VMZINC® Celebrates Two Milestone Anniversaries
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To celebrate its 200th Anniversary, VMZINC hosted a VIP event at the restaurant on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. |
200 Years Of Zinc Roofing Worldwide And 15 Years In The United States
Raleigh, NC – VMZINC®-US, the international brand name of rolled zinc products, is celebrating its 200th anniversary of zinc roofing worldwide, in addition to its 15th anniversary in the United States.
As the world’s oldest architectural zinc company, VMZINC® is an international leader in the architectural products industry. Established in 27 countries worldwide, VMZINC®’s products and services have become synonymous with high quality, innovation and environmentally sustainable design. This fall, VMZINC hosted a VIP event at the restaurant on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower to celebrate this milestone in the company’s history in the city that made zinc such a famous architectural element.
In December 1805, Napoleon Bonaparte granted chemist Jean-Jacques Dony an imperial decree to begin developing a production process to mine and refine the zinc ore deposit at the Vieille-Montagne mine in Moresnet, on what is today the border between Belgium and Germany. Beginning in 1815, zinc was first used as a building material in Paris, France. Afterward, zinc was widely popularized with the introduction of zinc roofs and street facades throughout the city.
Today, 85 percent of all metal roofs in Paris utilize zinc, which permanently changed the city’s overall appearance and color. In February 2015, the famous, zinc-clad Parisian rooftops were nominated to become an official UNESCO World Heritage site to protect, enhance and honor their impact on the French capital’s architectural history. This initiative is greatly supported by VMZINC®, the Council of Paris, and a support committee sponsored by the French Association of Climactic Engineering and Plumbing & Metal Roofing Companies (GCCP). The classification process typically takes four to five years to complete.
Since 1815, VMZINC® has continued to be a company of firsts, providing a wide range of innovative architectural zinc solutions, including roofing and façade systems, rainwater systems, ornaments and interior decorating products, for building owners, architects and contractors worldwide. VMZINC® joined Umicore Brand Group in 2001 and expanded into the United States, with its headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The original natural zinc offering used throughout the 19th century is still used today in current VMZINC® projects, along with the addition of several new surface aspects, introduced over time to keep up with the changing construction demands and ensure customer satisfaction. Thirty years ago, ANTHRA-ZINC, a pre-weathered, rich charcoal black, was created. It was followed in 1993 by QUARTZ-ZINC, an elegant, uniformed preweathered gray, and in 2005 by PIGMENTO, the line of colored, preweathered zinc available in red, blue, green and brown.
Most recently, after conducting a study with 400 international architects, VMZINC® created AZENGAR, the first ever engraved rolled zinc product and lightest shade of zinc on the market, in 2014. VMZINC® has notable projects in every major sector, including residential, historical, cultural, educational, municipal and more, with size, scale and color options only limited by one’s imagination.
“We are excited to celebrate two monumental anniversaries this year,” said Daniel Nicely, managing director at VMZINC® -US. “Our history is important to us as a company, as it provides an ongoing model for VMZINC®’s future. Having 200 years of rich tradition in zinc roofing, as well as 15 years in the United States, is an incredible achievement, and we look forward to celebrating many more successful years to come.”
About VMZINC®
VMZINC® is the international brand name of rolled zinc products manufactured and sold VM Building Solutions USA. For additional information, visit www.vmzinc-us.com.