Vivechrom: 90 Years of History, 90 Years of Innovation in Paint

The Early Years: From the Company's Foundation to the Post-War Period

Dr. Stefanos D. Pateras was the fourth of the six sons of the renowned shipping family from Oinousses. Breaking away from the family's maritime tradition, he pursued academic excellence and earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Bonn, Germany.

Following the population exchange of 1922, the arrival of Greek refugees led to the allocation of vast tracts of land, leaving very few sites available for industrial development near the Port of Piraeus. Upon his return to Greece, Stefanos Pateras acquired a 2,500-square-meter plot in Nikaia, formerly occupied by the Pantelidis brothers' carpet manufacturing facility.

In 1932, Stefanos D. Pateras, together with other partners, founded the limited partnership "Dr. Stefanos D. Pateras & Co.", operating under the trade name VIVECHROM (Varnish and Paint Industry). The factory facilities were just a short distance from the American Women's Hospital and adjacent to the Kanapitseri stream. The company's mission was the industrial production, processing, import, export, and trading of all types of varnishes, paints, and plastic materials.

The year 1932 also marked the end of the Great Depression's most severe phase. It was also the final year of Eleftherios Venizelos' government. Although the Greek drachma had been taken off the gold standard and protective tariffs had been strengthened, the country's political and social environment however, remained highly turbulent. 

During the Interwar Period, VI.VE.CHROM grew into Greece's second-largest paint manufacturer, with its principal competitors being IRIS Paints, based in Elefsina, and CHRO.PEI., located on Piraeus Street.

The manufacturing facility was a typical interwar industrial complex, consisting of relatively low-rise, cubic buildings arranged around a central courtyard. It occupied an entire city block bounded by Taxiarchou Alan P. Block Street (originally 36th Street, later renamed Kyprou Street), Veroias Street, and Kilikias Street. The main entrance to the factory was located at 83 Veroias Street.

The factory buildings, which included two packaging halls, raw material warehouses, a machine shop, a nitrocellulose ("Nitrol") production area, a chemical laboratory, a dry paint storage facility, two engine rooms, administrative offices, employee changing rooms, and a staff canteen, among other facilities, were constructed in two phases. The first phase took place progressively between 1932 and 1939, while the second phase was completed in 1949.

The company also maintained offices and a warehouse in Athens, initially at 6 Karytsi Street and later at 22 Nikis Street.

During the German Occupation of Greece (1941–1944), the Pateras family withdrew from the management of the company. The factory was requisitioned by the occupying authorities and operated under the control of the occupation government.

The Golden Age of the Paint Industry

Following the liberation of Greece after World War II, VIVECHROM. modernized its production facilities with advanced German machinery, enabling the company to become the market leader in architectural and decorative paints in Greece.

During the post-war period, the paint industry became closely linked to—and highly dependent on—the country's booming construction sector, much like many other industries that evolved alongside the rapid growth of building activity. At the same time, VIVECHROM expanded its specialization in paints and coatings for both the construction industry and the maritime sector. Notably, the entire fleet of the Pateras family was coated with VIVECHROM marine paints. This close relationship with the construction industry enabled the paints and varnishes sector to experience extraordinary growth. From 1945 and for nearly three decades, the period came to be widely regarded by industry professionals as the Golden Age of the Greek paint industry, despite ending with a significant market slowdown.

In 1961, the company's original factory ceased operations at its Nikaia location, and the site was officially incorporated into the city's urban development plan. The former factory grounds, which by then extended as far as Lambrou Tzavella Street, were redeveloped into an educational complex. Today, the site is home to the 1st Vocational High School (EPAL) of Nikaia "Panagiotis Giannakis" and the 4th School Laboratory Center (SEK) of Piraeus.

Following its relocation from Nikaia, the company moved in 1961 to Mandra, Attica, where it established new, state-of-the-art production facilities on a 100-stremma (approximately 25-acre) site. The new plant positioned the company at the forefront of technological innovation in the Greek paint industry.

A decade later, in 1972, the company was reorganized as a public limited company (S.A.), with a share capital of 55 million Greek drachmas.

The Modern Era: Vivechrom's International Presence

In September 1990, Diamantis Pateras, the son of the company's founder, was seriously ill when Nobel Industries, a multinational leader in the global paints and coatings industry, proposed the acquisition of the company. He accepted the offer and passed away just 15 days after the sale.

Under the agreement, 51% of the company was acquired by Nobel Industries, while the remaining 49% was transferred to the Chemagra and MegaColor groups, both controlled by Greek investors.

In 1994, Nobel Industries merged with the Dutch chemicals giant Akzo SA to form Akzo Nobel (AkzoNobel), one of the world's leading paints and coatings companies. Over the following years, the two minority shareholders, Chemagra and MegaColor, gradually divested their holdings, resulting in AkzoNobel becoming the company's principal owner.

Vivechrom Today

Today, Vivechrom is Greece's leading paint company and a proud member of AkzoNobel, the world's leading paints and coatings company. Since 1932, the Vivechrom name has been synonymous with premium product quality, innovation, reliability, and outstanding customer service, earning the trust of professionals and consumers alike for more than 90 years.

With 225 employees and more than 2,000 points of sale across Greece, Vivechrom offers professionals and consumers a comprehensive portfolio of high-quality paint and coatings solutions for every space, application, and aesthetic preference.

As part of its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Vivechrom was the first paint manufacturer in Greece to implement integrated management systems for Quality, Environmental Management, and Occupational Health & Safety. The company is also among the founding principal members of the Hellenic Network for Corporate Social Responsibility.

At Vivechrom, we honor our rich heritage while looking confidently toward the future. For more than 90 years, we have earned the trust of paint retailers, professional painters, construction companies, engineers, architects, and homeowners through our unwavering commitment to quality, innovation, and service.

We are proud that, for nine decades, we have been bringing color to homes throughout Greece.

Sources

• Veranis, G. 100 Memories. National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF), Athens.
• Dritsa, M. (1995). The Color of Success. Athens.
• Vivechrom Archives.