CONTACT US +44 (0)1388 774661 My Cart Sign In Register Find Your Surface Search Products Visualiser Inspiration Where to Buy Downloads Company Home History of Wilsonart UK HISTORY OF WILSONART UK Who are Wilsonart UK? We’re the UK’s leading manufacturer of decorative surfaces and laminate worktops, making more than 100,000 each month. Based in Shildon, County Durham, we’ve been going since the early nineties, but our history goes much farther back. We’re proudly part of Wilsonart Engineered Surfaces, driven by a mission to create surfaces people love, with service they can count on, delivered by people who care. Together we’ve enjoyed 60 years of innovation, design and production of beautiful surfaces with no intention of slowing down. Wilsonart Engineered Surfaces was grown from a little company called Ralph Wilson Plastics founded in Temple, Texas, USA in 1956. The rest, as they say, is history. Let us talk you through it… 1956 In 1956 the Wilsonart Plastics Company is founded in Temple, Texas, USA by Ralph Wilson 1957 In 1957 the first 5'12' press is acquired, making Ralph Wilson Plastics the first to make 2 tops from 1 pressing and highlighting the company as an innovative manufacturer. 1959 In 1959, Ralph Wilson designs and builds the now-famous Wilson House, looking for creative new ways to use laminate in the home. The Wilson House is still a must-visit for mid-century-modern enthusiasts passing through Temple, Texas. 1960s Dr Ralph Wilson Jr joins the family business, and it continues to grow. In 1964, RWP becomes a publicly held corporation with an initial offering of 290,000 shares at $15 each. 1970 Adhesives and panel manufacturing become important parts of the business. 1974 Wilsonart invents and patents Chemsurd, chemical resistant laminate. 1979 Wilsonart continues to grow and the North Caroline plant opens. By this time, RWP is commonly referred to as "Wilsonart." 1984 Wilsonart introduces Solicor Colorthrough Decorative Laminate to the market. Colour through the thickness eliminates the brown phenolic line - a gamechanger at the time. 1990 RWP officially becomes known as Wilsonart International and continues to grow. 1996 Wilsonart UK is established to serve the European market at a large site in Shildon, County Durham. In 1997, Resopal is acquired. 2005 Wilsonart International develop Aeon technology enhanced performance laminate, and launch the first range. 2006 Wilsonart International acquire Polyrey, France. Later, Orama Holdings is acquired too. Wilsonart UK invest £750k in a market leading upstand production line. 2008 Wilsonart UK launch Earthstone. 2010 Wilsonart UK invest £1.4m in an innovative cut & edge production line. 2013 Wilsonart UK introduce contemporary 3mm radius. 2014 Wilsonart UK invest £2m in CNC machines & automation. 2016 Wilsonart acquires Bushboard, a leading manufacturer of decorative surfaces based in Wellingborough, UK. Bushboard have been producing surfaces since 1935. 2016 Wilsonart UK launch Zenith, the original and best compact laminate worktop. In 2017, Wilsonart UK acquire Shore Laminates and later Mermaid. 2018 Wilsonart invest $10m into AST technology. Click Here To Design Your Space About Us Here at Wilsonart UK we've been designing and developing decorative surfacing solutions for almost 60 years. We love creating beautiful surfaces for home and commercial projects from our signature materials Gemstone, Earthstone and Laminate. Whether we're making worktops, breakfast bars, splashbacks and upstands for the kitchen or engineering the very best solid surface solutions for a whole multitude of commercial applications, to us it's not just a job, it's a passion. Products Laminate Worktops Zenith Worktops Earthstone Worktops Solid Surface Commercial Statement Splashbacks Wilsonart UK is a business unit of Wilsonart Engineered Surfaces. www.wilsonartengineeredsurfaces.com Company|Where to Buy|Downloads|Contact Us Copyright © 2020 Wilsonart LLC. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy|Terms of Use