It all began in the small Swiss village of Radelfingen in early 1900. Christian Streit, a farmer without great wealth, left Radelfingen to seek work in France. Like so many men in the world, he was spurred on by his duty to provide for his family.
His son Émile thus became a smallholder. Very quickly, he showed skill and dexterity with tools. He repaired, manufactured and was passionate about engines, and practised his art at businesses in the region. The family’s fate was marked by Jeannette’s disability. Her two brothers, Émile and René, created a small job for her making plastic sleeves. Thus, an approach of mutual assistance and solidarity first appeared in 1954.
Émile relished the spirit of enterprise, and production was expanded to the manufacture of plastic bags for Peugeot. SOFANOU was born. The first extruder was purchased in 1958 and was installed in the family home in Anteuil. The company then expanded into a garage and its first workshop in 1964.
Bernard, Émile’s son, joined the company when he returned from military service in 1973.
Self-taught, he listened and learned. In 1984, Bernard took the reins of the company and embarked on a shift in direction that would prove strategic. After 30 years as an artisanal firm, SOFANOU entered its industrial era.
An exciting period of change was beginning in the automotive sector: become a specialist, diversify your customer portfolio and grow. The company then moved into the extrusion of convoluted tubing for the protection of on-board wiring harnesses.
Two ambitious plans were put in place to give the company a global dimension, with a “European market” component in the 90s, and an “American market” component in the 2000s, in order to position the company as a leader in these geographical areas.
These plans were backed by financial partners and an IPO on the Paris stock exchange in 1996.
The 2000s saw the DELFINGEN Group position itself in emerging countries (Brazil, China, India, Thailand), with the aim of continuing its deployment in Asia, one of DELFINGEN Industry’s main challenges in order to continue to dare, move and undertake.
In 2007, all the Group’s entities joined forces under the name DELFINGEN, a nod to the history of a global Group born in a small Swiss village (RADELFINGEN).
Keen to diversify its products, in 2010 the DELFINGEN Group launched a new fluid transfer activity, making the company a key player in the fuel tank environment. Due to new vehicle transmission modes (electrification and hybridisation), which in particular require battery cooling, this activity is now even more strategic for the DELFINGEN Group.
The acquisition of German companies LANGENDORF and MBG strengthened the presence of DELFINGEN among German automotive suppliers and manufacturers, as well as its technological content in textile sleeves. It offers the widest range of wiring harness and hose protection solutions on the market.
In 2017, the DELFINGEN Group acquired the DROSSBACH North America Group, which specialises in the manufacture and distribution of wiring protection solutions for the transport, industry, environment and robotics markets.
DELFINGEN pursued its strategy of growth with the acquisition of Schlemmer’s Europe/Africa activities. This growth operation was particularly significant: it enabled the Group to become the leader in its sector, strengthen its position in the German automotive market and increase its capacity for innovation in solutions for hybrid and electric vehicles.
In 2023, the Group continues to grow with the acquisition of AHN Chem (South Korea), specialized in textile sheaths, and REIKU (Germany), recognized in the industrial market for its cable management and protection solutions for robotics.
Gérald STREIT, representing the 3rd generation, became Chief Executive Officer in 2015, then Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 2018.
Gérald STREIT is supported by an Executive Committee of 8 members, representing the Group’s main functions, activities and geographical areas. Gérald STREIT and the members of the Executive Committee regularly attend investor meetings to discuss the Group’s strategy and its various markets (mobility, industrial, etc.).
Under the impetus of Gérald STREIT, a strategy based on ethical and responsible leadership is implemented, with a strong environmental focus.
The Group is also expanding its presence in the industrial market, with several acquisitions of well-known brands in this market (DROSSBACH, SCHLEMMER, REIKU, ….), bringing its products and customer approach to this global market.