Corona Celebrates 135 Years Improving the Lives of Consumers Around the World

  BOGOTA, COLUMBIA - 08/25/2016 (PRESS RELEASE JET)

Corona, a leading Colombian multinational corporation dedicated to manufacturing and distributing products and solutions for home improvement and construction, celebrates its 135^th anniversary this month. Throughout its history, this family-controlled company has upheld the values of its owners, the Echavarria family, and has managed to leverage its expertise in non-metallic minerals to transform Corona from a dishware manufacturing operation to a diversified multinational corporation with a strong presence in more than 50 markets around the world, including the United States.

Corona´s more than 15,000 employees are at the center of the company´s 29 manufacturing facilities across the United States, Mexico, Central America, Colombia and Brazil. There are six business units that deliver home improvement and construction products and solutions to customers globally.

Corona was founded in 1881 in Colombia under the name Cerámica Antioqueña,  specializing in the manufacturing of ceramic and glass products. In 1935, when it was acquired by the Echavarria family, Corona established its founding corporate values based on the principles of the Echavarria family. These values continue to guide the company´s actions that seek to create shared value from financial, social and environmental perspectives. Today Corona is widely recognized for its corporate citizenship and values. The company is passionate about customer service, responsibility to society and honesty from employees.  

The founding principles and the company´s commitment to innovation are two key factors behind Corona´s sustained growth and diversification. Corona has catapulted from a fledgling ceramic dishware manufacturing operation to an industry leader recognized for its ceramic dishware, floor tiles, kitchens and bathrooms, sanitary ware and faucets. Corona is also associated with the production of innovative and differentiated paint products, ceramic and polymeric electrical isolators, solar panels and value-added non-metallic minerals for various industries. Additionally, Corona has strategic alliances in research and investigation with more than 40 universities worldwide as part of its open-innovation initiative. 

Over the years the Echavarria family has played a key role in working closely with Corona´s executive management team to uphold the founding corporate values and further strengthen the company´s reputation as a world-class organization. Corona is recognized globally as a top-ranked employer and is committed to social and environmental sustainability in all the markets in which it operates.

Corona over the years

• Founded 1881: under the name Cerámica Antioqueña specializing in the manufacturing of ceramic and glass products. In 1935 Gabriel Echavarria Misas, the head of the Echavarria family, acquired the company.

• 1948-1960: Focused on diversifying its product portfolio to include ceramic tiles, porcelain sanitary ware and the extraction and distribution of non-metallic minerals.

• 1961-1980: Took its first steps in its internationalization strategy and opened a factory dedicated to the production of sanitary ware products for consumers in the United States.

• 1980s: Extended its ceramic tile business to different markets in the Americas.

• 1990s: Strengthened its retail business with a network of large-format home improvement stores and partnered with Chile-based Sodimac to develop Homecenter and Constructor (Builder), leading home improvement and professional construction supply retail formats.

• 2004: Acquired Mansfield Plumbing Products, one of the largest producers of plumbing products in the United States. As a result of this expansion process Corona now has three factories in Mexico, three factories in Central America, three factories in the United States, one factory in Brazil (joint venture with Eternit), a strategic alliance with U.S.-based Lanco to produce and distribute paint and construction materials, and a global sourcing office in China.

• 2015: Announced plans to build a cement factory in Colombia in partnership with Spain-based Cementos Molins. With an initial investment of $370 million dollars, the new cement factory will have an annual production capacity of 1.35 million tons and is expected to begin operating in 2018.

• Today: Corona has more than 15,000 employees that are the driving force behind its 29 manufacturing facilities across the United States, Mexico, Central America, Colombia and Brazil and its six business units deliver home improvement and construction products and solutions to customers in more than 50 markets around the world.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Under the guidance of the Echavarria family in Colombia, Corona has grown from a dishware manufacturing operation to a highly diversified company that includes a complete portfolio of dishware and flatware, ceramic tiles, sanitary ware, faucets, ceramic and polymeric electrical isolators, innovative paints, value-added minerals, solar panels and much more.

• Corona´s more than 15,000 employees are the driving force behind its 29 manufacturing facilities across the United States, Mexico, Central America, Colombia and Brazil and its 6 business units that deliver home improvement and construction products and solutions to customers in more than 50 markets around the world.