Kemira

History

Year	Detail
1920	On March 1, 1920, the Council of State (Finland) established Kemira with Felix Hedman as Managing Director.
1922	The Lappeenranta Sulfuric acid plant and Kotka, a superphosphate plant, were established, which marks the beginning of domestic fertilizer production.
1933	The state-owned plants were re-formed into the Sulfuric Acid and Superphosphate Plants Corporation.
1945	The Kokkola sulfuric acid plant started production.
1946	The state-owned gunpowder plant became a subsidiary of the Sulfuric Acid and Superphosphate Plants Corporation, and the gunpowder factory’s name was changed to Vihtavuori Oy.
1957	Vuorikemia Oy was founded on June 8, 1957, to produce titanium oxide from sulfuric acid.
1960	Launched a new aluminum sulfate plant in Harjavalta.
1961	The Sulfuric Acid and Superphosphate Plants Corporation changed its name to Rikkihappo Oy.
1971	The state-owned fertilizer companies Rikkihappo Oy and Typpi Oy signed a merger agreement.
1972	Rikkihappo Oy’s name was changed to Kemira Oy on July 1, 1972. Acquired Oy Schidlt & Hallberg Ab for a significant expansion into the paint industry.
1974	The acquisition of Sateri was the first in Kemira’s internationalization.
1980	The Siilinjärvi phosphate mine was opened.
1982	Acquired the British Lindsey & Kestevan Fertilisers Limited in 1982.
1984	Tikkurila acquired the British MacPherson Paints Ltd in 1984 to access the Western European market.
1989	The company has acquired The Swedish Boliden Kemi AB, a traditional pulp and paper industry expert who also had strong hydrochemistry expertise.
1997	A new hydrogen peroxide plant was built on the Helsingborg site in Sweden.
2002	Kemira acquired the American Vinings Industries Inc. The deal made Kemira a globally significant supplier of specialty chemicals for the forestry sector.
2005	Acquired Finnish Chemical plants in February and German Lanxess’ paper business in December 2005.
2007	Finland State transfers less than a third of Kemira’s shares to domestic investors, reducing state ownership from 48.6% to 16.5%. Oras Invest, owned by the Paasikivi family, became the largest owner.
2013	Acquired Italian 3F Chimica, a producer of polymers for industry and wastewater treatment, strengthened its position as one of the leading international polymer manufacturers.
2014	The Nanjing, China plant was opened. Company commitment to the pulp and paper industry was demonstrated with the acquisition of the BASF AKD emulsion business and the expansion of our production at Telêmaco Borba, Brazil.
2015	Production started at our new water treatment chemicals plant in Tarragona, Spain. Acquired AkzoNobel paper chemicals business.
2018	A new sizing production line opened in Nanjing, China. Kemira formed a joint venture (NewCo) in China with AKD producer Shandong Tiancheng Wanfeng Chemical Technology.
2024	Kemira completed the divestment of its Oil & Gas related portfolio to Sterling Specialty Chemicals LLC.