Koni started life in 1857 producing saddles and harnesses for horses in a small shop in Oud-Beyeland, a town near Rotterdam in Holland. It was not until 1918 that Koni became involved with motor vehicles when they started producing leather covers for car springs. Having seen that the motor car was the way forward, Koni started to produce friction dampers in 1932. During the second world war in 1944, Koni switched production to manifolds which were used to switch between gas & petrol.

In 1948 Koni produced their first Hydrualic dampers. The business then went from strength to strength, and in 1953 a second factory was set up in France. 1957 saw Koni enter the Formula one scene where there were a number of teams running on Koni suspension for the first time.

A new venture was started in 1960 when Koni started to manufacture Railway dampers. Many of the train builders still use Koni today and this has become a huge part of Koni. Another factory was opened in 1972, this time in Germany. The giant American corporation ITT buys all Koni shares and takes over the company and, just a year later, opens the 4th Koni operation in the USA.

1998 saw a huge extension added to the Dutch factory to house a new fully automated warehouse, this being some 15 meters tall. Further improvements were made in 2002 when a new painting facility was added. Koni now employ over 800 people at their 4 locations. 

.