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The LOBA story – from 1922 to date

Going forward: our success story

Over the course of its 100-year history, LOBA has consistently struck a balance between focusing on its core business and expanding its portfolio through innovation.

Bold decisions, visionary ideas and an optimistic view of the future have shaped the company and made it what it is today: a manufacturer of superb floor finishing and care products.

Join us on a journey through time

2022: LOBA celebrates its centenary

100 years of technical excellence, innovative strength, passion and outstanding service. LOBA is a specialist in surface finishing and care in around 70 countries.

LOBA is celebrating its centenary, which means that

customers have been putting their trust in us for 100 years.

They've stuck with us through thick and thin and helped us get where we are today, so we'd like to say a huge thank you.

100 years of LOBA also mean

100 years of expertise, passion and loyalty from our extended family of employees. We are a tight-knit team and give our all, every day, to bring you perfect products and outstanding services.

The tighter our teamwork, the greater your success.

Last but not least:

we can't wait to start writing the next 100 years of the LOBA story with you. To set our sights on the future, make sustainable decisions and play an active role in shaping our ever-changing market. To create our vision and stay the course. We look forward to the future as your ongoing partner for surface finishing and care. LOBA On Top!

Milestones

LOBA Customer Magazine ORANGE ZONE
The first issue of LOBA's customer magazine ORANGE ZONE is published in April. The bilingual German-English journal will released once a year to provide added value on topics from the areas of news, technology, and service – in an informative and practical way.
2023
100 years LOBA
“Creating the future together” – LOBA celebrates 100 years of technical excellence and innovation, passion, and outstanding service. In over 60 countries, LOBA is the competent partner for surface finishing and care. Systems for resilient floors and cement-based leveling compounds extend the range. LOBA On Top! Produced in Germany – made for the world.
2022
New ground
Cool, individual, timeless – minimal industrial style. Through an exposed concrete look: Market launch of the Factory Line, LOBA’s first water-based finish system for leveling compounds.
Setting the course for the future
As part of the succession plan for Michael Fischer, Alfred Melka and Mario Probst join the management team. Michael Fischer remains Managing Partner and becomes Chairman of the Managing Board.
2021
A proprietary brand: LOBASAND
The range of premium quality abrasives and pads is expanded. A proprietary brand is developed.
New Headquarters in North America
LOBA-WAKOL LLC with new headquarters in Wadesboro, North Carolina – a 40-acre campus and 170,000-square-foot warehouse which accommodate all existing operations and provide opportunity for further expansion.
2020
Infinite variety of color design
A uniform, extended palette of 17 colors is available for 2K ImpactOil Color and MarkantColor – the three basic colors white, gray, black, seven wood colors, and seven trend shades. By mixing the colors within the product groups, countless other shades can be created. In addition, 2K ImpactOil Color can be combined with the pigment stain PreTone in five shades – for exciting color effects.
2019
LOBA becomes part of the ARDEX Group
Wakol becomes majority shareholder; LOBA thus belongs to the ARDEX Group. Michael Fischer remains Managing Partner.
2018
EasyFinish
Sales of a total of over 500 tons of EasyFinish by 2017. This corresponds to an area of over 2.5 million m² per year sealed with the high-performance coating.
Expansion to South America
The subsidiary LOBA do Brasil in Jundiaí is opened.
2017
Investment in the future
The new logistics and training center in Ditzingen, Germany is opened.
Invisible surface protection
Market launch of the invisible water-based surface protection 2K InvisibleProtect. Thanks to its innovative technology, it achieves a look and feel that appears even more natural than raw wood.
2015
Expansion to China
The subsidiary LOBA Trading (Shanghai) Company Limited is opened.
2014
Maximum scratch resistance
With its sophisticated ceramic reinforcement technology, 2K Supra A.T. is the most scratch-resistant water-based finish on the market.
Advanced Technology
Advanced Technology (A.T.) stands for the latest generation of LOBA products with revolutionary technologies, innovative raw materials, or enhanced applications.
Introduction of the environmental and quality system
LOBA is certified by DEKRA according to the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 guidelines. These confirm high standards in quality and environmental management as well as continuous improvement of performance in terms of processes, product and service quality and environmental protection.
2011
Responsibility for people and the environment
Thanks to its future-oriented product development, LOBA is the first manufacturer to offer the entire product range free of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP).
2008
Expansion to North America
The subsidiary LOBA-WAKOL LLC is opened as a joint venture.
2007
Top performance
The best-performing water-based 1K parquet finish on the market is launched: EasyFinish.
Partnership with Wakol
As part of the successful cooperation, Wakol becomes a minority shareholder in LOBA.
2006
Focus
The HOLMENKOL business unit is spun off into HOLMENKOL Sport-Technologies GmbH & Co. KG after 80 years.
2002
World of colors
LOBA presents ProColor – the first application-friendly stain – and opens up a new world of individual color design for wood floors.
Expansion into Eastern Europe
The first foreign subsidiary, LOBA-WAKOL Polska sp. z.o.o., is founded as a joint venture together with Wakol in Poland. Cooperation with Wakol starts.
1998
Concentration
LOBA Bautenschutz GmbH & Co. KG, Freiberg am Neckar, is sold off as part of a corporate strategy to concentrate on flooring operations.
1996
Innovation
With the introduction of the legendary WS 2K 95, the world’s first water-based 2K parquet finish system, LOBA sets a new standard in the industry.
1995
New leadership and internationalization
Michael Fischer, son of the company founder Dr. Max Fischer, takes over leadership of the company. He lays the foundation for LOBA’s internationalization and focuses increasingly on the preservation of parquet, hardwood, and cork flooring.
1991
Parquet gloss “Parkettglanz”
Within a very short time, the care product is so well established that production is running at full speed and demand can hardly be satisfied. “Parkettglanz” becomes the generalized product name for parquet care products.
Ende der 1970er
Pioneering work
LOBA launches the world‘s first commercially available thermal insulation composite system, under the brand name Dryvit®, making a major contribution to energy saving.
1959
New structure
The company reorganizes itself and from now on is divided into three business units: LOBA-Bautenschutzsysteme (building protection system), HOLMENKOL and LOBA-Farben (paints).
Product expansion
Finishes and paints expand the product range and the LOBA-Farben business unit is founded. The first industrial systems are produced.
1952
Birth of ski wax
As a passionate ski jumper, Dr. Max Fischer develops the world’s first industrial ski wax, which LOBA manufactures and sells under the brand HOLMENKOL.
Foundation
On April 13, 1922, Wilhelm Hornung and Dr. Max Fischer found Vereinigte Wachswarenfabriken AG Hornung und Dr. Fischer in Ditzingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. The product range includes floor stains, floor cleaners, floor polish, ski wax, shoe polish, leather grease, and household candles. Already in September 1922, 20 candle machines produce 85 tons of household candles.
1922
Your partner for surface finishing and care. Produced in Germany, made for the world!

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