Our history

VELFAC was created by the innovative thinking of Danish civil engineer Villum Kann Rasmussen (1909-1993).

For Villum Kann Rasmussen it was completely logical to extend the work done with VELUX products and to start manufacturing facade windows. In 1952, his great passion for daylight, windows and technology came together in the launch of his first facade window, then sold under the VELUX brand name.

He used his own specially developed pivot hinge to construct these first tilting facade windows – based on the same principles as in the VELUX roof windows.

After a decades of facade window manufacture, the VELFAC name and trademark were introduced on 22 October 1962.

The name is inspired by the sister brand VELUX:

VELUX:  VE=Ventilation + LUX=light

VELFAC: VE=Ventilation + L=light + FAC=Facade

On 14 February 1965, Villum Kann Rasmussen laid down his objective that the VKR Group should demonstrate social responsibility with socially useful products through companies that cooperate in an exemplary manner. The model business objective remains a central value and ambition throughout the VKR Group.

"A model company works with socially useful products and treats its customers, suppliers, employees of all categories and shareholders better than most other companies. A model company earns a profit that can finance growth and maintain financial independence."

Villum Kann Rasmussen was a philanthropist and wanted use a significant part of his profits to support large scale research in a range of areas, including technical and natural sciences, agricultural and veterinary sciences, industrial research and enviorment . As a result, in 1971, he founded the not for profit organization known today as the VILLUM FONDEN. It was joined in 1981 by the VELUX FOUNDATION.

After parallel production of facade windows through the 1960s and 70s, V. Kann Rasmussen & Co. acquired the company Ribo Vinduer, founded by local master carpenter Leif Hansen in 1963.

In 1985, many years of development work culminated in the launch of a new revolutionary facade window: VELFAC 200 . Known for its slim and elegant frame, the VELFAC 200 system has been continuously developed and improved ever since - but not at the expense its iconic design, which remains unchanged after more than 35 years on the market.

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Launched to mark the 50th anniversary of the VKR Group, the Employee Foundation was created to support VKR Group’s employees and their relatives in the event of unfortunate circumstances or for educational support.

DOVISTA is established as the holding company for the business area for facade windows and doors. This includes VELFAC and other facade window brands in the VKR Holding Group.

On 1 January 2021, VELFAC was merged with the Danish-owned parent company DOVISTA. VELFAC continues to be part of the VKR group, which employs approx. 19,500 employees worldwide.