For 75 years the history of Colas and the history of roads have followed the same path.

1930 - the beginning of Colas
In 1924, merchant A. Rindom establishes his import business of bitumineous binders from the Shell owned Asphalt Cold Mix Ltd. in England. He acquires the licence to manufacture and sell bitumen emulsions in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Baltic countries.

Six years later, Shell acquires the main activities of Mr. Rindom's business and founds Colas Vejmaterialeaktieselskab.   

The brand
Products are marketed and sold under the brand name COLAS, a contraction of the words COLd ASphalt. Literally, the brand name characterises the products which can be handled when cold. This is new innovation. 

A global company
After World War 1, the sale of COLAS emulsions is growing fast, not just in Scandinavia and the Baltic countries, but worldwide. The growth prompts the need for new plants, and Shell seizes the opportunity to bring together the activities in one global holding company: Colas Flintcote Ltd.

This is the beginning of an international network of Colas companies.

1930-1945
From 1930 Colas Vejmaterialeaktieselskab extends its inland activities to the manufacture of emulsion in a number of cities and opens its first hot mixed asphalt plant. Activities are limited to the Danish market.

1945-1959
Rapid development in post-war years
In the period from 1945 to 1959, the company’s activities enjoy a rapid development. A network of asphalt plants are opened, especially in areas with the potential for urban and business development.

In 1950, the company owns more than 12 mixing plants for hot mixed asphalt and has 228 employees. Also, production increases to 100,000 tons a year equalling a market share of approx. 20%.

1960-1979
Colas Vejmaterialeaktieselskab is now a nationwide company. Regional centres are set up in the outskirts of Copenhagen and in Jutland, including workshop and central laboratory.

Boom in major development schemes for new roads
New asphalt plants are designed and constructed   -   altogether facilitating the company’s role in the major development scheme for motorways and principal highways, which is launched in the late 1960s. In 1970, Colas manufactures one million tons of asphalt from 18 asphalt plants.

By the second energy crisis, prices for oil and bitumen increase, and development and maintenance works of the Danish road net weakens. In 1979, the company’s production of asphalt drops to 850,000 tons.

The boom in Danish economy has arrived at a turning point.

1980-1995
The downturn in demand for asphalt prompts the need for efficiency improvements. A number of plants are closed down and new high-performing plants are opened. Still, new activities are set in motion in the 1980s, i.e. construction of airports in Greenland, and piping works for Danish natural gas in collaboration with a Dutch engineering company.

Foreign projects
In 1983, Colas Vejmaterialeaktieselskab takes part in its first project on a foreign market, and in the period up to 1998 the company takes part in a number of various major road and airport projects overseas, i.a. the Maldives, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Acquisitions
In this period, Colas also tightens its network on the national and Nordic markets by the acquisition of Spedalsø Betonvarefabrik A/S and Novejfa A/S, and founding of the subsidiary Malbikunarstödin Hladbær-Colas h.f. in Iceland.

In 1993, Colas Vejmaterialeaktieselskab changes its name to Colas Danmark A/S.

1995-2005
Colas Danmark A/S becomes member of Colas Group
In 1995, Colas Danmark A/S becomes a member of the Colas Group hold by the French Colas SA, the world’s leader in the road industry. Like the Danish company, Colas S.A. was founded by Shell and had, furthermore, grown into the largest Colas company in the world.

The future
On the occasion of the company’s 75th anniversary in 2005, Colas opened a large asphalt plant in Nørresundby in Jutland. This is also a marking of the company’s belief in the future, and that Colas will be an active player at the Danish market for another 75 years.

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