Years of discovery
Founding is preceded by discovery. In 1969, Johannes Essing and Horst Heimgärtner set up their own business, EHAGE GmbH, selling innovative "airless" paint spraying equipment. With moderate success, because the devices are technically immature and suffer from poorly prepared paint. The business activity is soon shut down again, but PAINT remains the focus of the founders and, in addition to tools for MIXING paint, machines for MIXING paint products in the trade now also become the subject of the business concept. Color-Mix Rühr- und Mischgeräte GmbH is therefore founded in 1974. However, the name cannot be protected, as it is simply made up of two words, and so the decision was quickly made to call it Collomix Rühr- und Mischgeräte GmbH. The trademark is registered.
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The young company begins with the production of mixing baskets and assembles mixing stations for the paint industry. Powerful and slow-rotating drills are purchased from OEMs and find their way into the tool trade as paddles. With the ZM20 centrifugal mixer, Collomix is the pioneer in the mixing of architectural paints in closed containers and the device is well received by the paint industry. The rented business premises are changed several times and quickly become too small again, until the company finds its headquarters in its own premises in Gaimersheim in 1979. |
The production of paddles in large quantities was already successful in the early 1980s thanks to the development of special production machines and the powder coating technology, which was very new and innovative at the time.
At the same time, sales capacities must be expanded in the form of a sales force organization. At the same time, the first customers are acquired in other European countries. The company's own brand development is not yet a priority. Collomix already produces "private labels" for brand suppliers and at the same time creates a second brand, "Unimix," for the burgeoning DIY market business.
The development of a brand with an identity based around the topic of mixing comes into focus at an early stage. The product range was successfully expanded and completed in the course of the 1980s, and even more so at the beginning of the 1990s. Stirrers for a wide range of materials and applications, together with a broader range of coordinated stirrers, form the basis for a competent presentation in the trade. Communication at the POS becomes more user-oriented with self-service packaging and accompanying information.
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In 2002/2004 Collomix launches the CX model series as the first mixer line with an independent design and parallel handle. It is an expression of our market-leading expertise in the hand-held mixer segment and forms the basis for growth in the coming years.
The export business, particularly in Europe, is being intensively expanded by selecting suitable trading partners.
In the industrial business, the entire product range of paint mixing equipment is renewed and modernized in terms of production technology. The addition of the VIBA 25 vibrational shaker to the product range is particularly important.
In 2006, the Collomatic range is greatly expanded. Automatic mixers are becoming more important on construction sites because they help to save time and labor.
Another Collomix innovation is causing a stir: the mixers are equipped with the HEXAFIX quick-change coupling for tool-free paddle replacement.
Numerous internal renovations and investments characterize the company. New manufacturing processes for UR and later WK paddles are developed. Cheaper DIY product lines can no longer be manufactured economically in Europe and new sources are being tapped in Asia. The Ergomix and Unimix product lines for the DIY market develop a considerable additional volume starting in 2006.
The complexity of material processing continues to increase and being a reliable partner for the building trade is increasingly at the center of our self-image. The content of the benefit communication is now increasingly aimed at the user and no longer just at the sales intermediary.
Digital communication makes it possible to get much closer to the user. Moving images and stories are increasingly replacing printed documents and USP lists. The necessary digital tools are becoming more important.
In 2024, Collomix launches MIXBRO, its first communicated sub-brand aimed at DIY and generalists in the construction industry. The C.mix and Ergomix product lines are integrated into it.
Collomix is the original when it comes to mixing. Innovative solutions that really help on the construction site. Labor shortages and deadline pressure are softened with functional machine technology. In the Collomatic product range, for example, the AOX650 offers a practical solution for many requirements.
The AQiXproduct, a water dosing device, adds a new dimension to the ColloFLOW product category and underlines the innovative strength of the niche specialist Collomix.
In the next step, Collomix will enter into a more direct exchange with the customer on an international basis. In the future, we want to further increase our understanding of the needs and wishes of our customers in different markets