Luminarc: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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The firm was established in 1825 in the village of [[Arques]] in northern [[France]] by Alexander des Lyons de Noircarm, who began production by manufacturing glass storage containers known as "[[dames jeannes]]" (demijohns in English), which were popular at that time. In subsequent years, the company diversified into consumer cooking and dining glassware. By the 1960s, the company had mastered the process of manufacturing [[stemware]] and other finer glassware products. One of Arc's signature products is the thick-walled ten-sided working glasses that were a workhorse in French kitchens |
The firm was established in 1825 in the village of [[Arques]] in northern [[France]] by Alexander des Lyons de Noircarm, who began production by manufacturing glass storage containers known as "[[dames jeannes]]" (demijohns in English), which were popular at that time. In subsequent years, the company diversified into consumer cooking and dining glassware. By the 1960s, the company had mastered the process of manufacturing [[stemware]] and other finer glassware products. One of Arc's signature products is the thick-walled ten-sided "working glasses" that were a workhorse in French kitchens after the 1980s. |
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From the 1897 onwards, the company was dominated by the Durand family, who eventually purchased the firm entirely in 1926. |
From the 1897 onwards, the company was dominated by the Durand family, who eventually purchased the firm entirely in 1926. |
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Revision as of 07:24, 26 January 2008
Luminarc is the oldest brand of the 182-year old French glass-making firm currently known as Arc International. From 1826 onwards, the company was known as Verrerie des Sept Ecluses until it was changed in 1892 to Verrerie Cristallerie d'Arques. After a series of acquisitions in the 1990s the group was renamed in 2000 as Arc International.[1]
History
The firm was established in 1825 in the village of Arques in northern France by Alexander des Lyons de Noircarm, who began production by manufacturing glass storage containers known as "dames jeannes" (demijohns in English), which were popular at that time. In subsequent years, the company diversified into consumer cooking and dining glassware. By the 1960s, the company had mastered the process of manufacturing stemware and other finer glassware products. One of Arc's signature products is the thick-walled ten-sided "working glasses" that were a workhorse in French kitchens after the 1980s.
From the 1897 onwards, the company was dominated by the Durand family, who eventually purchased the firm entirely in 1926. To this day, the family continues to be the sole proprietors. The firm adopted a number of practices that positioned it to become one of Europe's leading mass production glassmakers. Examples include the usage of tank furnaces (1933), the construction of modern glass presses (1947), the use of automatic blowing machines (1950), the usage of industrial tempering (1963) and the automization of lead crystal production (1968).
Brands
Brands under the Arc group include its own Luminarc (launched in 1948), Arcoroc (launched in 1963 for use in restaurant industry) Crystal d'Arques (launched in Europe in 1968), Longchamps (launched in US in 1968), Salviati (acquired in Italy in 1999), Mikasa (acquired from US in 2000), Pyrex (under license in Europe from Corning since 2005) and the fine crystal brand J.G. Durand.
According to company figures, it presently employs 16,500 and has net sales of €1.4 billion in 2006.
External links
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