History - ROWA Group

1958

Foundation of ROWA GmbH - Compounding of natural rubber.

1969

Manufacture of special varnishes for surface treatment of PVC- and PU-coated fabrics.

1974
Production of pigment compounds for printing inks and for colouring PVC foil.

1978

Startup of manufacture of colour-masterbatches for all plastics.

1979

Acquisition of TRAMACO GmbH, a leading supplier of primer systems and propellant compounds, resins and waxes.

1981

Acquisition of a Japanese license for the manufacture of aqueous two-component adhesives.

1987

Foundation of ROWA INC. USA - responsible for marketing and sales of ROWA and TRAMACO products.

1989

Acquisition and enlargement of the Pinneberg plant involving relocation of administrative functions and parts of the research and development and production functions.

1990

Foundation of ROMIRA GmbH for the manufacture of technical plastics such as ABS, ASA and polymer blends.

1994

Foundation of ROWA FRANCE - responsible for marketing and sales the products of the Group in France and Belgium.

1995

Acquisition of a plant in Korea and foundation ROWA KOREA - responsible for manufacture and sales of varnishes for PVC- and PU-coated fabrics.

1997

Acquisition of neighboring site in Pinneberg to enable Group's ongoing growth - production, warehousing and office space doubled.

1998

Acquisition of a 60% interest in Horst Müller Kunststoffe GmbH & Co. KG of Lichtenfels.

2000

Acquisition of the Hellermann site in Pinneberg.

2001

Horst Müller Plastics opens a new plant in Lichtenfels-Schney to complement the existing Lichtenfels plant. This provides 4,000 m² of office space and manufacturing space for the production of TPE and TPU soft compounds. The complete building has a floor area of 16,000 m², plus an option on an additional 14,000 m² for future expansion. Foundation of ROMIRA UK in Manchester - responsible for intensifying sales activities in Great Britain.

2002

Acquisition of another building with a floor area of 25,000 m² neighboring on the ROWA operation in Pinneberg. This acquisition enables the administrative, warehousing and production functions to take on new dimensions. The Group intensifies its selling activities in Spain and opens a sales office in Barcelona. ROMIRA significantly enlarges its product range by acquiring BASF's Luranyl® business.

2003

Foundation of the ROWA Group in Lynn MA., USA to manufacture propellant batches for the American market. ROMIRA purchases a new production line to expand its capacity to 25,000 tons per annum. The R&D Department invests in new twin-screw extruder.

2004

Installation of new twin-screw extruder to expand colour-masterbatch production. ROWA France opens a sales office in Lyon to intensify selling activities in southern France. The ROWA Group leaves Lynn and moves into its own new plant in Delran N.J., USA. Acquisition of Colortek in Karstädt, Brandenburg and foundation of new company ROWASOL GmbH. Startup of production of liquid colours and additive concentrates - a new and very promising field of activity for the Group. ROWA acquires the remaining 40% of Horst Müller Kunststoffe GmbH & Co. KG from the company's founder. Group sales top EUR 100 million for the first time.

2005

TRAMACO purchases a new production line to modernize and expand its manufacturing facilities for propellant batches. Horst Müller Plastics adds 2,600 m² of new warehousing space to its Lichtenfels-Schney plant. ROWA plans for future growth in Pinneberg by acquiring a 2,500 m² site adjacent to its existing land. ROWASOL GmbH's R&D Department acquires a lab-scale spinning unit. An RTO installation is erected at Pinneberg to extract monomers from the production cycle and incinerate them. Exhaust air is purified to eliminate environmental pollution.

2008

50th company anniversary

2011

Rowa Inc. relocates to Hammonton, NJ