In 1919, Henry Sonnenberg started a machine tool distribution and manufacturing company in Dusseldorf, Germany.  He later extended his operations to Holland. In 1940 Henry moved to the USA where he founded the Douglas Machinery Corporation, a machine tool operation.

In 1946, Henry teamed up with an inventor named Joe Hunter.  Together they established the Hunter Douglas Corporation.  Henry and Joe developed a revolutionary continuous casting and fabrication process for aluminium.  The business model used for its distribution was as innovative as the product.  Hunter Douglas developed a vast network of more than 1,000 independent fabricators in the United States and Canada.  They sold blinds during the day and custom assembled them in their workrooms at night.

The USA business was sold in 1956 when Henry moved to Canada.  Using his European machinery business as a base he built his window covering business outside of the USA.

During the 60s, 70s and 80s Hunter Douglas expanded internationally.  The Group went public in 1969 when its shares were listed on the Amsterdam stock exchange.  In 1971 the Group’s headquarters were moved from Canada to the site that it currently occupies today in The Netherlands.  In 1976 Hunter Douglas re-acquired its former USA business and since that time the Group has expanded and grown around the world to become what it is today, the world-market leader in its industries.