History

The B.E.M. Wientjes company was founded in 1909 as a wholesaler for electronic resistance materials in Amsterdam (the Netherlands). At the time, the company was working with one of the first synthetic materials, Bakelite, which was mainly used for the production of telephones and radios. After the end of the war, the company also started processing synthetic materials, specialising in the supply of semi-finished synthetic products. The company soon outgrew its premises in Amsterdam, and therefore moved to Roden in the Province of Drenthe in 1961. From the end of the sixties onwards, the company also launched its own products, such as sinks and baths made of acrylic plates, under the brand name Ucosan.

In 1984, Wientjes entered into a joint venture with Villeroy & Boch in order to produce and sell sinks and baths that, in the meantime, were being moulded in synthetic materials. By 1986, Wientjes Beheer consisted of a number of different operating companies: Wientjes Kunststoffen, Ucosan and Bowic. The production of baths was replaced by the production of whirlpools.

In 1989, Wientjes sold 50% of the Ucosan shares to Villeroy & Boch, and, in the same year, Vicon Polyester in Emmen was acquired, and later renamed as Wientjes Emmen (now:

Wientjes Emmen (now VDL Wientjes Emmen). The company in Roden was renamed Wientjes Roden. Ucosan was sold to Villeroy & Boch in 2000. Wientjes then came into contact with the VDL Groep in 2005, who turned out to be an excellent partner to take over the ancillary companies Wientjes Roden and Wientjes Emmen. VDL Wientjes Roden has been an independent company within VDL Groep. since 2005.