Our Story
1979
After three years of development, Doris Rüther completes her invention, QUADRO, in 1979. In the same year, the system is presented for the first time at the International Toy Fair.
The first prototypes had already been 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 certification of the entire QUADRO system, even though this was entirely new territory for TÜV.
In mid-1979, QUADRO becomes an independent family business. The new direction is defined: QUADRO is not intended to be just one product for one market, but a system for many markets across the entire leisure sector, for children and adults, at home and in the garden, indoors and outdoors.
1981
Thanks to its ingenious product ideas, QUADRO wins the Product of the Year award, presented by the Consumer Plastic Goods Association within the GKV.
The Design Center Stuttgart awards QUADRO the gold medal for outstanding design.
In Japan, QUADRO is named the best imported consumer product in the annual ranking of the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun.
QUADRO continues to grow, one small and large step at a time: miniQUADRO is developed and worldwide distribution gathers momentum.
1980s
Countless inventions expand the product range, including air-filled tubes for rafts and various vehicle sets.
The QUADRO Gearbox and QUADRO Drive reach series-production maturity. QUADRO garden furniture and QUADRO exhibition displays are introduced.
In the USA, QUADRO receives the Parents' Choice Award in Boston in 1986.
1990s
As true innovations, the Curved Slide and Modular Slide are introduced to a broad international audience. Like everything from QUADRO, they are fully compatible with one another. A Curved Slide can be combined with a Modular Slide, or one Modular Slide with a second Modular Slide, to create a double slide.
QUADRO becomes even more colorful. The four colors are now standard in every large construction kit.
Acrylic panels become part of the QUADRO system and make greenhouses for children possible.
In Germany, QUADRO wins the 1995 Product of the Year award and thus the gold medal of the Consumer Plastic Goods Association within the GKV for the QUADRO Poolhouse.
Along the way, QUADRO's suitability for desert conditions is tested at the Paris-Dakar Rally. ;-)
1995
The QUADRO Poolhouse wins the Product of the Year award for plastic goods. miniQUADRO gains even more independence and receives the claw plate for more unusual designs.
1998
The QUADRO children's furniture program wins the Product of the Year award for plastic goods. Trailers are also developed that function as complete playmobiles.
2004
At the beginning of 2004, a complete realignment of the company structure becomes necessary. From then on, further development, production and worldwide distribution are handled by the family business QUADRO DER GROSSBAUKASTEN GmbH.
Now managed by the second generation, the company is responsible worldwide for highly consistent brand protection, including patents, copyrights and other intangible rights.
Our passion for innovation and new developments leads, among other things, to the Integral Slide, which can be connected to any QUADRO climbing frame without screws. We develop the world's first model database with hundreds of different indoor/outdoor climbing frames and create the QUADRO multimedia CD-ROMs, including the QUADRO computer program.
today
Since the beginning, the basic QUADRO system has changed very little. Through a wide range of new developments from 1979 to today, however, QUADRO play and sports equipment has been consistently expanded with countless new design possibilities. QUADRO products made today are still fully compatible with earlier products dating back to 1979.
QUADRO is not a disposable toy or seasonal item. For more than 40 years, it has been THE active play toy children should grow up with. It lasts for generations and is well thought out, sturdy and safe. It is just as creative and lively as your child.
One of the fundamental goals of QUADRO inventor Doris Rüther (*17 October 1947; † 26 September 2005) was to develop a toy that was as versatile and robust as possible, fully compatible within the QUADRO system, creative and playful, and interesting throughout childhood. These goals remain fully valid today and guide all our design decisions and new developments so that QUADRO will continue to have the decisive advantage over other toys in the future.
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Best regards
Your QUADRO Team
