Acquisition of PEAK Pipe Systems Limited, a leading manufacturer of PE piping systems in the United Kingdom. Strengthening of SIMONA's strategic realignment towards a strong application focus and support for growth targets in the infrastructure and aquaculture markets in the EMEA region.

Acquisition of M.T PLASTİK A.Ş. (Turkey) -
adds new products to the portfolio of PVC foam sheets, unlocking new potential in the field of construction and advertising applications.

Acquisition of Stadpipe AS (Norway) -
offers access to project planning companies and end consumers in the fish farming and fishing industry, allowing SIMONA to hone its industry and application focus in the growth market of aquaculture.

Acquisition of PMC (Premier Material Concepts), LLC (USA) -
manufacturer of plastic sheets used in recreational vehicles, agricultural; focusing on supplying highperformance plastics in niche markets for thermoforming applications.

Establishment of subsidiary in India

First proprietary tank calculation program SmartTank

Range of PFA semi-finished parts – entry into the high-performance plastics segment

New Technology Centre, HQ Kirn.

New product strategy PE.

Acquisition of Boltaron Performance Products, LLC (USA).

Acquisition of Laminations Inc. (USA).

Strategic realignment with a focus on innovation and emerging markets unveiled at K trade fair.

SIMONA receives the award of Top 100 Innovator.

Introduction and certification of an energy management system based on international standards.

New subsidiary in Russia.

Official opening of new plant in Jiangmen, China, in April.

Death of Anita Bürkle, major shareholder and widow of Dr. Wolfgang Bürkle, former Chairman of the Management Board and Supervisory Board of SIMONA AG.

Certification of quality and environmental management system at Litvinov plant.

DIBT approval for SIMONA® PP-DWU AlphaPlus® – first and only manufacturer of semi-finished plastics with own accreditation for a PP compound.

The company's facility in Litvinov, Czech Republic, commences full operations.

The plant in Jiangmen, China, starts test production.

Market roll-out of PP-DWU AlphaPlus product family and launch of next-generation twin-wall sheets.

SIMONA'S first multifunctional production facility in Litvinov/Czech Republic comes into partial operation.

SIMONA celebrates its 150th anniversary by hosting an open-day event and a huge party for its employees. The company also boasts a special exhibition stand at K in Düsseldorf, the world's largest plastics trade fair.

The company's next-generation website, sporting a new layout, goes live at the end of October.

Effective 1 October 2006, SIMONA acquires the plastics business of Deutsche Holzveredelung Alfons und Ewald Schmeing oHG, based in Kirchhundem-Würdinghausen (North Rhine-Westphalia/Germany).

SIMONA AMERICA Inc. moves production within Pennsylvania, from Mountaintop to Hazleton.

Long-standing Chairman of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board, Dr. Wolfgang Bürkle, dies on 18th August.

Jochen Feldmann is appointed to the Management Board, with responsibility for finance, purchasing and controlling.

25th anniversary of pipe production in Ringsheim. Sales revenue generated with pipes and fittings rises above 40 million euros for the first time.

Sick-leave rates reach their lowest to date.

With the establishment of SIMONA AMERICA Inc., SIMONA enters the US market with its own production and the sale of extruded sheets. HQ in Mountaintop, Pennsylvania.

Walter W. Janshen steps down from the Management Board.

Annual revenue rises above 200 million euros for the first time in the company's history.

Introduction of SAP as enterprise-wide software commences.

In Ringsheim, administration moves to a new building.

The testing laboratory in Kirn is successful in gaining DIN ISO 17025 certification.

Wolfgang Moyses becomes CEO/Chairman of the Management Board.

The company raises its pension provision by 10%, thus offering workers one of the highest company pension provisions in Germany.

The main warehouse in Kirn is further expanded.

SIMONA succeeds in entering the automotive supply market with a multilayer sheet for car petrol tanks.

Establishment of a production joint-venture with Georg Fischer for the manufacture of high-purity piping components at Ettenheim.

SIMONA invests in a production line for the manufacture of integral skin foamed sheets (Celuka process) and acquires another 4x2m-format press.

SIMONA successfully positions the raw materials PVC-C Corzan (semi-finished) and PP AlphaPlus (pipes) on the market.

Establishment of the subsidiary SIMONA IBERICA in Spain and launch of a sales office in Shanghai.

In cooperation with Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences, SIMONA offers a course in business administration that integrates with the students' day-to-day work.

Solid rods can now be produced with a diameter of up to 800mm.

New customer relationship management software replaces all old sales information systems.

SIMONA's environmental management system gains ISO 14001 certification.

The number of employees rises above the 1,000 mark for the first time since 1918.

The website www.simona.de is online from March.

Hans-Werner Marx steps down as Chairman of the Management Board.

With an increase in sales revenue of 20% and an increase in earnings of 40%, fiscal 2000 represents a record year for SIMONA.

Higher-specification PE 100 replaces PE 80 within the company's pipe business.

A new injection-moulding plant in Ringsheim makes SIMONA the only manufacturer in Europe to be able to produce fittings in diameters of up to 630mm.

SIMONA brings SIMOLUX PETG sheets – transparent sheets for the advertising and display industries – onto the market.

The SIMOPLAN PVC integral skin foam sheet is incorporated into the product range.

"Logisitikplan 2010" is unveiled. Comprehensive streamlining of all processes will enable SIMONA to double its volumes by 2010.

SIMONA Italia celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Establishment of the subsidiary SIMONA POLSKA in Breslau, Poland, a joint venture with the Polish company ANICO.

Pressed sheet production at Plant I is once again comprehensively modernised. Among other things, a new press allows production in dimensions up to 6 x 2 metres. At the same time, an additional extrusion line enters service at Plant II, capable of producing sheets up to 4 metres in width. SIMONA is the only manufacturer able to produce to such dimensions.

Using new materials, SIMONA is also able to supply semi-finished products to the orthopaedics industry.

SIMONA develops SPC protective-jacket pipes for sewer repair and launches them onto the market.

Just three years after the construction of the fittings warehouse at Ringsheim, an extension is called for.

For the first time, SIMONA has an independent research company conduct an analysis of customer satisfaction and loyalty.

As a member of the Management Board, Wolfgang Moyses takes over responsibility for finance, purchasing and controlling.

For the first time in its more than 140-year history, SIMONA passes the 300 million Deutschmark revenue threshold.

Production of high-purity piping components commences at the Ettenheim plant – entry into the market supplying the semiconductor industry.

At the same time, a line of SIMONA fittings is launched to round off the standard pipes and fittings portfolio.

One of the four French offices (in Rouen) is closed as part of a new approach to logistics. Customers will in future be served from Domont.

SIMONA AG significantly raises its company pension provisions in line with the latest mortality tables.

The number of reportable accidents at work falls once more, by almost 20%.

The new PVC mixer at Plant II enters into service. The machine represents the second-biggest investment in SIMONA's history so far.

The "2010 logistics concept" comes into being. With it, the aim is to double sales revenue in 12 years.

In the same year, continuous improvement processes are introduced with over 100 extra, trained coaches. The aim of these is to design processes so that they are more efficient, to respond faster to the needs of customers and to firmly establish the notion of quality in the minds of employees.

SIMONA is in a position to extrude large-format polyolefin sheets of up to 3 metres in width.

The company's range of foamed sheets is expanded with SIMOPOR-LIGHT.

The SIMONA company agreement continues to exclude the option of reducing employee pay should they become ill, as has been possible since 1996. Even without sanctions having been imposed, sick-leave rates continue to fall.

New employment models are introduced at all factories.

A new central warehouse is constructed in Ringsheim for pipe fittings.

At the same time, the construction work commences on a new mixing tower for PVC formulas, in Kirn.

In this, the firm's 140th anniversary year, the General Meeting of Shareholders takes place for the first time at the Gesellschaftshaus in Kirn, a venue closely linked with the history of the firm.

The Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Wilfried Möller, dies.

Establishment of the subsidiary SIMONA FAR EAST in Hong Kong.

Establishment of the SIMONA-PLASTICS CZ subsidiary in Prague.

Pressed sheet production at Plant I is thoroughly modernised.

The eleven offices in Germany are reorganised into six sales offices and five distribution warehouses, allowing SIMONA to serve its customers more quickly and efficiently.

SIMOPOR foamed sheets are developed and launched.

Heinz Schreyer and Hans-Wilhelm Voss leave the board at the end of their period of office, to be succeeded by Dirk Möller and Walter W. Janshen.

A new "Information management and flow" system is presented to the field sales force. The system sees all external sales employees being equipped with notebook computers, thus improving networking and facilitating the faster exchange of information.

Introduction of DIN EN ISO 9001 certification.

RHIAMER Rohrproduktion, previously operated as a subsidiary, is merged into the parent company.It's new name: SIMONA Plant III Ringsheim.

An internal suggestion scheme is introduced. Employees can now make direct suggestions on which areas can be improved. Particularly valuable ideas win awards.

The ATA technical applications department is set up.

The SIMONA double containment pipe system is launched.

An eleventh office is opened, at Rassnitz, near Leipzig – the first office in what was once East Germany.

Production in France is shut down, with the areas previously used for production being converted into storage space and a training centre.

SIMONA is now producing pipes with diameters of up to 1,000mm.

PETG is included in the product range for the first time. This completely transparent material is used in the area of food production, among other applications.

The new main warehouse in Kirn is completed, following an investment of 38 million Deutschmarks. The new central warehouse for semi-finished parts in Kirn makes available over 12,000 storage spaces.

The subsidiary SIMONA UK, in Stafford, England, is established.

SIMONA floats on the stock exchange. The share capital of SIMONA AG is increased to 30 million Deutschmarks. Shares equivalent to 7 million Deutschmarks are placed on the regulated market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

Construction work commences on a new central warehouse in Kirn.

In Ringsheim the production line for large pipes with a diameter of up to 1,000 mm comes into operation.

SIMONA is one of the world's first plastics manufacturers to discontinue the use of cadmium and lead as a PVC stabiliser.

SIMONA AG now employs around 570 people.

Thanks to new static mixers installed in Plant II Profiles, the company is able to increase production output substantially.

The provisions set out in new legislation governing environmental protection are met in full by SIMONA following the introduction of targeted measures.

SIMONA GmbH becomes a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft – AG).

Production of pipe components (fittings) begins in Ringsheim, marking the introduction of injection-moulding technology.

A new PP-EL product with electrical conductivity goes into production.

As part of the company's quality improvement drive, a specially designed internal training system is introduced for senior production engineers.

Together with SIMOCEL, SIMONA develops a foamed sheet featuring anti-static properties and low flammability.

SIMONA's nominal capital is raised again, to over 10 million Deutschmarks.

An eighth German sales office is opened, in Nuremberg.

Launch of PVDF sheets with stretch material.

The nominal capital of SIMONA GmbH is raised to 9.5 million Deutschmarks. Employees have a 1.3 million Deutschmark stake in that capital through the SIMONA Vermögensverwaltungsgesellschaft der Belegschaft mbH, an asset management company. All proceeds from that stake are channelled towards the SIMONA social fund to meet pension commitments and give support to those in need.

A new factory is completed for the RHIAMER subsidiary, in Ringsheim, 30km to the north of Freiburg, Germany, giving it state-of-the-art facilities within which to produce its pipes. For the first time, pipes of up to 630mm can be produced. The capital of RHIAMER GmbH is increased to 1.2 million Deutschmarks.

The SIMONA Group now employs around 700 people.

Group sales revenue has passed the 100 million Deutschmark threshold.

Development of a PVC glass sheet approved for contact with foodstuffs and PVC tinted glass.

SIMONA supplies pressed PVDF sheets in thicknesses of up to 100 mm.

The annual meeting of partners votes to raise nominal capital to 8 million Deutschmarks.

First production of PVDF sheets.

The company establishes SIMONA SWITZERLAND in Basel, Switzerland.

SIMONA Basel takes over sales in Switzerland and the stake in Plasmet is sold.

The capital of SIMONA S.A. Domont is increased to 3 million francs.

SIMONA S.A.R.L. is transformed into SIMONA S.A. and, at the same time, moves from Mulhouse to Domont.

SIMONA S.R.L. is founded at Segrate, near Milan.

The sales office and warehouse at Epinay sur Seine are closed and transferred to Domont, near Paris. In addition, the existing trading company, SIMONA S.A.R.L., builds its own production facility at Domont. Capital is increased to 2 million francs.

A pensioners meeting for former employees (including factory tour and social get-together) is held for the first time and goes on to become a regular fixture.

After 116 years of leather goods manufacture, leather processing is discontinued.All employees are offered a corresponding post in the plastics factory, with full retention of all their social entitlements. No employee loses his/her job.

The employee working week is shortened to 40 hours per week.

SIMONA has problems in finding sufficient new employees for all its open posts. It embarks on a targeted recruitment drive in the region around Pirmasens.

As a result of the growing importance of finished products, in particular cutting boards, the company name is changed to the more neutral-sounding "SIMONA GmbH Kunststoffwerke" ("SIMONA Plastics Factories").

A comprehensive redevelopment and conversion plan is commenced for the former leather goods production premises at Plant I in order to be able to use this space for the production and storage of plastic products.

SIMONA acquires the "RHIAMER" factory of Freiburg-based Deutsche Rhodiaceta AG, in which pipes, sheets and rods are manufactured. The company subsequently concentrates on the production of pipes and is absorbed into the SIMONA Group under the name RHIAMER Kunststoffwerk GmbH.

SIMONA exhibits at ACHEMA for the first time.

Given the growing amount of export business, the company decides to introduce new credit insurance.

The factory fire brigade is dissolved and their equipment given free of charge to the fire department of Kirn and its surroundings.

The production space available in the newly constructed Plant II is already completely full.

A further sales office is opened in Hanover to cover northern Germany. At the same time, potential locations around Munich are examined.

A sales office for the region around Stuttgart is set up at Möglingen, near Ludwigsburg.

For the first time, the company can completely mix PVC, using its own mixing machine in Plant II.

The production of cutting boards is developing into an important line of business.

For the first time, pressed sheets are sanded and planed to improve tolerances.

SIMONA develops its own highly transparent PVC and successfully positions it in the marketplace. As early as the following year it is greatly exceeding sales forecasts.

Beginning of PO rod production.

Newly purchased Thyssen machinery enables PVC capacity to be raised to 7,100 tonnes per year.

Nominal capital is increased to 5 million Deutschmarks.

Revenue from plastics now totals 23 million Deutschmarks.

The production programme is expanded to include plastic rods.

The technical development centre is set up.

First PVC powder mixes for sheets.

The company changes its name to "SIMONA GmbH, Kunststoff-Halbzeuge" (SIMONA GmbH, Semi-Finished Plastic Products).

Sales under the SIMONA trade name exceed those from leather goods for the first time.

SIMONA opens a branch office, with sales staff and a warehouse, at Epinay sur Seine in France.

In the same year, the first German branch office opens, in Hilden.

Establishment of SIMONA Sozialwerk GmbH on 12.12.1969. The company is the legal successor to the support fund established by Carl Simon Söhne GmbH in 1940. A social fund, it guarantees retirement and disability pensions. It was given then, and continues to enjoy today, shared ownership, being owned 50% by SIMONA AG and 50% by the VMSB (Verein für Miteigentum und Sozialbelange der SIMONA AG Belegschaft e.V.), which represents the workforce. All employees can participate in electing the members of the board of the "Verein" ("Association"), who are taken from their ranks. In this way, employees can influence business policies and the way in which the fund's resources are employed.

The new extrusion factory (Plant II) enters into operation.

Annual sales revenue from plastics now stands at around 10 million Deutschmarks.

Work is begun on the construction of a factory on the western edge of Kirn (the future Plant II) for extruding plastics.

The company acquires an interest in the newly founded firm Plasmet AG in Basel, a successor company to its Swiss office.

SIMONA S.A.R.L. is established in Mulhouse-Brunstatt to support sales in France.

At the end of the year, Hellmut Simon leaves the company, with Willfried Möller taking over his stake. Dr. Bürkle is made sole managing director.

Total sales revenue now amounts to 9.4 million Deutschmarks, 1.6 million of which derive from sales of plastic products.

The first press designed specifically for the production of plastic sheets and the first sheet extruders are installed.

The world's first pressed polyethylene sheet is produced by SIMONA.

The first foreign sales office for plastic products is set up in Basel, Switzerland.

Dr. Bürkle forces through a decision of the shareholders meeting that instructs management to drive expansion of the plastics division with all means at its disposal.