Formica® is the inventor of High Pressure Laminate (HPL) and the global leader in high-pressure laminates, known for offering stylish, durable, and innovative surfacing solutions for both residential and commercial interiors.

For more than a century, we have helped architects, designers, fabricators and homeowners create spaces that are both beautiful and built to last. Combining timeless design with exceptional performance, Formica offers an unrivalled range of colours, patterns, woodgrains and textures to suit every project.

But Formica is more than a surface. We believe every space should inspire the people who use it. From homes and workplaces to healthcare and education, our surfaces are designed to enrich everyday experiences through thoughtful design, lasting durability and continuous innovation.

As the world's largest manufacturer of High Pressure Laminate (HPL), our expertise is built on the continuous efforts of an international, multidisciplinary team of experts within our group. Every product is developed to meet the evolving needs of modern architecture and interior design.

Today, Formica is part of Broadview Materials, a leading global group of premium surface material brands. Together with brands including Arpa®, FENIX®, Homapal®, Trespa® and Westag, we combine decades of expertise, innovation and manufacturing excellence to deliver world-class surfacing solutions for customers around the world.

Formica® designs for today, with forever in mind.

1913-1927  |  The era of laminate
Our founders, electrical engineers Daniel J. O’Conor and Herbert A. Faber discover that high-pressure plastic resins can be used to make electrical parts, replacing the mineral mica, and establish the Formica Products Company in 1913. As they were searching for a substitute “for” an insulation material “mica,” they coined the name “Formica.”

By 1930, the Company begins to make the shift from industrial applications to decorative laminate products.

 

1931-1949  |  A new focus
Colorful, durable and cigarette-proof, Formica® Brand Laminate become a popular choice for the interiors of cafes and nightclubs, as well as railway cars and luxury ocean liners like the RMS Queen Mary. But as the U.S. enters World War II, The Formica Insulation Company focuses on military production through the war’s end.

 

1950-1958  |  The post-war boom
During the post-war boom, sales of Formica Brand Laminates reach $24 million and the Company advertises vigorously to promote designs such as Brooks Stevens’ iconic “Skylark” pattern. Raymond Loewy Associates creates the Company’s “Sunrise” line and Prince Sigaard Bernadotte of Sweden, the classic “VirrVarr” pattern.

 

1960-1983  |  Design and innovation
Formica Brand Laminates become a symbol of modern lifestyles and the Company begins to build a worldwide presence. Formica Corporation also continues to emphasize design, establishing the Design Advisory Board and organizing “Surface and Ornament,” an exhibition of ColorCore® laminate artwork that debuts at the Art Institute of Chicago.

 

1985-1999  |  Changes and challenges
Mirroring the economic climate of the 1980s and 1990s, Formica Corporation experiences multiple changes in leadership during this volatile period. At the same time, the Company continues to expand its international reach and to launch innovative new products in colors, patterns and finishes that target both the residential and commercial markets.

 

2000-2012  |  A new century of growth
In 2007, Fletcher Building, Ltd. acquires Formica Group divisions of Asia, Europe and North America. Combined with the Laminex® brand under the Fletcher umbrella, Formica Corporation became the largest player in its industry worldwide. The Company also achieves significant goals towards becoming a “greener” enterprise. 

 

2013
Formica® Brand celebrates 100 years!

 

2019
Formica Group was acquired by Broadview Holding, a Netherlands-based industrial holding with a significant presence in material technology and energy. Broadview Holding also owns Trespa (the global leader in exterior HPL cladding), Arpa (well known for its innovative FENIX product line), and Westag (manufacturer of doors, elements and surfaces with a significant footprint in Germany). Together, these brands strengthen Broadview Holding's position as a global leader in surface materials.