Schlieper & Heyng was founded in 1899 in Plettenberg, Westphalia, by August Schlieper and Heinrich Heyng as a drop forge. After August Schlieper’s death in 1908, Heinrich Heyng continued to run the company alone. In 1932, the drop forge was largely destroyed by a hurricane; it was rebuilt but could no longer be put back into operation.
In 1918, a company was purchased in what was then Erbach, now Nistertal, which initially produced dried fodder and, from 1923, mineral paints. Hugo Vieregge-Heyng ran this business until 1943, when he took it over himself.
In the fall of 1944, the factory in Erbach was largely destroyed by several direct hits during an air raid. When Gerd Vieregge-Heyng returned early from captivity as a prisoner of war in 1945, he made makeshift repairs to the remaining parts of the building and, conscripted by the authorities, began producing fillers for pesticides. However, the customers canceled all orders on the currency reference date of 1948.
The production of black paints was then started and expanded. Later, the company switched to manganese paints for the ceramics industry. In 1961, Gerd and Klaus Vieregge-Heyng jointly took over their parents’ business. After 1968, they gained new customers in the concrete industry with the production of reclaimed iron oxide paints. Klaus Vieregge-Heyng left the company in 1976. The company moved into a new factory building outside Nistertal.
From 1985 onwards, more and more synthetic iron oxide paints were purchased, first from England and then from China after 1988. A Chinese employee is responsible for quality control and organization from an office in Nanjing (China).
Since 1987, a complete range of common iron oxide paints has been manufactured and marketed under the protected brand name “FERROXON”.
In 1993, after completing his studies, Dipl. Ing. Martin Vieregge-Heyng joined Schlieper & Heyng.
In 1998 the legal form was changed to a GmbH and Co KG. The partners are Gerd and Martin Vieregge-Heyng
At the end of 2004, Martin Vieregge-Heyng takes over his father’s shares. He manages the company as managing partner.
In mid-2009, Dr. Ralf Hög joins the company as a further managing partner and strengthens the company’s capabilities with new know-how.
In spring 2012, talks are held about a strategic collaboration with CSC Jäklechemie GmbH & Co KG, Nuremberg. Agreement is quickly reached on the exclusive distribution of FERROXON pigments by CSC Jäklechemie in the D-A-CH region.