Our History

Vintage Formica samples

Our History

With over 100 years experience in laminate manufacture, we've got a colourful history...scroll through our timeline to discover the story of Formica, and how we got to where we are today.

Having been in business for so many years, we're lucky enough to have collated an archive of assets.

Formica Skylark

Brooks Stevens' Skylark pattern was launched in the 1950s

Ad from the Australian Women's Weekly 

We discovered the video 'A Bright New World' that was created in the 1970s when Formica Group (owned by De La Rue at the time) opened a new 'laminated plastics' factory in Tynemouth, England. The video takes you on an exciting tour of the facilities and the laminate manufacturing process. This site is still very relevant to Formica Group today as it's now home to our European Head Quarters.

Formica Group De La Rue factory Tynemouth
 
1965 World Fair advert

The 1965 World's Fair competition

Advert from the official guide to the 1964-1965 New York World's fair, image courtesy of Bill Young.
1927 Formica Group sales meeting

A Formica 1927 sales meeting, image from the book 'Formica: Forty Years of Steady Vision' (1953). 
It's great to take a look back on our history and see the teams that worked hard to further the Formica brand.

American Cyanamid Company Report

The American Cyanamid Company Annual Report 1962

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