It's time to celebrate!
1 April marks the 81st birthday of the VKR Group and though it is not really an anniversary in the traditional sense, we feel some celebrations are in order, as last year’s big bash had to be put off due to COVID-19. In this article, we take a look back at some of the most significant anniversaries in the VKR Group, and describe the highlights of the celebrations.
V. Kann Rasmussen & Co.
It all started 1 April 1941 during the second World War, when Villum Kann Rasmussen decided to found his own company V. KANN RASMUSSEN & CO – a company specialising in glass roofs. The background for the foundation was a contract for a glass roof of 900 m2 for FDB’s flax herding company Linum in Aarhus, Denmark. The “& CO” in the company name was a bit misleading, because in the beginning there were no other employees than KR himself.
1942 Slagelse vestre school
25th anniversary
For V. KANN RASMUSSEN & CO’s 25th anniversary, all the company’s managers from Denmark and abroad were invited to Søborg for an international strategy seminar. In addition to meetings where the future strategy for the VELUX, VELFAC and VITRAL business areas was reviewed and discussed, the days included visits to the parent company at Tobaksvejen 10, Østbirk Bygningsindustri, Gelsted Bygningsindustri and BBI Metal and plastic products in Bagsværd. The seminar ended with a large anniversary dinner held at Sølyst – the Royal Copenhagen Shooting Range.
Celebration dinner at Sølyst. Photo, 1966
40th anniversary
The first VELUX Collection was inaugurated in Østbirk, Denmark. The exhibition conveyed the first 40 years of VELUX history, and has since been updated so that today it reflects the history until 2016.
Bagsværd Church was also a focal point of the celebration. In connection with the construction of the church, the company group had supplied VITRAL glass panels. The celebratory event included a series of speeches, as well as a lecture on Bagsværd Church by Architect M.A.A. Jørn Utzon.
KR receives a wooden globe from the Group's employees, where all the countries in which the group has companies are painted blue. In his speech of thanks, KR states "Now it's just a matter of painting the rest of the world blue".
“Everything in the church is especially designed by the architect – except the skylights – they are from VELUX. A standard product, impossible to improve. Thank you and congratulations” – note from Architect M.A.A. Jørn Utzon. Photo, 1981
50th anniversary
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary, a painting competition was announced, and all 25 VELUX sales companies were asked to supply a painting made by a local artist. The companies also sent notes of congratulations via fax, (they still exist in a folder in the VKR Company History archives) and a piece of music and a video was composed intitled VELUX Mosaic.
KR is presented with the sculpture “Tankevækkeren”, a gift from all employees. Today, the sculpture is found outside the main entrance of VKR Holding in Hørsholm.
VELUX painting by the artist Ernst Lohse
KR’s 100th birthday
The 100th birthday of the VKR Group's founder Villum Kann Rasmussen was celebrated throughout the company group. All of the then approx. 16,000 employees in the VKR Group worldwide received a digital camera as a gift and were encouraged to take pictures and share them on a photo portal created for the occasion.
VILLUM FONDEN and the Employee Foundation received DKK 750 and DKK 100 million respectively. On this occasion, the VILLUM FOUNDATION awarded 2 grants of DKK 2.5 million each and Professor Emeritus Jens Als-Nielsen from the Niels Bohr Institute received an honorary grant of DKK 500,000 from the VELUX FOUNDATION for his many years of research in neutron and X-ray scattering.
KR100 anniversary magazine
75th anniversary
VKR Holding's 75th anniversary was marked throughout the year 2016. The individual companies were invited to local celebrations and a larger anniversary dinner is held at Sølyst with a large light show.
In connection with the anniversary, the Employee Foundation receives a huge gift of DKK 75 million to ensure future employee grants to an ever-growing group of companies.
An animated film about the story of V. Kann Rasmussen and the roof window is created and several other events are held throughout the year to mark the anniversary.