Hempel A/S is a global supplier of coatings and paints in the protective, marine, decorative, container and yacht industries. Founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1915, Hempel is majority-owned by the Hempel Foundation.
History
Hempel A/S is a global coatings manufacturer headquartered in Denmark, founded in July 1915 by Jørgen Christian Hempel (1894–1986) as Hempel's Marine Paints Ltd. (J.C. Hempel's Skibsfarve–Fabrik A/S). Initially established as a marine paint wholesaler, the company set up its own paint mixing factory in 1916.[5]
In 1917, Hempel collaborated with the Technical University of Denmark to develop its first antifouling coating for ships' hulls.
The company expanded internationally, establishing its first factory in the United States in 1951 and opening an office in Hong Kong in 1963. In the 1960s, Hempel began producing decorative coatings for the Middle East, opening its first regional factory in Kuwait in 1966.
During the 1970s, Hempel established a protective coatings division to serve industrial markets such as power generation and infrastructure. The company was among the first in the coatings industry to focus on renewable energies, supplying coatings to the first commercial wind farm in 1980.
J.C. Hempel died in 1986 at the age of 91.