Deceuninck, 75 years in business
Deceuninck, one of the window industry’s most iconic names, is celebrating 75 years in business. Bernard Vanderper, Deceuninck UK’s interim Managing Director, said, “It is a great achievement for our company to have reached this significant milestone. Everyone who has worked at the company in the past or who works for us today has played a part in our company’s success and now is a good opportunity to thank them for their efforts. We should also thank our customers past and present because no matter how hard we might have worked, we could not have achieved anything without them.”
As you might expect for a company that is 75 years old, Deceuninck has seen some significant changes in its history. But for one of the best-known names in the window industry, perhaps the most surprising thing is that it didn’t start manufacturing window profiles until the 1960s! It was founded in 1937 by Benari Deceuninck, father of the current directors, to manufacture buttons and buckles from plastic sheeting. By the 1940s, the company had expanded, and was manufacturing plastic combs, packaging and toys.
The 1960s saw a radical change of direction and the Deceuninck we know today started to take shape with a move into the manufacture of roller shutters and cladding profiles for the building industry. At the end of the 60s, Deceuninck was one of the first companies in Europe to start the production of PVC window profiles.
Throughout the 80s and 90s Deceuninck continued to expand with the acquisition or founding of companies across Europe and in the US. The UK arm of the company was founded in 1981 as Deeplas. 1985 was a significant year for the company: it was the year that Deceuninck was first listed on the Brussels stock exchange and the UK headquarters in Calne were opened. By 1997, Deceuninck was the leading producer in the US and by 1999 it was in the UK top five. It became a world leading profile manufacturer in 2003.
Since 2009, Deceuninck have invested over £55 million into the 3 axis of its newly refocused long term strategy ‘Building a Sustainable Home’. This new vision defines its core purpose today to create innovative solutions in its four areas: Windows & Doors, Outdoor Living, Roofline & Cladding and Interior. It sees this as part of a wider commitment to help create homes with long-lasting, low maintenance residential building products with improved energy efficiency, low ecological footprint and the capacity to be fully recycled at end of life. On top of this, it is committed to giving individuals freedom of expression through unique colour and finish options.
In 2012 Deceuninck successfully concluded a refinancing agreement well ahead of maturity date. For the next 5 years, this new facility provides sufficient headroom and flexibility to further execute Deceuninck’s long term strategy and duly respond to an uncertain economic environment.
Bernard Vanderper concludes, “In a company that has been trading for 75 years there are always going to be good times and bad. The last few years have seen tough trading conditions for all businesses and our own was no exception. But we at Deceuninck are confident that we have been through the worst and that we have the building blocks in place for the next 75 years.”
