History

Jotun's founder, Odd Gleditsch sr., opens a combined colour/ship supply store in Sandefjord. It was a good time for the whaling industry, and Gleditsch sr. soon worked his way into the business of supplier to the whaling fleets in Sandefjord, Tønsberg, and Larvik.

Odd Gleditsch sr. played a very special role in the development of Jotun. His personality had an extraordinary influence on the company, on employees, among customers, and on everyone with whom he came in contact.

He had a particular gift for creating enthusiasm among employees at all levels. He once said; "If I have a secret weapon, it is my ability to find able employees and to listen, and listen carefully, to their thoughts, suggestions and ideas." Many people would say that it was this very way of thinking that created the able employees.

As sales to the whaling fleet increased, Gleditsch sr. saw the potential in manufacturing the paint himself. On 12th March 1926, Gleditsch sr. invited shareholders to subscribe to the new company. With a share capital of NOK 60 000, Jotun Kemiske Fabrik A/S was founded, with Odd Gleditsch sr. as managing director.

Gleditsch sr. buys the patent rights to Arcanol, which is an innovation in protective marine coatings. This grey-coloured red lead had particurlary good rust-inhibiting properties and became Jotun's first major success.

As one of the first companies in Norway Jotun introduces a pension fund for all of its employees.

Fleischer's Chemical Factories launch Drygolin, an exterior paint. To this day, Drygolin is still one of Jotun's strongest brands.

A new and larger factory is built in Sandefjord. The entire top floor of the building was allocated to research and development (R&D), and five new chemists were hired. Competitors thought this was madness, but Gleditsch justified it: "Our future success depends on an investment in research and development". Today, Jotun has one of the largest private R&D centres in Norway.

Fenom, a matt thixotropic interior paint based on alkyd resin, was launched and proved a major success, enabling Jotun to expand in the retail market. In many ways this product was a breakthrough for the company on account of its application features, adhesion and attractive finish. It enabled consumers to achieve almost professional results themselves.

- and creates fashion for stained houses. Up until 1969 Trebitt came as a "two component"-product, with the tinting colour in a separate box.

The internationalisation begins with the establishment of a factory in Libya, initiated by Odd Gleditsch jr. Valuable experience was gained in the establishing and running of an international company, and this became the platform for Jotun's later development as a major paints manufacturer in the Middle East and South East Asia.

The factory in Thailand is a success from the start, partly thanks to the experiences made in Libya.

- at Corro-Coat in Larvik, Norway.

Odd Gleditsch jr. succeeds his father as Chairman of the Board. He took over as CEO in 1968.

- gaining access to the international shipping industry. This provided the necessary foundation for Jotun to develop further and become one of the largest marine coatings manufacturers in the world.

The market became increasingly difficult throughout the 1960's, and in 1972 Jotun merges with Alf Bjercke, Fleischer and Denofa Lilleborg.

Based on new technology, this product becomes a great success.

The Dubai factory has  played a major role in the internationalisation of Jotun.

This Jotun invention represented a great innovation in antifouling protection. It enabled ships to sail for four years between dry-dockings. Although Seamaster was replaced by self-polishing antifouling after a few years, it was an important invention to prove Jotun’s ability to be innovative, and to get noticed by the international shipping industry.

The launch of Jotun Multicolor is a revolution for both consumers and retailers. This automatic colour tinting machine enabled retailers to mix colours in the shops, and gives customers thousands of colour possibilities.

Six people are killed and 11 are injured. The incident almost broke the new Jotun. The company's research and development activities were severely affected, and the majority of the Group's total production capacity disappeared.

Corro-Coat Thailand opens, and became Jotun's first powder coating factory outside Norway.

Baltoflake is an extremely tough glass flake reinforced polyester coating ideal for splash zones and other exposed areas in harsh environments.

Launch of Lord and Lady decorative interior paints. In 1994, Lord discontinued, while Lady is still one of Jotun's strongest brands.

Launch of Jotashield in South East Asia. Jotashield is Jotun's most comprehensive range of decorative paints.

Launch of the first Jotamastic; Jotun's range of repair- and maintenance epoxy coatings for a wide range of usage situations.

Jotun opens its first factory in China - in Guangzhou.

This factory is the first to produce both liquid paints and powder coatings.

Jotun's international HSE (health, safety, environment) standard is introduced at all production facilities.

Odd Gleditsch d.y. takes over as Chairman of the Board.

SeaQuantum, antifouling without tin, comes on the market. The world's most advanced TBT-free polishing antifouling

Launch of Jotun's first universal epoxy coating for marine newbuildings - for use in all positions on a vessel for shipyards with focus on high efficiency and throughput.

SENS is introduced to the market, developed in collaboration with the Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association.

First factory in India is inaugurated in Pune.

Jotun launches powder coatings for use on MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard).

Launch of a range of epoxy coatings especially engineered for cargo hold protection for bulkers and tankers.

New production facility opens in Sandefjord

The Jotun Group has an operating revenue of NOK 15 785 million and 9 819 employees, 63 companies in 45 countries, and 37 production facilities in 22 countries. The company is represented in more than 100 countries around the world.