From a Side Project to a Full-Time Innovation

Expanding the Vision: 1980s

SCHIENE’s popularity grew steadily as tile installers across Europe discovered its benefits. Initially, Werner Schlüter shared the product informally with friends and colleagues. He was still working as a tile setter and producing SCHIENE as a side business, offering it to fellow professionals who immediately saw its value. But as word spread and demand surged, what began as a small-scale endeavor evolved into a full-time business, now called Schlüter-SCHIENE.

Throughout the 1980s, Schlüter-SCHIENE expanded the product line, introducing profiles in various materials and finishes. The SCHIENE’s enhanced design—featuring a patented anchoring leg with trapezoid perforations—quickly became a hallmark of the brand. These innovations ensured that SCHIENE could adapt to the evolving needs of tile installers and designers alike.

Schlüter understood that installers wanted not only a functional solution but also something that would enhance the appearance of their work. The introduction of profiles in various finishes allowed SCHIENE to blend seamlessly into different design aesthetics, whether bold or understated. As demand grew, the company began offering color-coated finishes and even plastic versions of the profile, later marketed under the name JOLLY.

Broadening Horizons

By the mid-1980s, Schlüter-SCHIENE was no longer just a single-profile product; it had become the foundation of a growing range of innovative solutions for tile installation. Recognizing the need to address challenges beyond tile edge protection, Schlüter developed complementary products to improve installation durability, aesthetics, and functionality.

One of the key developments during this period was the introduction of the DILEX series, which addressed a critical issue in tile installations—expansion and contraction. Traditional tile installations often suffered from cracks and failures due to structural movement, but DILEX movement joint profiles provided a flexible solution that absorbed stress and prevented damage. This reinforced Schlüter’s commitment to solving real-world problems faced by tile professionals.

At the same time, Schlüter began experimenting with membrane technology, leading to the early development of two of today’s most well-known products: DITRA and KERDI. These products would eventually change the way tile was installed by offering waterproofing and uncoupling benefits, but in the 1980s, they were still in the early stages of development. Even then, it was clear that Schlüter was looking at the bigger picture, aiming to provide a complete system for tile installation rather than just individual components.

Taking SCHIENE Trans-Atlantic

A pivotal moment came when a German tile setter living in Montreal, Canada, introduced the SCHIENE profile to Reinhard Plank, a distributor at World Mosaic. At first, Plank was unsure about the product’s potential in the North American market, where tile installation methods and preferences differed from those in Europe. However, after testing SCHIENE and recognizing its benefits, he decided to bring it to his customers.

This connection marked the beginning of SCHIENE’s journey across the Atlantic. The demand from Canadian tile professionals signaled a major opportunity for Schlüter-SCHIENE to expand beyond Europe. The company recognized that North America represented a vast and largely untapped market for its products, and the positive reception of SCHIENE was proof that there was a need for high-quality, well-designed tile profiles in the region.

A Bold Step Forward

To support this expansion, Schlüter-SCHIENE needed a dedicated presence in North America. This led to the early discussions that would eventually result in the establishment of Schluter Systems Inc. in Plattsburgh, NY, in 1989.

The late 1980s set the stage for a transformation that would propel SCHIENE to global recognition. By establishing a foothold in North America, Schlüter-SCHIENE positioned itself as a leader in the tile industry—not just in Europe, but worldwide.