Our history

Learn about the history of Kao Chemicals Europe worldwide from the founding of each company to the present day.

The history of KAO Chemicals Europe is the sum of its ideas, projects and efforts, both individual and collective, that synergise into a common resolve: to create products which make people's lives more comfortable and safeguard our planet's future.

This is how our projects have been built over the years:

1926

MOLINS Y PUIGARNAU

Surfactant Maker

1952

CHEMISCHE FABRIK ANDRÉLON

Opens in Düsseldorf

1960

SINORGAN

Fatty Amine Maker

1963

CHEMISCHE FABRIK ANDRÉLON

Changes the name to CHEMISCHE FABRIK CHEM-Y GmbH. Surfactant Maker

1970

SINOR KAO

Kao is established in Spain.
Sinorgan 50% Kao 45% Atlas 5%

1975

QUIMI-KAO

Fatty Amine Maker.
Joint Company Local 60% Kao 20% Sinor Kao 20%

1977

MOLINS KAO

In Spain, Kao acquires Molins y Puigarnau.

1978

In Germany, DSM buys CHEMISCHE FABRIK CHEM-Y GmbH.

1987

KAO CORPORATION SA

Sinor-Kao and Molins-Kao merge into Kao Corporation, S.A.

1992

KAO CHEMICALS GmbH

Kao Corporation Japan buys the German Company CHEMISCHE FABRIK CHEM-Y GmbH, In 1996 will be called Kao Chemicals GmbH.

1999

KAO CHEMICALS EUROPE, S.L. is founded. Kao Corporation S.A. and Kao Chemicals Germany.

2005

QUIMI-KAO, manufacturer of fatty amines joins the group.

2012

KAO BRAZIL

Kao Chemicals Europe is established in Brazil.

2017

KAO CHIMIGRAF

Chimigraf manufacturer of printing inks and coating joins the group