1911 - 1959
1911
Inicio da actividade empresarial, com um capital de 50$, estando estabelecida durante 8 anos numas instalações rudimentares num moinho arrendado nas margens do Rio Ave, com a finalidade de produzir única e exclusivamente facas.
Installation of the plant in its own headquarters in Caldas das Taipas, which at the time was selling items of cutlery with the brand "marca 11" - year of foundation of the company.
1919
1959
Death of the founder Manuel Marques and succession of his sons Abel and Jose Marques, in the direction of the company. This phase is marked by the onset of a new guideline, where investments and improvement of working conditions were the "north".
1960 - 1987
1963
Period characterized by the born and registration of the brand HERDMAR (Marques Heirs), as well as the creation of the legal enterprise Manuel Marques Herdeiros Lda. This phase is strongly marked by the recruitment of several workers, for the Portuguese armed forces, which would defend national interests in the African colonial wars. This promoted a reengineering process with arrival of more sophisticated machinery, giving the factory technical conditions that allowed a larger scale production, lower manufacturing times and consequently lower cost and higher quality products.
The 60's were also marked with the beginning of the "internationalization" of the brand, which sets the first commercial relations with the Portuguese colonies in Africa.
Being Pioneer, Herdmar launches the first stamped model for the market, also starting at this period selling models in 18/10 (Cr-Ni).
1968
1970
The first logo and catalog were created, in order to assist this embryonic process of internationalization, where competitiveness is a key factor for the continued development of the company, where the import of raw material (stainless steel) allowed a more attractive selling price and good receptiveness by the markets.
In clear development and brand expansion in the 70s, Herdmar starts producing and selling some stainless steel tableware and kitchen utensils.
1st Participation in national and international fairs, starting this decade regular participation in CERAMEX (Lisbon), MACEF (Milan) and Ambiente (Frankfurt).
1982
1988 - 2020
1990
As a result of accession to the EU market, a strong increase in demand originated mostly by foreign customers, which led to a large increase in sales volume, consistently instilling a fundamental acquisition of "know-how" occurs.
Constitution of the anonymous society, Manuel Marques Heirs and assignment of administrative members of the 3rd generation of heirs of the Marques family offices.
1996
2002
Materializes the change of manufacturing facilities built thinking about your purpose, equipped with the most modern technologies, with high level of automatisms and providing excellent working conditions. This event, made possible an increase in the efficiency of production processes reaching a production capacity of 140,000 pieces per day and a great improvement of product quality.
Awarded with the "Gold Medal of Merit Industrial" by the Guimarães City Hall, as well as "Business Success Case" by the Ministry of Economy of Portugal and the Chamber of Commerce of Israel.
Herdmar celebrates its centenary, with the completion of a memorable event, which drew more than 500 people, including employees, former employees, customers, suppliers, family and friends.
2011
2015
The model Malmö wins iF Design Award and a Nominee prize for the German Design Award.
Distinction by the IFFHS in Singapore, through the Best Decor Award, rewarding the creativity and quality of the Oslo design among the all the European companies participating in the EU Gateway program.
2017
2018
Gold Prize winner in the first edition of the European Product Design Award with the model Lizz.
Special mention given by the German Design Council to the NOHC project, through the prestigious GDA competition, complemented by distinction with the Excellence Award given by the prestigious British magazine, Tableware International. For the second consecutive year it was given the gold prize award in the EPDA, this time for the Milà salad tong.
2019
2020 - Present
2020
The 4th generation of the Marques family effectively assumes the corporation board, renewing the ambition to continue the consolidation of the brand and company history as a worldwide reference, as creator and table cutlery producer. Company certification under ISO 9001 (Quality System) and ISO 14001 (Environmental System) standards, becoming the first Portuguese cutlery company to achieve certification.
Celebration of the 110th anniversary and two new international designs: German Design Award – Nominee; and for the first time winner of an Iconic Award, both competitions organized by the German Design Council;
Installation of a new photovoltaic power plant for electricity self-consumption (UPAC), which has been added to the system installed since 2012, leveraging energy efficiency in a transition to 100% consumption of green energy, with an average energy equivalence of 40% between its production and consumption.
2021
Based on a philosophy of sustainable development, Herdmar is currently present at tables in more than 80 countries, presenting itself as one of the oldest cutlery brands and a global reference as a cutlery factory, highly committed to feed the project started in 1911 by a man who saw behind his vision field.