HERTALAN

For years HERTALAN is a household name in the European market EPDM with its name originating back to 1968.

In 1965 Hertel B.V. Kampen (Netherlands) produced the first butyl rubber membrane and continued the reaseach and development of this new product. In this period, particularly in the Middle East and North America it became apparent that this was the emergence of a high performance waterproofing material with the production of synthetic rubber EPDM. Partly because this new type of rubber was extremely resistant to changing conditions (weather, heat, UV and sunlight), it was found to be extremely suitable to be used as a roofing material.

DUTCH STATE MINES | DSM

DSM was at that time very active in developing new synthetic products and particularly saw growth opportunities with EPDM. DSM developed this EPDM and gave it the brand name Keltan. In the search for manufacturers who could develop this semi-finished product to a complete construction product, DSM earmarked several producers, (mainly in tires and profiles), to possibly partner with.

The experience Hertel had with the production of a homogeneous film, made of rubber (Butyl), eventually proved decisive in DSM choosing them to partner with. Cooperation between the two R & D departments in 1968 led to the first EPDM membrane being produced. The EPDM roofing material was put into the market under the name Hertalan, which is a combination of the words Keltan and Hertel.

KELTAN®

Keltan® has become a part of LANXESS Performance Polymers and now employs 700 people. It positions itself as still "the only global company - since 1967 -.that is completely focused on EPDM. This allows us to excel in everything we do for our customers."

This powerful wording is closely aligned with where we stand. It can rightly be said that at that time DSM had created the perfect choice for the development of EPDM membranes.