The origins

Birth of the Hook and Loop concept

The self-gripping Hook and Loop Fastener concept was invented in 1948 by Georges de Mestral, a Swiss engineer. Upon returning from a hunting trip, Mr. de Mestral noticed that cockleburs stuck to his clothes and his dog's hair.
From this observation Mr. De Mestral created the original self-gripping Hook and Loop Fastener. Mr. De Mestral applied for patents on his invention and established, with several investors, the Velcro S.A. Company in Switzerland.
Today the Hook & Loop fastener is recognized as one of the 50 most important inventions of the 20th century.

1958 >	Velcro France founded by Jean Billarant
1976 >	The patent expires : Velcro France becomes APLIX
1981 >	First manufacturing plant built in the USA : APLIX Inc.
1980's >	A commercial network set up throughout Europe and Asia
1994 >	Design of new breakthrough products for the hygiene market
1990's >	Two new manufacturing plants (USA and France).
2001 >	Le Cellier manufacturing plant opens. Receives "Best Industrial Construction" from the World Architecture Awards
2006 >	Grand opening of Shanghai manufacturing plant (China)
2008 >	APLIX celebrates its 50 years !