The story behind our foundation to become one of Denmark's leading companies in solar shading, mechanical and fire protection Mechanical security and fire protection
Our foundation
Sun protection as actual industrial products such as awnings and the like is a relatively new thing in Denmark. However, awnings have been used as sun protection, especially in shops, as far back as the 1800s. But it wasn't until the 1900s that the products gradually evolved. The inspiration for this came from southern countries, where the sun is noticeably stronger and warmer.
One of the first manufacturers was Chr. Faber, who developed the products and put things into a system. However, there were also several smaller manufacturers, especially in the Copenhagen area and Jyllands Markisefabrik in Aarhus, which were some of the first manufacturers. Production at the time was very craftsmanlike, and the materials were steel and canvas.
It wasn't until the 60s, when aluminum started to become known for its malleability and strength, that development began to take off. Machining processes such as extrusion and roll forming spark creativity.
Awnings, which were previously made of steel, were further developed with aluminum profiles. Sunshades and canopies were added.
Acryma, Alusol, Dasolas and Alux
In the mid-60s, there was a sales driver named Åge Feldthaus who drove around Jutland selling fruit and vegetables to grocers, etc. In his spare time, he also sold the newly emerging interior blinds. It was one of the new products that became one of the biggest trends of the time.
The world-renowned company Hunter Douglas mastered the technique of roll-forming aluminum and then made slats for blinds from lacquered aluminum tape, which was shaped, punched with holes and cut to length. The cord pulls and ribbons were then fitted and the coveted blinds were created.
One day, a local in the Salling area asked if he could make some shade for the sun over the fruit and vegetables he was selling, because it wasn't very good to have it standing in the sun outside the store.
Feldthaus got creative and went to a local blacksmith who was asked to make some steel profile rafters. Steel pipes were laid on top of these and then fitted with some of the new white acrylic sheets available at the lumber store. A nice blue ruffle was sewn in sailcloth, which was fitted around the edge and looked really nice. Thus, the acrylic awning was born.
Of course, the case was photographed and shown around to the other grocers and greengrocers, and soon it was a reality to put the awning into production.
The first foundation stone for the awning company was laid, and of course it was to be called Acryma (acrylic awnings) and was based in Skive. Soon there were salespeople, production and installers, because even the smallest grocery store had to have one of the new awnings. At one point, there were 10-12 assembly trucks putting up the awnings around the country.
Of course, product development was also needed, and a system of roll-formed aluminum profiles was found at Hunter Douglas, which was adapted to the awnings. The customer could now choose to have aluminum slat cladding on the awning instead of acrylic sheets - the Luxaflex awning was born.
The awnings were slanted, i.e. sloping away from the wall so that water could run off. Customers asked if they could be made so that the water didn't just run down the front and bother the customers.
The construction was now reversed and became a horizontal awning with aluminum slats underneath.
A plastic gutter was now installed inside the wall to collect rainwater and a nice front was made from the slats. The first actual canopy was born. It was named Luxaflex Canopy. The development went further, the aluminum slats were replaced with actual aluminum sheets. A sheet cladding system was found that was suitable. The name was regalum panels and thus the name Regalum Baldakin P 200, because the panels were 200 mm. Later, the panels were bent 400 mm wide, hence the name P 400. Aluminum slats from Hunter Douglas were also used to make fixed sun shades - slatted sun shades for offices and industry. This product was called Luxaflex Sun Shades.
In Acryma, there was a young engineer named Keld Lund Hansen. He was involved in the development of this process. However, things went from bad to better, the development went too fast, the company ran out of money, and in 1968 they had to turn the key for the last time.
Feldthaus, however, was not to be knocked out. He moved to Silkeborg, starting where he left off.
Some of the former employees joined, including his brother Johannes Feldthaus, legendary Aalborg salesman Poul Ingeman Madsen (PIM) and part-time engineer Keld Lund Hansen. The company was called ALUSOL for ALUminium SOLafskærmning. The expansive development from earlier continued and soon the idea of splitting the company in two became a reality. Canopies and awnings were mainly for retailers who needed sun protection, dry weather and a smart decorative facade.
Sunscreens were mainly for office and industrial use, as their function was only sun protection.
For this purpose, the company DASOLAS (Dansk Solafskærmning A/S) was founded by Feldhaus and Lund Hansen. Lund Hansen further developed a new and improved sunshade in extruded aluminum profiles. It was stronger, more attractive in design and, not least, more production-friendly than the old Luxaflex screen. It was patented and named Dasoflex.
Alusol evolved. The first pedestrian streets in Denmark were being established, and the first partially covered pedestrian street in Denmark was a reality with the establishment of the approx. 575 m canopies with transverse roofing in Søndergade in Silkeborg in 1972.
A Nordic Pedestrian Street Conference was held in Silkeborg, where the project was presented to invited trade associations in the Nordic region. From there, things took off and several pedestrian streets were fitted with canopies, including Aalborg, Varde, Viborg, Hørsholm and Lyngby. Several cities in Denmark, Norway and Sweden also joined in.
Alusol had now also established its own offices in Gothenburg and Malmö, as well as an agent in Norway (Jahre Trading).
The product range had also been developed. In 1977, in-house production of canopy awnings was added, while Folding arm awnings continued to be purchased abroad. The Merkel company in Baiersdorf - ERLANGEN was a partner.
Shop facade contracting with canopies, illuminated signs, aluminum windows and doors was an integral part of the concept - Alusol System facades.
The company in Sweden was sold to Dasolas in 1978.
However, the evolution of retail and the appearance of the stores changed, and the canopy began to be replaced by awnings, which could better fit into the re-established architecture of the buildings.
Feldthaus had moved to France with her family to break new ground and further develop the sale of sunshades internationally under the UNISUN umbrella together with Lund Hansen in Dasolas.
In 1980, a new Alusol company, Alusol Systemer A/S, is established and buys the assets of the old company. This company is established by 3 senior employees from the old canopy company, Bill T. Jensen, Peter Woetmann and Benno Knappe. Jensen, Peter Woetmann and Benno Knappe, the latter retired in 1983. Mechanical security in the form of security grilles were entering the Danish market in line with the increasing rate of burglaries.
The products, like many of the sun protection products, were purchased in Germany. In 1983, Engineer Henning Jensen was hired. He had previously been employed at Dasolas and had been involved in the development of the first solar shading system with rotating slats in Denmark. For a short period, he was also co-founder of JSA Solafskærmning and JSA Sikring.
It was decided to start developing their own roller grille system made from aluminum profiles. Alusol was thus the first company in Denmark with its own system. This development continued positively in the years to come, and in 1990 ISS Securitas showed great interest in this security grille concept and bought Alusol.
Alux becomes
After a few years of stagnation and change under Securitas, one of the former owners, Bill T. Jensen, bought back Alusol Solskærmning ApS. Jensen, bought back Alusol Solafskærmning and established a new company, Alux inventar og solafskærmning ApS. Most of the key employees from Alusol/Securitas followed to Alux. In particular, engineer Henning Jensen and salesman Niels Erik Boldreel were the driving forces for many years.
As a foundation for Alux, the established production of shop fittings continued in the newly acquired buildings on Tietgensvej in Silkeborg. Likewise, the key employees from the former furniture company Åge Hermansens Inventarsnedkeri were also hired.
The development of a new roller grille system and new theft concept was initiated and implemented
Eventually, furniture production had to give way to development and was discontinued. The development in sales and production of sun protection and security grilles continued, and the company developed into one of the leading players in the market.
In the fall of 2002, Securitas, which in the meantime had become Falck Sikring, went on the market to divest the mechanical security part that was still in the old Alussol factory in Virklund. Alux stepped in, as it was a natural part of the production and at the same time also a part of the old company. So from January 2003, this part was now part of Alux. Several of the very old employees were still there, so now they were included in the reunion.
Alux was now suddenly producing at 3 production sites, as Alux had also taken over the current domicile on Holmbladsvej. So moving from Tietgensvej, moving production from Virklund and setting up the new factory almost simultaneously was quite a task.
In June 2004, the company was transformed into a public limited company and was thus prepared and ready for further expansion.
A few years later, in May 2006, the competitor TS System in Viborg had problems. Alux entered into negotiations with the owner Mogens Madsen, and shortly afterwards TS System became part of Alux.
TS System's main products were fixed, removable and pivoting grilles as well as some fine polycarbonate products. This patented program fit perfectly into the Alux product range, and still does.
In order to guarantee the best products on the market and provide customers with the best service, Alux aimed to quality certify the entire company and products to the highest standards. In 2008 - on December 19 to be exact - the first ISO 9001 certificate was hung on the wall. It had been a lot of work to get to this point, and everyone was proud that Alux now had a certificate for our quality management system.
In 2013, Alux was named Security Company of the Year at the Security Industry Fair
The reason for this was the newly developed SafeRoller security roller blind and the extensive work in the industry in the area of private security. Alux was also testing security products according to the new EN standards EN1627-30.
As a foundation for Alux, the established production of shop fittings continued in the newly acquired buildings on Tietgensvej in Silkeborg. Likewise, the key employees from the former furniture company Åge Hermansens Inventarsnedkeri were also hired.
Alux was, and still is, a pioneer in certifications that help shape the entire industry and insurance companies. This was also part of the reason why Alux was chosen.
After a few years, it was decided to move more into the construction industry and into the project market for solar shading. At the same time, there was also the implementation of fire protection products, which were also mainly sold to contractors and thus the construction industry.
In late 2016, one of the competitors in the fuse market had problems. In January 2017, Viruma became part of Alux. This added some new brand products to the portfolio, as well as the agency for Alulux in Germany.
Shortly after, Ole Iversen from Midtsun in Skive called and suggested that Midtsun could become part of Alux. They were having problems, and Ole Iversen thought that Midtsun, which was mainly a project organization, would be a good complement to Alux. So in April 2017, it was a reality, and Alux now had a strong and capable project organization.
Alusol, and later Alux, has been there from the very beginning and has grown to become an industry leader with 55 skilled employees. Alux will continue its long traditions and experience in developing, producing, delivering and installing the best possible products that create well-being in buildings and ensure safety and well-being for people.
