Our history
Heir to a long family history and four generations of manufacturers, Plastic Omnium is the total embodiment of entrepreneurial passion. Our history is a continuing blend of entrepreneurism and financial rigor, of manufacturing and human challenges, with a single objective: to keep moving forward, innovating and driving revolution in the automobile industry since 1946.
A passion for enterprise
The story of Plastic Omnium is an industrial and human adventure, full of the spirit of entrepreneurism and innovation. Today, that story enables us to take on the latest technological challenges of the automobile sector with enthusiasm and ambition.
Find out about the innovations and major events that form our identity.
70 years of innovation
April 15, 1946
Pierre Burelle creates Plastic Omnium
1947
Pierre Burelle envisions all of the components that, through the use of plastics, could improve the car and its weight. He counts 47 of them
1952
Settling in Levallois-Perret, still today the administrative headquarters
1963
Construction of the first plant in Langres (France)
1965
UMDP and Plastic Omnium merge, birth of the Environment Division
1966
Raymond Loewy, the father of industrial design, creates Plastic Omnium's iconic logo
1975
Plastic Omnium reaches 1,000 employees and €14M revenue
1980
Launching of the plastic bumper activity
1986
Acquisition of Landry and launching of the fuel system activity
1995
International development accelerates, 50% of sales are generated outside France
2000
Creation of Inergy Automotive systems with Solvay, Belgium. 11.5 million fuel systems produced, presence in 17 countries on four continents
2003
Opening of Σ-Sigmatech, the International R&D Center (500 engineers), dedicated to exterior body parts
2007
Plastic Omnium operates in China
2010
100% control of Inergy Automotive Systems, World leader of fuel systems
2013
Opening of α-Alphatech, the International R&D Center (600 engineers, 20 different nationalities, €65M investment), dedicated to fuel systems
2016
Purchase of Faurecia's Exterior Systems business, the biggest acquisition in Plastic Omnium’s history
2017
Plastic Omnium celebrates its 70th anniversary at the Grand Palais in Paris
2018
Divest of the Environment business. Majority control of HBPO, 2 strategics partnerships with Brose and Hella. The Group is stepping up its innovation strategy for a cleaner and connected car
2019
• A new ambition for the Group's CSR strategy
• Opening of 2 new R&D centers, Ꙍ-Omegatech (China) and Δ-Deltatech (Belgium), dedicated to new energies
• 1st international certification for a 700-bar hydrogen storage tank
• 1st contract for the development of 350-bar hydrogen tanks
• Opening of 2 new R&D centers, Ꙍ-Omegatech (China) and Δ-Deltatech (Belgium), dedicated to new energies
• 1st international certification for a 700-bar hydrogen storage tank
• 1st contract for the development of 350-bar hydrogen tanks
2020
Compagnie Plastic Omnium modifies its governance:
Laurent Burelle becomes Chairman, Laurent Favre joins the group as Chief Executive Officer and Félicie Burelle is appointed Managing Director
Laurent Burelle becomes Chairman, Laurent Favre joins the group as Chief Executive Officer and Félicie Burelle is appointed Managing Director