant Lewin.
1990
Formica Group introduces an International collection of Metal laminates.
2001
The rapidly growing Formica Metallics range is rebranded as Formica DecoMetal®
2011
All plants producing Formica brand laminate around the world achieve GREENGUARD® Indoor Air Quality certification.
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.
2013
Formica® Brand celebrates 100 years with the book ‘Formica Forever’.
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.
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.
2019
Formica Group became part of the f the €1bn+ global materials division of Broadview Holding alongside other well-known companies.
2022
Formica Group UK Showroom opens in the heart of London.
2023
Formica Group celebrates 110 years of laminate design and launches the book ‘Beyond Boomerang: A celebration of 110 years of Formica Patterns’.
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.
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.
1921
During the 1920s radios were often assembled at home from kits, with exteriors made of polished Formica® brand laminate in black or brown.
1922
Formica® is registered for the first time as a trademark.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1950
Industrial designer Brooks Stevens designs Formica Group’s first graphic invention, the still iconic 'Skylark' pattern.
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.
1953
New postforming techniques allow fabricators to bend and shape the laminate edges with curves.
1954
Skylark pattern is renamed 'Boomerang'.
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.
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.
1982
The company introduces ColorCore®, Formica Group's patented through-colour laminate line.
1988
Celebrating its 75th Anniversary, Formica Group publishes the book 'Formica and Design: From the Counter Top to High Art' by Susan Grant Lewin.
1990
Formica Group introduces an International collection of Metal laminates.
2001
The rapidly growing Formica Metallics range is rebranded as Formica DecoMetal®
2011
All plants producing Formica brand laminate around the world achieve GREENGUARD® Indoor Air Quality certification.
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.
2013
Formica® Brand celebrates 100 years with the book ‘Formica Forever’.
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.
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.
2019
Formica Group became part of the f the €1bn+ global materials division of Broadview Holding alongside other well-known companies.
2022
Formica Group UK Showroom opens in the heart of London.
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…
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Formica Group Celebrates 110th Anniversary in 2023
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Brooks Stevens' Skylark pattern was launched in the 1950s
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.
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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.
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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.
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