History

  • April 1, 2013
    2011-2012

    The company has positive cash flow and is back in growth mode.

  • February 20, 2013
    2008-2010

    Following the world market crisis the company goes through a difficult period with some restructuring and painful cuts.
    At the age of 70 years Mr K.J. Hertell decides to retire as Chairman of the Board. He continues as a member of the Board and an active advisor. A new Chairman of the Board, Mr Ralf Klärich, is appointed in December 2009. Mr Mikko Teittinen is appointed as CEO in early 2010. Mr Hertell sells minority shares of the company to Mr Klärich, Mr Teittinen and the CFO Ms Tarja Nyström. The Hertell family retains three seats on the Board and the majority of the shares.
    The market situation slowly improves and business takes off again.

  • February 20, 2013
    2005

    The mother company assumes the name Bang & Bonsomer Group Ab.

  • February 20, 2013
    2004

    The Helsinki warehouse facilities are moved to Kotka, where Bang & Bonsomer to this day has one of Finland’s most modern chemical warehouses.

  • February 20, 2013
    2000

    Bang & Bonsomer is present in eight countries with altogether 13 offices in addition to the Helsinki head office. In July 2000 an office opens in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Bang & Bonsomer has become one of the leading non-Russian distributors of chemicals in the former Soviet Union. Mr Hertell steps down as CEO of the company and continues as Chairman of the Board.

  • February 20, 2013
    1993

    After lengthy negotiations Bang & Co. and Bonsomer Ky are merged into Bang & Bonsomer Ab with Mr Hertell as majority shareholder. Mr Hertell sees the possibilities in the vast market of the former Soviet Union and a fast expansion into the Baltic States and the CIS is launched.

  • February 20, 2013
    1991

    Bonsomer Ky opens its first foreign office in Tallinn only a few weeks after the new Estonian independence.

  • February 20, 2013
    1970s and 1980s

    Bonsomer Ky grows strongly in the Finnish market adding agencies and personnel.
    In 1979 the founder of Bang & Co, Mr Hans Bang, receives the honorary O.B.E.; the most excellent order of the British Empire for his contribution to the co-operation between Great Britain and Finland. Even in his eighties Mr Bang still comes to the office every day, being very much the pillar of the company - now with over a hundred employees.

  • February 20, 2013
    1966

    Mr K.J. Hertell founds Bonsomer Ky, originally a one-man company. The most important principals during the early years are US producers like Morton Chemical (now part of Dow Chemical), Allied Chemical (now part of Honeywell) and Eastman Chemical. These companies are still our partners.

  • February 20, 2013
    1950s

    Bang & Co becomes a leading importer of industrial chemicals to Finland.

  • February 20, 2013
    1940s

    Promptly after World War II, Bang & Co is the first Finnish company to import plastics from ICI, who becomes one of the most important principals for decades to come.

  • February 20, 2013
    1930s

    In the early days the main products are sulphur, sodium sulphate and china clay for the needs of the growing Finnish paper and pulp industry.

  • February 20, 2013
    1927

    Mr Hans Bang founds Bang & Co. in Helsinki. One of the first principals, the carbon black producer Cabot, is still a partner of ours.