The company was founded on August 9, 1972, with enough space for a warehouse and a few offices in the first warehouse. With 6 employees, orders were coordinated, processed and dispatched depending on the order situation.
The number of customers quickly increased and, at a time when there were still far fewer requirements for logistics, many orders were also delivered independently by trailer. "We were also able to deliver to the first customers by bicycle," Otmar Monreal, co-founder of Alufinish Andernach, fondly remembers this time.
Alufinish's network quickly grew and independent deliveries were no longer possible. While the first international partners expanded the Alufinish network, the hall in Mülheim-Kärlich also became too small. The company then moved to a larger hall in Andernach. Alufinish Andernach is still known for its location today. As the international network continued to grow, the rules and laws governing the supply of process chemicals became increasingly complex.
Initially, every nook and cranny of the old hall was used to maximize storage capacity
Technology also changed rapidly over time: while orders were initially processed on a typewriter, the first typewriter computer followed in 1985. At international meetings and events, Alufinish became acquainted with the new technology, which is still an important partner in the international Alufinish network today. However, navigation systems and cell phones were still a rarity at the time, so people helped themselves by giving directions and going to the nearest phone booth. "During the many journeys to international customers and partners, some vehicles also died," recalls Otmar Monreal.
First computer workstation at Alufinish in 1985
As the Alufinish network continued to grow, further technical innovations were introduced at Alufinish. For example, 1998 was the year in which - in addition to the first delivery of chemicals for the first chrome-free façade - Alufinish found its way onto the Internet. The company's first website presented the products and the company and offered a printable map of how to find us.
From 2000 onwards, numerous other partners followed, from Ukraine to Spain and Mexico, giving Alufinish the strength that characterizes the company today. Dr. Nils Monreal and Stephan Zegers have been managing the company since 2020 and are continuing the successful path of the past 50 years.
