Our history
Who we are
KOMPAN’s purpose is to help our customers create healthier and happier communities, and we have done this since 1970.
A round dot and a square world
When Tom Lindhardt witnessed how much children loved to engage with his art, the idea of making his art into play sculptures came to light. With co-founder Hans Mogens Fenne-Frederiksen,the business driving force, KOMPAN was founded in 1970.
In the 70s, there was a shift in lifestyle as many people were living in cities instead of the countryside. This urbanization forced architects to plan large and often anonymous public housing areas. Tom noticed that "the surroundings lacked color and texture". So he created round and colorful play elements that children could use to navigate the residential areas. This gave the area individuality and identity and gave children something to play on.
Half a century later, his legacy continues to provide children with a landmark to help them navigate through the first fun-filled years of life and, of course, something special to play on. It's a philosophy that is still very much part of our DNA.
Beautiful and timeless design for kids
Tom worked hard and long to perfect his play designs. He wanted them to be striking and attractive in a timeless way. His first product was the Crazy Hen, which today, five decades later, is an iconic modern classic.
This philosophy of designing beautiful and timeless play features is still in our DNA.
Since then KOMPAN has invented and created:
the springer concept
the colorful playhouse
3-dimensional rope structures
360-degree play
the modern playground based on free play, including the Supernova
reinvented wood and nature play as well as thematic play based on play value
outdoor fitness with adjustable resistance
It is in our DNA to give customers beautiful sites that look inviting for decades.
We are the global leader in outdoor play and fitness areas
We design, manufacture, and install more than 1,000 playground or fitness sites every month somewhere across 90 countries – of these, 30 countries do so through our own direct operation and the remainder through carefully selected quality agents and partners. That is one installation every 44 minutes! Having family ownership of KOMPAN in partnership with our top 60 managers enables us to make the best possible long-term decisions for our users, customers, partners, and employees in order to develop and support the communities we serve.
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Play and fitness that develops users
Along with the urbanization of the early 1970s, more and more were women moving into the job market. This meant that an increasing number of children were starting daycare, putting pressure on the children to develop their essential proficiencies – their physical, social, cognitive, and creative skills. That is why KOMPAN created a team of child experts, the KOMPAN Play Institute, to devise products to help development. The abstract themes of products such as Moments Story Makers foster the world of fantasy in the child’s mind, igniting role play and developing social skills.
This philosophy is reflected in our name. Kompan comes from the Danish word for companion and lifelong friend. The playgrounds should be the traveling partner of the child throughout development. In the same way, KOMPAN has a Fitness Institute, KFI, that collaborates with universities in order to make products that have a positive impact on the physical well-being of adult users. On a public level, a healthier community is more economically and environmentally sound. Tax money spent on an outdoor fitness bike reduces the line in the doctor’s waiting room.
