History
When IKO started its business there were eleven manufacturers of asphalt roofing products in Canada. In this tough and competitive industry IKO has always been a strong and consistent leader, known for setting the standard and offering a quality product at an affordable price. Today, out of those original eleven manufacturers, only two have survived. IKO is one of them.

At IKO, we believe the success and longevity of our company is attributed to four key ingredients: The talent and commitment of our people, top quality products, continuous innovation and state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. This spirit of innovation and quality is the driving force that began the company in 1949 when our founders investigated the suitability of using Alberta asphalt for roofing products. Up until that time, Alberta asphalt was dismissed as unusable in the manufacture of roofing products. Not willing to walk away from a problem, efforts were focused on finding a practical solution.

By 1951 a solution was discovered and a plant was opened in Calgary, Alberta producing asphalt saturated kraft paper for the building industry. This was IKO's first product. Still manufactured today, it is proudly considered to be the best in the industry.

When the product line expanded in 1954 to include roofing shingles, IKO maintained its successful formula of the key ingredients. As a result, IKO asphalt roofing shingles quickly developed a strong and loyal following. With the success in Western Canada, a shingle manufacturing plant in Brampton, Ontario soon followed in 1959. This was followed by a plant in Ham, Belgium in 1972, bringing the products to the European market. Next a plant in Hawkesbury, Ontario in 1976 to meet the growing demands in Canada.

In 1979 IKO acquired its first facility in the United States in Wilmington, Delaware. This was soon followed by the acquisition of manufacturing facilities in Franklin, Ohio and Chicago, Illinois as IKO expanded into the American market.

IKO continued to enhance its capabilities in Canada through the purchase of roofing plants in both Toronto, Ontario and Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1983. The most recent additions have been our newly built facility located in Sumas, Washington, which began production of residential and commercial products in 1999, a new facility in Ashcroft B.C. manufacturing our own colored weathering granules and a brand-new manufacturing plant in Kankakee, Illinois.

In addition to expanding our production facilities, IKO has expanded its line of asphalt roofing products to include organic and fiberglass-based shingles, roofing felts, and APP and SBS modified bitumen roofing systems for commercial and industrial applications. As well IKO has been manufacturing its own polisocyanurate insulation board and made inroads into the air and vapor market too with the recent introduction of the AquaBarrier Air & Vapor line of products.

Through organic growth and acquisition, IKO now offers customers, throughout international markets, a comprehensive range of roofing and structural waterproofing materials. With over 20 production facilities throughout North America and Europe, IKO has become the world leader in the manufacture and supply of asphaltic and bituminous waterproofing products. Most of our competitors have branched out into manufacturing other building materials. At IKO, we intend to stick with what we do best.