Company History

1948

Founded in the Bavarian town of Rehau. Three employees, one extruder. Initial products included shoe welting, garden hoses and automotive components.

1951

Manufacturing of arm straps and sideboards begins for the VW Beetle.

1958

Extrusion of first PVC window profile and first magnetic gasket system for refrigerator doors.

1976

Profession of Plastics Technician introduced on REHAU's initiation.

1978

Production of first bumper produced for the VW Passat.

1986

Installation of first REHAU radiant floor heating system using PEX pipe.

1987

The REHAU compression sleeve technology is introduced to the market - the innovation for the sanitary and heating sector.

1990

Assembly of the millionth BMW bumper at the Viechtach plant.

1994

Travel of first RAU-SIK silicone seal into space aboard the Ariane rocket.

1995

Incorporation of REHAU fiber-reinforced materials in the Airbus family.

1996

Award of "Recycling Product of the Year" for RAURECO inspection chamber made of recycled material .

2000

Company founder Helmut Wagner transfers control of the company to his sons. Jobst Wagner becomes president of the board of directors and Dr. Veit Wagner becomes vice president.

2001

REHAU ART, the meeting point for dialog, art and history, is opened at the company’s headquarters in Rehau (Germany).

2003

Introduction of the innovative RAUPANEL^TM dry-panel installation system for radiant heating.

2004

Medical technology business becomes an independent subsidiary of REHAU under the name RAUMEDIC.

2006

Invention of zero-joint technology in edgeband processing.

2007

Introduction of Ski-Line, an innovative ski jumping track system that combines summer and winter tracks into a single module.

REHAU ART expansion to include an art gallery with works by the Swiss artist Franz Gertsch.

2008

Introduction of GENEO®, a fully reinforced window profile system made from the high-tech material RAUFIPRO^®.

2011

Patent application and construction of a production facility for complete conductor rail systems for underground and suburban railways.

2013

Red Dot Design Award for the glass laminate RAUVISIO crystal as well as the room controller Nea for controlling radiant floor heating systems.

2017

REHAU is now an approved material manufacturer for BOEING with the RAU-FLIGHT material being developed in-house.

2018

The REHAU Smart Guard window alarm system already discourages burglars in several escalation stages from a potential break-in.

REHAU further develops the high-tech material for windows: RAU-FIPRO X opens up new perspectives in terms of size, design, energy efficiency and sound insulation.

2019

Two new systems for more comfort and safety: The RE.SOURCE water dispenser delivers filtered water at the touch of a button, cooled or heated and, if desired, sparkling with carbon dioxide. The smart RE.GUARD water control unit protects against water damage thanks to modern technology.