1908 : Sir Charles Geisen, a building materials trader, founds Les Usines Alsaciennes d’Émulsions in Strasbourg, France.
1909 : Charles Geisen discovers a material that is impermeable yet flexible and easy to apply: canvas dipped in hot bitumen. As the finished product resembles the skin of an elephant, it is called “MAMMOUTH” (the French word for mammoth). Some installations built with this product have not been touched since, and some of them are more than 80 years old!
1914 : The company expands into Switzerland.
1933 : Pierre Geisen, the founder’s son, becomes President of the company.
1941: Pierre Geisen builds a new plant in Avignon, and founds SOPREMA, SOciété des PRoduits et Revêtements d’Étanchéité MAmmouth (The Mammoth Waterproofing Products and Coatings Company).
1975 : The laboratory in Strasbourg develops the first line of SBS elastomeric bitumen waterproofing products called SOPRALENE.
1978 : Market development spreads to Canada. A Canadian division is created in Québec to introduce SOPRALENE to North America.
1978 : SOPREMA Canada establishes its head office in Drummondville, Québec.
1981 : Growing demand for airtightness in Canadian buildings creates an opportunity for SOPREMA to take part in the development of building envelope products. Working with the National Research Council, SOPREMA develops an air/vapour barrier product called SOPRASEAL 180.
1982 : SOPREMA Canada introduces parking-deck and foundation waterproofing products.
1984 : SOPREMA opens its first Canadian production facility in Drummondville, Québec.
1987 : SOPREMA’s product lines continue to expand with the addition of waterproofing products for bridges.
1992: Pierre Geisen steps down and appoints his grandson Pierre-Étienne BINDSCHEDLER as President of SOPREMA.
1995 : Two new products are launched, which allow SOPREMA to leverage its waterproofing expertise in environmental protection. First, ENVIRONAP bitumen geomembranes are introduced on the market for the waterproofing of basins and even as an environmental protection barrier. Then, the same year, SOPREMA launches its brand new SOPRANATURE green roof system that can turn any roof into an actual garden while ensuring complete waterproofing.
1996 : SOPREMA innovates with the creation of a North American Research and Development Department at its Drummondville plant.
1996 : A new unit is added to the Drummondville facility for the production of self-adhesive air barriers and roofing membranes. This same unit allows the launching of the RESISTO product line for the residential market.
1998 : SOPREMA presents its latest innovation in the field of SBS modified bitumen membranes: the MACADEN, the first device for automated installation of waterproofing sheet membranes on bridges and parking lots. This new device allows the installation of 400 m2 of membranes in one operation.
1999 : SOPREMA opens a second Canadian production facility in Chilliwack, British Columbia.
2004 : SOPREMA CANADA introduces its waterproofing products on the Chinese market. 2008: Following up on its success in China, SOPREMA Canada expands to the Middle East. 2010: The company announces the opening of new offices in the United Arab Emirates and Australia.
2011 : SOPREMA opens an office in Singapore.
2011 : Richard VOYER is appointed Vice-President and General Manager of SOPREMA North America.
2011 : At its North American headquarters in Québec, SOPREMA unveils the Mammouth SPIRIT, the largest bronze statue ever cast in Canada.
2012 : SOPREMA opens an office in Brazil.
2012 : SOPREMA acquires the entirety of CONVOY, a North American distributor of building and roofing materials.
2013 : SOPREMA acquires Texsa (3 plants across Spain and headquartered in Barcelona).
2014: SOPREMA acquires Topox, an extruded polystyrene manufacturer in Spain.
2015 : SOPREMA opens a polyisocyanurate plant in Drummondville, Quebec.
2016 : SOPREMA acquires CHEM LINK, a producer of polymers, and BENOLEC, a manufacturer of cellulosic products.