What is fiber cement?

Ludwig Hatschek invented fiber cement

Ludwig Hatschek invented fiber cement
Ludwig Hatschek invented fiber cement

Fiber cement is a composite building material consisting of sand, water, cement, and cellulose fibers.

When Ludwig Hatschek invented fiber cement in the late 19th century, he combined the basic elements of the earth: mineral materials, water, air and fire (heat) in a simple filtration process.

A raw and unfinished character

A raw and unfinished character
A raw and unfinished character
Etex, our parent company, has been pioneering fiber cement manufacturing since 1905. Building on this legacy, EQUITONE represents the pinnacle of innovation in Etex's high density facade materials.
 
Each EQUITONE panel is crafted with a distinctive fiber cement texture, making every facade one of a kind. Many of our materials are through-colored, showcasing their raw, authentic character for a bold and natural aesthetic.

A history of creativity

A history of creativity
A history of creativity

In the 1950s leading architects such as Walter Gropius pioneered the use of coated fibre cement panels using the ventilated facade (rainscreen) system.

Designer Willy Guhl created the famous “loop chair” from 1 piece of fibre cement in 1954. This design still bears witness to the core qualities of the fibre cement base material: thin, light, durable and beautiful.

In 1987, Herzog & De Meuron designed the Ricola storage building in Laufen using uncoated fibre cement panels.
The resulting shutter facade, which is a reference to the cardboard boxes inside, inspired our company to start the industrial development of raw untreated fibre cement materials.

 

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