Milestones in Siegwerk history

Unique – in many respects

The origins of Siegwerk date back to the 1820s. This was when, together with his brother-in-law, Christian Gottlieb Rolffs founded the retailer of manufactured goods, “Rolffs & Poensgen”, in Cologne. Rolffs and his successors concentrated on successful trends from an early stage and furthered the growth of the printing industry with many innovations. In doing so, they laid the foundations for a successful, market-leading printing ink business, which today brings color to everyday life throughout the world.

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Siegwerk China kicks off 200-year celebration with a memorable Family Day.

2024

Siegwerk wins Sustainability Awards 2022.

2022

Acquisition of LaSorgente Spa

2022

Siegwerk Bangladesh started operations on 26th January 2021

2021

Siegwerk and Rotopack form joint venture in Pakistan.

2021

Dr. Nicolas Wiedmann becomes CEO of Siegwerk.

2021

Siegwerk opens Europe's largest fully automated production facility for printing inks in Siegburg, Germany.

2019

Acquisition of Ultra Inks Inc.

2018

Acquisition of AGFA UV inkjet ink business for packaging and labels

2018

Acquisition of Tupahue Tintas

2017

Acquisition of Van Son Liquids

2017

Acquisition of the business unit Plastic Tubes and Laminates from Schekolin AG

2017

Acquisition of Hi-Tech Products Ltd

2017

Acquisition of Actega Colorchemie GmbH

2016

Opening of Siegwerk Netherlands

2015

SOS Children’s Villages International honors Siegwerk for its many years of social commitment with the “SOS Children‘s Village Cup”.

2014

Founding of Siegwerk Peru

2014

Siegwerk‘s turnover exceeds 1 billion euros for the first time.

2012

Founding of Siegwerk subsidiaries on the Philippines and in Vietnam

2012

Acquisition of “Environmental Inks and Coatings” (EIC) in Morganton (North Carolina/USA)

2010

First project as part of the company’s social responsibility guidelines is the financing of a new building in the SOS Children’s Village Mexico City.

2010

Siegwerk is represented at drupa for the first time as a global player with “Ink, Heart & Soul”.

2008

Board resolution to trade in a sustainable manner

2008

Founding of Siegwerk Brazil

2008

Opening of Siegwerk India

2007

New sales record for Siegwerk: 872.9 million euros

2006

Takeover of the global packaging printing ink division of Swiss manufacturer Sicpa.

2005

Acquisition of the USA's fourth-largest printing ink manufacturer, Color Converting Inc (Des Moines, Iowa)

2003

“Siegwerk Druckfarben GmbH & Co. KG” converted to “Siegwerk Druckfarben AG”, wherein all shares remain in family ownership. Herbert Forker becomes Chief Executive Officer. Founding of subsidaries in Poland, United Kingdom, Brazil and Portugal.

2002

Founding of Siegwerk Thailand

2000

As an external manager, Herbert Forker becomes Managing Director. Director of many years, Klaus Stammen, retires from the company.

1999

As the sixth owner generation, Alfred Keller IV takes over the management of the family business from his father, Hans Alfred Keller.

1995

Director Klaus Stammen is appointed spokesperson of the management board.

1985

The plant in Siegburg receives orders from outside Europe. The packaging printing sector becomes increasingly important.

1980

First manufacturing plant in the USA goes into production.

1972

Supply of printing inks for the first colored glossy magazines. At the end of the decade, Siegwerk is the largest manufacturer of gravure inks in Germany.

1953

Production resumed. As well as printing inks, products also include glazier’s putty, roof paint, corrosion protection, adhesives and nail varnish.

1945

Hans Alfred Keller joins the company as fifth generation owner.

1945

The company is restructured as a limited partnership under the name “Siegwerk Farbenfabrik Keller, Dr. Rung & Co.”. Alfred Keller and Friedrich Rung Jr. are partners with personal liability.

1936

First printing inks exported to Europe, North Africa, South America and the USA.

1920

The company is renamed “Siegwerk Industrie-Gesellschaft mbH”.

1918

The Kattunfabrik ceases production. From 1920, companies from outside the industry move onto the site next to the Siegwerk chemical laboratory.

1914

Founding of the “Siegwerk Chemisches Laboratorium GmbH” by the three partners Alfred Keller I, Alfred Keller II and Laboratory Manager Fritz Rung I. The company specializes in the production of gravure inks and other chemical products for the graphical industry.

1911

Alfred Keller II joins the management board.

1909

Founding of Deutsche Photogravur AG, one of the first illustration rotogravure print shops in Germany, by Ernst Rolffs II and Eduard Mertens.

1906

Fritz Rung I and August Nefgen set up a modern laboratory.

1890

Alfred Keller I joins the management board.

1878

The owners of the Kattunfabrik are awarded a “Progress Medal” at the world fair in Vienna.

1873

The Kattunfabrik is the only company in the German Reich to be awarded a license for producing “instruction cloths”, among others intended to familiarize recruits with their weapons.

1871

Establishment of a sewing and knitting school for young female employees, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 1885.

1865

The Kattunfabrik (calico plant) introduces modern roller printing machines with up to twelve printing units, which enable textile webs to be printed in one operation.

1855

The Bread Institute enables staff to buy bread at favorable prices (expanded in 1872 to form a “cooperative”).

1854

Georg-Ludwig Keller, son-in-law of Christian Gottlieb Rolffs, here with his wife Bertha, takes over the management of the company as one of three directors/partners.

1851

Rolffs’ calico print shop is relocated to today’s company headquarters in Siegburg.

1844

Founding of a company in-house health insurance scheme which is supplemented in 1878 by an invalids’, widows’ and orphans’ fund

1843

Opening of a calico print shop in the Bayenthal district of Cologne (expanded in 1839 by the addition of a weaving mill).

1837

Christian Gottlieb Rolffs founds the company “Rolffs & Comp. Großhandlung von Manufakturwaren” in Cologne and in 1833 commences dying and printing calico fabrics.

1830

Together with his brother-in-law, Christian Gottlieb Rolffs founds the retailer of manufactured goods, “Rolffs & Poensgen”, in Cologne.

1824

2024 1999 1974 1949 1924 1899 1874 1849 1824

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Milestones in Siegwerk history

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