New England Laminates Co Inc history

After Baekeland had made his invention known and received the patents for it in 1910, many manufacturers rushed to take advantage of the new material's properties.

The company had began operations on May 2, 1913.

In July 1914, a new flat-sheet press arrived at the factory, which allowed the company to produce laminate.

On June 11, 1919, Westinghouse sued Formica for infringing on its patent for laminated phenolic canvas.

Interestingly, the Karpen brothers bought a majority interest in Condensite Corporation, which carried numerous laminate patents; then, in 1922, Condensite Corporation, Redmanol Company, and Bakelite Company merged to form the Bakelite Corporation.

In 1931, the company received three more patents, which concerned an all-paper laminate, as well as a process by which the laminates were made cigarette burn-resistant.

Engineers developed a cigarette-proof surface that was used in the construction of Radio City Music Hall that opened in New York City in 1932.

And, completed in 1934, the ocean liner The Queen Mary sported wood-grain laminates.

In 1938 American Cyanamid developed melamine thermosetting resin.

By 1951, sales had reached $24 million.

The brochure was designed by Raymond Loewy Associates for Formica in 1953.

The colors and patterns shown appear to have been the line up through 1960, at which time they were updated to reflect 1960s decorating styles.

In 1966, the company opened a new plant in Sacramento, California, and for the first time since World War II, the company was able to keep up demand for its laminate.

In May 1984, American Cyanamid decided to divest itself of Formica, believing that the company did not fit into its strategy of focusing upon high-growth potential and high-technology businesses.

In May 1989, after various suitors expressed an interest in gaining control of Formica, the company was again taken private after it was sold to FM Acquisition Corporation, a group led by company president Vincent Langone.

The company changed hands again in 2007, and is now a subsidiary of the Fletcher Building group.

Today, most laminates are made using a similar process, and other companies have recently introduced styles Formica Group has discontinued (like many boomerang designs – though word is these will be re-introduced in 2013). But, back then, Formica products were truly unique.