Our Story

1979

After three years of development, Doris Rüther completed her invention, QUADRO, in 1979. That same year, the system was unveiled for the first time at the International Toy Fair.

The first prototypes were built back in 1977/78 and tested in 16 German kindergartens, always in close cooperation with TÜV, the German inspection agency. The results were quite positive and led to the certification of the entire QUADRO system, even though this was completely new territory for TÜV.

In mid-1979, QUADRO became an independent family business. A new direction was set: QUADRO would no longer be a product for one market, but rather a system for many markets across the entire leisure sector — for children and adults, in homes and in yards, 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.

Historical documents

The QUADRO Model Handbook from 1983

pdf, 14.2 MB

The QUADRO Model Handbook from 1994

pdf, 12.1 MB

The QUADRO Model Handbook from 2003

pdf, 14.3 MB

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 goals of QUADRO’s inventor, Doris Rüther (17 October 1947 – 26 September 2005), was to develop a QUADRO system that was as versatile as possible and extremely robust. In addition, not only should the system components be fully compatible with each other, but as a whole, the system should be creative and fun and keep kids interested throughout childhood. Without reservation, these are still the goals today, and they provide direction for all design decisions and new developments to give QUADRO a decisive advantage over other toys in the future as well.

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