A.K.U.

The company's history began in 1911, when the N.V. Nederlandse Kunstzijdefabriek (A.K.U.) in Arnhem was founded by Jacques Coenraad Hartogs, whose father imported mourning crepe from the British firm Courtaulds in Coventry. This was made of viscose or artificial silk, a fiber based on wood cellulose. The capital came from Frederik Hendrik Fentener van Vlissingen of the Steenkolen Handels Vereniging (SHV), who wanted to promote industrialization in order to sell more coal. In addition, Fentener van Vlissingen also knew the German Vereinigte Glanzstoff Fabriken (VGF).

Hartogs joined Courtaulds after graduation in 1907. They were in the process of mastering the manufacturing process of artificial silk. There Hartogs invented a new process for a spinning bath, which he initially offered to Courtaulds, who, however, paid no attention to it. In 1910, he returned to Holland and obtained a doctorate on his work. He wanted to build an artificial silk factory in Holland, which Courtaulds protested against in vain.

In 1913, production began at a factory in Arnhem. Business was good, thanks in part to World War I. This factory was called the Enka. 

In 1969, AKU merged with Royal Salt Organon to form the AKZO group.

Later losses increased and in 1976 the viscose plant at Arnhem was closed.