ACO facts and figures – expansion with a clear focus
As a family enterprise under the direction of Hans-Julius Ahlmann and his son Iver Ahlmann, ACO can develop and implement long term strategies without bending to external pressure. Our success proves us right. Thanks to internationalisation and diversification we can balance out large fluctuations in local construction sector markets, and stabilise our expansion course.
The ACO Group is a world market leader in drainage technology. Climate change sets us a challenge to react effectively with innovative solutions to new environmental conditions. With its integrated approach, ACO stands for professional drainage, efficient cleaning, and the controlled discharge or reuse of water. Products include drainage channels and drains, oil and grease separators, backflow stop systems, pumps and pressure-water-tight cellar windows and light shafts.
The family-owned company headquartered in Rendsburg/Büdelsdorf, Germany, was founded in 1946 on the site of the Carlshütte foundry – Schleswig-Holstein’s first industrial company. It still has very strong roots in the region. The innovation strength of the ACO Group is built on intense research and development, and its technical expertise in processing polymer concrete, plastic, cast iron, stainless steel and reinforced concrete.
Strategic Growth
1993
- Set up glass fibre reinforced plastic production in Monroe, North Carolina, USA
1994
- Acquired Polycrete, Sydney, Australia
- Acquired Inotec, Switzerland
1995
- Acquired Plastmo Group Scandinavia, England and Poland
1996
- Start of production in Legionowo, Poland
- Acquired Signum, Germany
- Acquired Hvidbjerg Vinduet, Denmark
- Acquired AWK Guss- und Amaturenwerke, Kaiserslautern
1998
- Production start-up in Maçanet, Spain
1999
- Expansion of stainless steel production in Pribyslav, Czech Republic
- Acquired Poly Bau, Switzerland
2000
- Acquired Passavant Entwässerungs- und Abscheidetechnik Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Holland
- Expansion in south-east Europe: Rumania, Croatia, Bulgaria
2001
- Acquired Yankee Plastic, USA
2002
- Acquired DJ Muller, Australia
- Acquired Multi-Lite, Denmark
2003
- Acquired Compasso, Italy
2004
- Acquired Funki Tech A/S, Denmark
- Expansion into China and the United Arab Emirates
2005
- Integration of the Möck drainage programme
- Acquired separator specialist TTM, Sweden
2006
- Founded Aguss Vertrieb GmbH
- Founded ACO Eurobar GmbH
2007
- Production start-up in the new ACO factory in Casa Grande/Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Expansion into India
2008
- Expansion of polymer production in Rendsburg/Büdelsdorf, Stadtlengsfeld and Tabor, Czech Republic
2009
- Acquired Hestag and Fritschi, Switzerland
- Set up stainless steel production in Dubai
2010
- Opened polymer concrete production in Shanghai
- Acquired Finnish separator manufacturer Ekopinta
2011
- Established Distribution Companies in Brazil and Mexico
2012
- Established Distribution Company in New Zealand
- Acquired Havo Strangguss GmbH, German
- Established Distribution Company in South Africa
- Established Distribution Company in Morocco
2013
- Acquired Hydrocast SARL, France
- Established Distribution Company ACO Funki in Russia
- Established Distribution Company in Chile
- Established Distribution Company in Columbia
- Established Distribution Company in Mozambique
- Expansion of production sites in Dubai and Istanbul
2014
- Acquired ALLERUP TEKNIK AS, Denmark
- Acquired Egebjerg International and Master Trading, Denmark
2015
- Establishment ACO Casting Services South Africa Pty. Ltd., Johannesburg, South Africa
2016
- Production start-up in the ACO factory in Jacareí, Brazil
- Stainless steel production start-up in the ACO factory in Shanghai, China
- Acquired Rofo Engineering, Johannesburg, South Africa
2017
- Acquired Plastmo Polska, Poland
- Established Distribution Company in Saudi Arabia
- Acquired ECOLINE Ltd, Russia
2018
- Acquired DETEGO Schachtabdeckungssysteme GmbH & Co. KG, Mülheim-Kärlich, Germany
- Established Distribution Company in Vietnam
- Acquired SG Railing AS, Arna, Norway
2019
- Acquired MufleSystem S.r.l., Italy
2020
- Acquired OCIDO, France
2021
- Acquired separators business (SEPA) from TECE
- Acquired separators, industry and kitchen drainage business (formerly known as BASIKA) from MAGUS
- Acquired Resitec AG, Switzerland
2022
- Acquired Goslyn LLC, USA
- Acquired Remosa, Spain
- Established Distribution Company in Malaysia
- Acquired Aquafix Milieu, Netherlands
- Established Distribution Company in Singapore