2017 DAW
The 8th SEC Technology Tour took place on 4 October 2017 at Deutsche Amphibolin-Werke (DAW SE) in Ober-Ramstadt, east of Darmstadt. As before, VAA pensioners in Hanau-Wolfgang were also invited.
With around 5,600 employees, 1,300 of them in Ober-Ramstadt alone, and turnover of approximately €1.3 billion, DAW is a large medium-sized company. Most people know DAW through the Caparol brand, whose trademark is a colourful elephant. The company’s best-known product is Alpinaweiß – Europe’s best-selling interior paint. (The Alpinaweiß brand has existed since 1909!)
Originally, in 1885, the company’s founder Eduard Murjahn wanted to mine manganese ore in the Odenwald. However, during exploratory drilling he came across hornblende minerals (calcium amphiboles). Using these minerals as a basis, he developed paint and plaster powders and called them “Amphibolin”. In 1928, the founder’s son, Robert Murjahn, developed an emulsion binder called “Caparol”, based on casein, paraffin and oleum (a Chinese wood oil), which revolutionised the painting trade.
Innovations such as these have continued to be pursued consistently, now in the fifth generation. They have made DAW, now under the leadership of Dr. Ralph Murjahn, a company operating throughout Europe.