|
The EMS Story
2010-2000 1999-1990 1989-1970 1969-1950 1949-1936
1949 - 1936
| 1947 |
Foundation of the INVENTA AG for research and patent applications. |
| |
| 1944 |
The HOVAG ensures its electrical power supply by building its own hydroelectric power plants: 1944 power plant PINTRUN, 1946 power plant OBERSAXEN / TAVANASA and 1947 power plant RUSSEIN.
 Products supplied by the HOVAG 1944. |
| |
| 1942 |
Start of ethyl alcohol production from local waste wood in Domat/Ems. By the end of the war, production from the HOVAG covered around 30% of the Swiss fuel requirements. With nearly 200 employees, HOVAG is by far the largest employer in the mountain Canton Grisons (CH). |
| |
| 1936 |
Dr. Werner Oswald founds the HOLZVERZUCKERUNGS AG (HOVAG) based in Zurich (CH) in order to manufacture ethyl alcohol, (an alternative fuel for motor vehicles) from wood using the Scholler Process.
 The HOVAG during the war years (2nd World War). |
| |
1969 - 1950
| 1969 |
Dr. Christoph Blocher starts work as a student in the legal department of EMSER WERKE AG. |
| |
| 1967 |
Manufacture of Griltex® co-polyamide fusible adhesive powder for coating of textile interlinings for the apparel industry. Bonding instead of sewing completely rationalised clothing industry processes. |
| |
| 1966 |
First production of Grilamid® polyamide 12 and Grilon® co-polyamide in Domat/Ems for the manufacture of plastic pipes and packaging films. |
| |
| 1964 |
Production of Grilene® polyester fibres for the textile industry is started in Domat/Ems.
Inauguration and start-up of the first application development centre for thermoplastic materials and epoxy resins in Domat/Ems. |
| |
| 1963 |
Expansion of the sales assortment with Grilonit® Epoxy Resins manufactured in Domat/Ems for the construction and paint industry.
PATVAG AG starts production of electric ignition systems for industrial and military use. |
| |
| 1962 |
On December 14, 1962 the CHEMIE HOLDING EMS AG based in Domat/Ems is founded. It was listed on the then Zurich Stock Exchange, trading for the first time on December 17, 1962. |
| |
| 1960 |
Increased energy requirements are covered by the construction of two further hydroelectric power plants: 1960 power plant FRISAL, 1962 power plant REICHENAU.
The HOLZVERZUCKERUNGS AG (HOVAG) is renamed EMSER WERKE AG
 |
| |
| 1956 |
On May 13, 1956, the Swiss citizens voted against continued subventioned purchase of alcohol (popularly known as EMSER WASSER) as an alternative fuel by the state. Following this, the HOVAG stopped production of alcohol and concentrated on Grilon® fibres and Grilon® engineering plastics.
With the foundation of GRILON & Plastics Machinery Ltd. in Dover (UK), EMS opened the first sales company abroad, today called EMS-CHEMIE (UK) Ltd., and located in Stafford. |
| |
| 1954 |
INVENTA AG licences the procedure, developed in Domat/Ems, for the production of caprolactam, the raw material for the plastic material polyamide, to the Japanese company UBE Industries.
Following this, INVENTA AG constructs more than 300 production plants for Caprolactam, engineering plastics and synthetic fibres throughout the world. More than 60 of these plants were built in China alone. |
| |
| 1952 |
Socks made of Grilon® fibres become the trade mark of the HOVAG in Switzerland. They are of high quality and long lasting.
 Grilon advertising poster (1952). |
| |
| 1951 |
The HOVAG starts to produce Caprolactam. FIBRON AG, a subsidiary of the HOVAG founded in 1949, manufactures polyamide plastic materials and polyamide fibres in Domat/Ems and markets these.
At the same time, start of production of fertilisers: During the manufacture of Caprolactam the fertiliser ammonium sulphate is produced as a by-product. The second product, urea, is produced using a procedure developed by EMS. |
| |
1989 - 1970
| 1989 |
Purchase of the Illing GmbH in Gross-Umstadt, Germany, which owns the rights to a special process for polymerisation and compounding. After consolidation with the German sales company, the production site for polyamide injection-moulding grades in Gross-Umstadt is later given its current name EMS-CHEMIE (Deutschland) GmbH.
EMS FAR-EASTERN is founded in Hsin Chu Hsien (Taiwan) and production of performance polymers started. This is now EMS-CHEMIE (Taiwan) Ltd. |
| |
| 1988 |
EMS-TOGO opens a production site in Zaragoza, Spain in order to supply the Spanish automotive industry, today EFTEC S.A.
EMS transfers sales of fertilisers to the LINTAFERT Company in Linz (Austria) and concentrates on the two business areas PERFORMANCE POLYMERS AND FINE CHEMICALS/ENGINEERING. |
| |
| 1987 |
Purchase of the SSF DOTTIKON AG, which primarily manufactures organic intermediate products and fine chemicals for the specialist chemical industry. This company is renamed EMS-DOTTIKON AG. |
| |
| 1986 |
In order to satisfy increasing demand for fusible adhesive powder Griltex® for coating interlinings and in order to further safeguard EMS' position as market leader worldwide, a new cold grinding plant is opened in Domat/Ems.
 Griltex grinding plant.
EMS-TOGO strengthens its market position in Europe and the USA through the takeover of the Caourep Company in Belgium and the construction of a second production site in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
The EMS-participation in the Karl Fischer Industrieanlagen GmbH, Berlin, Germany is increased to 47%. |
| |
| 1985 |
Purchase of the TOGO-Group based in Romanshorn (CH). The group, renamed EMS-TOGO, specialises in process materials for bonding, coating and sealing for the automotive industry worldwide. |
| |
| 1983 |
Dr. Christoph Blocher receives the task from the founding family Oswald, of finding a purchaser and selling EMS within a few months. Lacking alternatives he decides to purchase the shares of the Oswald Holding AG and, therefore the majority vote of EMS-CHEMIE HOLDING AG himself.
 Dr. Christoph Blocher. |
| |
| 1982 |
With the foundation of EMS-AMERICAN GRILON Inc., EMS starts production of polyamide materials in Sumter / South Carolina (USA), today EMS-CHEMIE (North America) Inc. |
| |
| 1981 |
The Chemie Holding Ems AG is renamed EMS-CHEMIE HOLDING AG. The EMSER WERKE AG in Domat/Ems becomes the EMS-CHEMIE AG.
 EMS is the umbrella brand for all companies. |
| |
| 1980 |
Dr. Christoph Blocher places focus on growth with engineering plastics and begins to phase-out textile fibres.
Start of industrial-scale production of Grilesta® polyester resins in Domat/Ems for the manufacture of powder-coatings for coating metal. |
| |
| 1979 |
On February 23, 1979 the founder Dr. Werner Oswald dies during a meeting.
Foundation of the sales company Germany in Cologne, today EMS-CHEMIE (Deutschland) GmbH, Gross-Umstadt, and the sales company France in Paris, today EMS-CHEMIE (France) S.A., Boulogne.
Purchase of a 40% share of the engineering company Karl Fischer Industrieanlagen GmbH, Berlin, Germany. |
| |
| 1978 |
The different EMS companies are completely consolidated under the roof of the Chemie Ems Holding AG. |
| |
| 1977 |
Inauguration of the sales company in Japan, now EMS-CHEMIE (Japan) Ltd., in Tokyo. |
| |
| 1972 |
Dr. Christoph Blocher is voted Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the EMSER WERKE AG. |
| |
| 1970 |
Unprofitable production of Caprolactam, and with this the production of fertilisers, in Domat/Ems are stopped and both are purchased from external sources. |
| |
1999 - 1990
| 1999 |
Take-over of the Karl Fischer Industrieanlagen GmbH, Berlin, Germany to 100% and, together with EMS-INVENTA AG, formation of the business unit INVENTA-FISCHER. |
| |
| 1998 |
EMS becomes market leader with Grilbond® bonding agent. This product guarantees reliable bonding of polyester fibre reinforcement and rubber in car tyres, drive belts and conveyor belts.
The EMS-participation in the Karl Fischer Industrieanlagen GmbH, Berlin, Germany is increased to 90%. |
| |
| 1997 |
Through a joint venture with H.B. Fuller Automotive USA, EMS-TOGO strengthens its worldwide activities with process materials for the automotive industry in the field of original equipment manufacture (OEM). The joint venture is named "EFTEC".
 |
| |
| 1996 |
During streamlining of the product assortment, EMS phases-out Grilesta® polyester resins for powder-coatings and sells the business to the UCB company in Belgium. |
| |
1995 -
1997 |
EMS-TOGO expands its local presence in South-Eastern Asia (Singapore, Thailand, India) and China (Shanghai, Changchun), in order to supply the growing automotive industry with locally-produced process materials. |
| |
| 1995 |
EMS becomes market leader for flexible glasses frames and sunglasses lenses with the transparent polyamide Grilamid® TR.
 Grilamid TR conquers the glasses market. |
| |
| 1993 |
The 750th invention since the founding of the company is registered by the EMS patent department for patent protection.
EMS-PATVAG sells the first automotive airbag ignitors and rapidly becomes market leader in Europe in the following years.
 Airbag ignitor |
| |
| 1992 |
EMS safeguards supply of the key raw material laurolactam for the production of Grilamid® PA12 by forming the production joint-venture EMS-UBE Ltd. in Japan.
 Laurolactam production plant in UBE, Japan.
EMS-TOGO founds a joint venture in Mexico with the Placosa Company in order to supply the local automotive industry with process materials. This is today the Grupo Placosa EFTEC S.A. in Cuernavaca, Mexico.
Together with customers, suppliers, employees and official representatives, EMS-CHEMIE AG celebrates its 50th anniversary as an independent Swiss company.
 |
| |
| 1991 |
With Grivory® GV, EMS launches a new generation of super-stiff polyamides, thus ringing in the era of metal replacement.
 Metal replacement Grivory GV.
EMS-TOGO takes over the DINOL-Group, manufacturer of automotive corrosion protection, from SANDOZ. |
| |
| 1990 |
Under the product name Primid® EMS introduces a weathering-resistant hardener for powder-coatings, which is environmentally-compatible and protected by patents. EMS then goes on to become world market leader with this product.
 Weathering-resistant Primid powder-coatings on the facade.
The construction of a new application development centre for engineering plastics in Domat/Ems forms a further milestone in the promotion of performance polymers, which helps EMS become unique in this field.
 Application Development Centre for engineering plastics in Domat/Ems. |
| |
2010 - 2000
| 2010 |
Start-up of the new production site of EMS-GRIVORY in Suzhou (central China).
EMS-EFTEC concentrates on direct supply to automotive manufacturers worldwide and sells its automotive repair business "EFTEC Aftermarket". |
| |
| 2009 |
EMS takes over the technical fibre specialist Nexis Fibers GmbH in Neumünster (Germany) to strengthen the own worldwide business with polyamide-based speciality technical fibres.
In the emerging market India, EMS-EFTEC opens a new production plant in Pune (state Maharashtra) to serve the local automotive with even more capacity.
EMS-EFTEC founds a further production joint-venture company, "Wuhu EFTEC Chemical Products Ltd" in Wuhu (China), to supply the growing Chinese automotive industry with process materials.
EMS-EFTEC North America expands the production site at Taylor in Michigan and concentrates all manufacturing, development and sales activities for process materials for the American automotive industry at this location.
To improve the result situation and impact power in the market, the Business Units EMS-PRIMID and EMS-GRILTECH are merged from May 1, 2009 to form the Business Unit EMS-GRILTECH.
EMS-EFTEC takes over the Auto Coating Srl Company with production of process materials for the automotive industrie in Romania and supplies Renault from this plant.
In order to supply automotive customers in Latin America with process materials, EMS-EFTEC builds a production plant in Santana de Parnaiba, close to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Start-up of operations is planned for March 2010. |
| |
| 2008 |
On February 21, 2008 the first EMS-PATVAG production plant for airbag ignitors is taken into operation in Brankovice (Czech Republic). As a consequence, all activities are transferred from Domat/Ems to Brankovice.
EMS strengthens its leading market position with the introduction of Grilbond® "Easy-Dip", a new bonding agent for polyester reinforcing fibres and rubber in automotive tyres, which can be utilised with significantly less complex process equipment.
Together with customers and representatives of local authorities, M. Martullo inaugurates two new plants for the manufacture of specialised polymer materials in Gross-Umstadt (Germany) on March 4, 2008. Products manufactured using this technology are received with great interest by customers.
On March 10, 2008 construction is started on a production plant for EMS-GRIVORY speciality products in Suzhou (China).
EMS-GRIVORY starts production of long glass-fibre reinforced polyamides (LFT) and supplies Grivory® and Grilon® grades reinforced with long glass-fibres. The combination of stiffness and impact strength considerably expands the application spectrum and enables use of these grades in applications requiring crash-resistance not possible with previously known products.
EMS-GRIVORY expands its assortment of high-temperature polyamides for metal replacement with Grivory® HT3, which has further increased dimensional stability. This product can be processed using injection-moulding and, as first high-temperature polyamide made of renewable raw materials, extrusion methods. This opens up previously unavailable markets.
In addition, EMS-GRIVORY offers a whole assortment of products made of renewable raw materials: Grivory® HT3 for electronic connectors, Grilamid® 1S for structural frames/housings e.g. for mobile 'phones and computer components, and Grilamid® BTR for spectacles frames and displays. |
| |
| 2007 |
Miriam Blocher takes over the Dalasta Holding AG (Läckerli-Huus) and reduces her shareholding in EMS-CHEMIE HOLDING AG. The controlling interest of EMS-CHEMIE HOLDING AG now belongs to the two sisters Magdalena Martullo-Blocher and Rahel Blocher.
The biomass power station TEGRA started operations with the second plant expansion in April and now provides EMS with a total of 100,000 tons of process steam per year. This means that EMS has already transferred 2/3 of steam production from fossil fuels to biomass power, and has reduced its CO2 emissions on the production site by two thirds! Construction work has already been started for the third plant expansion which will start operations in 2009.
On May 25, 2007 construction of the EMS-PATVAG production plant in Brankovice (Czech Republic) started. Airbag igniters for the automotive industry will be manufactured here starting in early 2008.
For the first time in 9 years, EMS-CHEMIE AG held an "Open Day" on Saturday, June 2, 2007. More than 13,000 visitors as well as many renowned guests attended. They toured the production site in Domat/Ems (GR) and took part in a variety of activities provided for their entertainment.
 Open Day - Saturday, June 2, 2007
EMS presents the historic cathedral in Chur with a new organ. Financial scope of the donation: CHF 1.6 million. |
| |
| 2006 |
Start-up of the biomass power plant TEGRA on the production site in Domat/Ems. The biomass power plant provides an alternative energy source for EMS replacing fossil fuels with the wood pellet burning TEGRA plant for generation of steam. This allows EMS to reduce up to two-thirds of the CO2 emission on the production site in Domat/Ems.
Founding of the sales company EMS-CHEMIE (India) based in Mumbai. |
| |
| 2005 |
The business unit EMS-DOTTIKON, specialised in exclusive synthesis in the business area fine chemicals / engineering, is split off from the EMS Group as per March 31, 2005 and floated on the stock market as a separate company under the leadership of Dr. Markus Blocher. The three Blocher sisters purchase the shares of Dr. Markus Blocher in the family holding EMESTA Holding AG and hold the majority share holding of the EMS-CHEMIE HOLDING AG.
In order to also be represented locally with EMS-GRIVORY, EMS founds the sales company EMS-CHEMIE (China) Ltd. based in Shanghai. |
| |
| 2004 |
Magdalena Martullo-Blocher takes command of the Group on January 1, 2004 as Vice President and Chief Executive Officer.
 Magdalena Martullo-Blocher
In order to further support the worldwide focus on performance polymers, the existing business unit EMS-GRIVORY, which concentrates on thermoplastic polyamide materials, is divided into independent business units, each responsible for its own business results:
| - "EMS-GRIVORY Europe" |
|
| - "EMS-GRIVORY America" |
|
| - "EMS-GRIVORY Asia" |
|
EMS-PATVAG stops production of ignition systems for military technology and concentrates on airbag ignitors for automotive construction.
The EMS Group sells the business unit INVENTA-FISCHER to the German plant construction company Uhde. The business areas fine chemicals and engineering are merged. |
| |
| 2003 |
At the beginning of the year the Blocher family decides to continue with EMS as a stock exchange-listed company. Standard registered shares are introduced.
On December 10, 2003, Dr. Christoph Blocher is voted into the Bundesrat (Swiss federal cabinet) by Swiss federal government. In connection with this, he retires from all business functions in the EMS Group and sells his majority holding in the EMS-CHEMIE HOLDING AG to his four children as of December 30, 2003. |
| |
| 2002 |
EMS sells the hydroelectric business unit KRAFTWERKE (power plants) to the Nordostschweizerischen Kraftwerke / NOK (North-Eastern Switzerland Power Plants) and safeguards long-term power supplies with a supply contract. |
| |
| 2001 |
Magdalena Martullo-Blocher, oldest daughter of Dr. Christoph Blocher, enters the company. |
| |
| 2000 |
The activities of the business unit EMS-CHEMIE are divided into 4 independent business units:
| - "EMS-GRIVORY" |
|
(engineering plastics) |
| - "EMS-GRILTECH" |
|
(technical fibres and adhesives) |
| - "EMS-PRIMID" |
|
(thermoset materials) |
| - "EMS-SERVICES" |
|
(central services, production site Domat/Ems) |
EMS starts production in the first and currently only production plant for high-temperature polyamides in Europe. These products are sold under the trade name Grivory® HT and are used in high-temperature applications. Within a very short time EMS becomes market leader in Europe.
 Pump valve made of Grivory HT for car engine.
EFTEC founds a joint venture with the Czech company D-Plast to develop the Central and Eastern Europe market for process materials for the automotive industry.
Production of polyester fibres Grilene® is stopped and all know-how sold to the Montefibre Company, Milan (Italy). |
| |
|
About us 
