Our history - Permasteelisa Group

Our history

Permasteelisa Group is one of the world’s longest established façade contractors, with an unsurpassed legacy of landmark buildings.

1868

1868

Blacksmith Josef Gartner set up a steel workshop in Gundelfingen an der Donau, Germany. Always looking for opportunities, he soon expanded the business.

1900

1900

Gartner’s first international project was creating parts for streetcars in Santiago, Chile.

1903

1903

Gartner trained its first apprentices. Developing young talent remains at the heart of Permasteelisa Group today.

1920

1920

Gartner completed its first construction projects for architects and started to use aluminium, moving on to constructing industrial buildings.

1933

1933

Our Scheldebouw brand was born – producing aluminium parts and furniture for ships and aircraft at the De Schelde Shipyard in the Netherlands. The company gained a strong local reputation for its artisanal work.

1954

1954

Gartner completed its first large-scale façade project, in Cologne, Germany – the start of our journey to becoming a leader in façade engineering.

1958

1958

Scheldebouw entered the Dutch window and curtain wall market.

1973

1973

Permasteelisa’s Italian roots began as a small window manufacturing company in Vittorio Veneto, Italy. It was originally called ISA – short for Infissi Serramenti in Alluminio.

1986

1986

ISA acquired the Australian company Permasteel, which had created the façade for the Sydney Opera House. Permasteelisa S.p.A. was born, laying the foundations for Permasteelisa Group.

1990s

© John Nye

1990s

Permasteelisa Group expanded rapidly, delivering projects across the European, Asian, US and Australian markets.

1995

1995

Scheldebouw joined Permasteelisa Group with 40 years’ experience in the curtain wall market across Europe and the UK. The team went on to create the façade for the Shard in London.

2001

© Karin Jobst

2001

Gartner joined Permasteelisa Group, bringing its engineering excellence, attention to detail and ability to create complex, high-quality steel-and-glass façades.

2000s & 2010s

© Meraas

2000s & 2010s

The Group grew as a transnational enterprise, working on ever-larger projects, expanding into the Middle East and launching into the luxury retail market.

2010

© Thomas Mayer

2010

The first Closed Cavity Façade, installed at Roche Diagnostics in Rotkreuz, Switzerland, set a new standard for sustainability.

2010s

© Stephane Muratet

2010s

Permasteelisa Group’s work in the luxury retail market grew further, with over 500 high-end store façades now delivered.

2020

© Martin Richardson Images

2020

Permasteelisa Group joined the Atlas Holdings family.

Today

Today

Permasteelisa Group shapes city skylines in Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and the Middle East as the leading international façade specialist. Building on our remarkable heritage, our sights are firmly set on creating façades for the future that set new standards of excellence.