Black and white group photo of people in front of a building with large windows and a sign that reads 'SONEBORNER RIEC' in the background.

125 Years of Progress and Dedication

Our Heritage

Our history began in 1899, when Gus Sonneborn and the Rieck family established Sonneborn & Rieck Limited as a producer of French Polishes for pianos. Since then, we have evolved into a leading manufacturer of specialist paint coatings for automotive, wood and cosmetics packaging. In 2010, we became a part of the Fujikura Kasei Group, and our company name changed to Fujichem Sonneborn Limited (FCS) the following year.

Over the years, we have built a reputation for adapting to market demands and developing next-generation coating technologies without compromising our core values of product quality and customer satisfaction.

Today, we continue to improve the appearance and longevity of wood and plastic components with a steady flow of sustainable coating solutions, and nurture success through developing long-term partnerships with our customers and OEMs.

Black and white photo of a vintage street scene showing a jaxe bus and several cars parked outside. Men are standing near the vehicles, and shops in the background advertise varnishes and something called "Sonnebornbeck."
Historical black and white photo of a street scene with vintage cars parked in front of a building, and people dressed in early 20th-century clothing walking nearby.
Black and white photograph of an early 20th-century delivery truck with advertising for XAL Varnishes & Polishes, parked outdoors. A man in a suit and hat is sitting on the vehicle's running board. Buildings are visible in the background.
A historic black and white photograph of the RMS Titanic sailing on the ocean with multiple flags, including the Union Jack, flying on its masts and smaller ships nearby.

Sonneborn & Rieck interior coatings were used in Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia - built in 1953.

Enriching the Texture of Wood from Pianos to TV Cabinets

1899

Established as Sonneborn & Rieck, a producer of clear French Polish for pianos and furniture.

1900 - 1930s

Introduced high gloss coatings for furniture and radio cabinets.

1930 - 1960s

Introduced stable polyester systems for TV cabinets.
Continued to grow in the wood coatings market.

A collage of two images: on the left, an industrial farm scene with silos and agricultural buildings under a cloudy sky; on the right, a busy kitchen or food service area with workers in white uniforms preparing food.

Hainault Lab 1970s

Construction site with a large building, multiple trucks, and parked cars; fenced entrance and cleared pathways.

Chesterfield Factory, circa. 1975

New Beginnings – High Technology Coatings for Plastics

1970 - 1980s

Introduced coatings for automotive plastics and teletronics.
Launched “in-mould coatings” for automotive applications.

1990s

Introduced “scratch resistant coatings” for forward lighting.

The Era of Widening Our Global Reach

2000

A Global Alliance agreement was made with Fujikura Kasei Co., Ltd. & Red Spot Paint & Varnish Co. Inc.

2008

Customer Service Unit opened in France.

2010

Acquired by Fujikura Kasei Co., Ltd.

2011

The name of the company was changed from Sonneborn & Rieck Limited to Fujichem Sonneborn Limited.
Exited from the powder coatings business.

2012

New Production Hall, for automotive and UV coatings, opened in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
Customer Service Unit opened in Germany.

2013

Research & Development Centre opened in Hainault, Essex.

2017

Hainault Headquarters renovated.
Application Centre opened in Hainault, Essex.
Lecture Room opened in Hainault, Essex.

Laboratory technician in blue gloves operating a centrifuge machine in a laboratory setting.
White industrial room with closed doors labeled 'Dry Back Spray Booth', control panel with buttons and indicator lights, gauges, and a small window in the wall.
A person loading a slide into a microscope.
Industrial equipment with a large blue robotic arm and digital controls, installed in a high-tech manufacturing or research facility.
Aerial view of an industrial warehouse with loading docks, trucks, and various storage areas, surrounded by parking lots and green spaces.