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.
Birth of APLIX
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1958 > |
Foundation of Velcro France. |
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1976 > |
The patent expires : Velcro France becomes APLIX. |
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1981 > |
A manufacturing facility is built in the USA. |
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1980's > |
A commercial network is set up in Europe and Asia. |
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1994 > |
APLIX designs new products for the hygiene market. |
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1990's > |
APLIX builds two new manufacturing facilities (USA and France). |
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2001 > |
Le Cellier production facility receives "Best Industrial Construction" from the World Architecture Awards. |
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2003 > |
Foundation of APLIX Microsystems (Germany), production site of the wide plastic hook. |
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2006 > |
Foundation of a production site in Shanghai, China. |
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