Our Story
1979
After three years of development, QUADRO was presented for the first time in 1979 by its inventor Doris Rüther with the support of her husband at the International Toy Fair.
The first prototypes were already built in 1977/78 and tested in 16 German Kindergartens, always in close cooperation with TÜV Germany. The results were very positive and led to the certification of the entire QUADRO system, although being completely new territory for the TÜV.
In the middle of 1979 QUADRO became an independent family business. A new concept was decided: QUADRO should not only be a product for one market, but a system for many markets in the entire leisure sector — for children and adults, in the home and garden, indoors and outdoors.
1981
Due to its extraordinary design, QUADRO wins the Product of the Year award presented by the “Fachverband Kunststoff-Konsumwaren im GKV”.
The Design-Center Stuttgart awards QUADRO the gold medal for outstanding design.
In Japan, QUADRO received the award for the best imported consumer goods product in the annual top list of the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun.
QUADRO continues to grow in small and large steps: miniQUADRO is developed and worldwide distribution picks up speed.
1980s
Countless new parts are invented, expanding the product range to include air-filled tubes for rafts and various vehicle kits.
QUADRO Transmission and QUADRO Drive are ready for mass production. QUADRO Garden Furniture and the QUADRO exhibition displays are introduced.
In Boston, USA, QUADRO receives the Parent’s Choice Award 1986.
1990s
As an absolute innovation, the Curved Slide and Modular Slide are presented to a broad international audience. Like everything else from QUADRO, they are developed as fully compatible with one another, making it possible to put slides together to form double slides.
QUADRO becomes even more colorful; the four colors are now standard in every kit.
Acrylic glass panels are integrated into the QUADRO system and make greenhouses for children possible.
Meanwhile, QUADRO is put to the test in the desert during the Paris-Dakar Rally. ;-)
1995
In Germany, QUADRO wins the 1995 Product of the Year award and thus the gold medal from the “Fachverbandes Kunststoff-Konsumwaren im GKV” for the QUADRO Poolhouse.
miniQUADRO gains even more independence and receives the claw plate for more unusual designs.
1998
The QUADRO children's furniture range wins the Product of the Year award for plastic goods. In addition, trailers are developed that function as complete play mobiles.
2004
A complete realignment of the company structure becomes necessary at the beginning of 2004. The further development, production and worldwide sales are now subject to the family company QUADRO DER GROSSBAUKASTEN GmbH.
Now in its second generation, the company is responsible worldwide for extremely consistent trademark protection, including patents, copyrights and other immaterial rights.
Our passion for innovation and new developments has resulted in the integral slide, which can be connected to any QUADRO climbing scaffold without screws.
The world's first model database for an indoor/outdoor climbing scaffold and multimedia CD-ROMs including a computer program are created.
Today
Since QUADRO’s inception, the core system remains unchanged. However, through various new developments since 1979 until today, QUADRO play and sports equipment has been consistently expanded. And today's QUADRO is still compatible with 1979’s.
QUADRO is not a disposable toy or a seasonal item. For more than 40 years, it has been the active play toy that children should grow up with. It lasts for generations because it is clever, stable and safe. It is just as creative and lively as your child.
One of the basic objectives of the inventor of QUADRO, Doris Rüther (17 October 1947 – 26 September 2005), was to develop a modular system that was as versatile and robust as possible while still being creative and playful, and remains interesting throughout childhood. These objectives still exist today and help us with all design decisions and new developments to give QUADRO the decisive advantage over other toys in the future.
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Thanks for reading,
The QUADRO Team
