Lego

The LEGO Brand

he LEGO brand is more than simply our familiar logo. It is the expectations that people have of the company towards its products and services, and the accountability that the LEGO Group feels towards the world around it. The brand acts as a guarantee of quality and originality. 

The LEGO® Brand values

Imagination:
Curiosity asks, ”Why?” and imagines explanations or possibilities (if.. then). Playfulness asks what if? and imagines how the ordinary becomes extraordinary, fantasy or fiction. Dreaming it is a first step towards doing it.

Free play is how children develop their imagination – the foundation for creativity

Creativity
Creativity is the ability to come up with ideas and things that are new, surprising and valuable. Systematic creativity is a particular form of creativity that combines logic and reasoning with playfulness and imagination.

Fun
Fun is the happiness we experience when we are fully engaged in something that requires mastery (hard fun), when our abilities are in balance with the challenge at hand and we are making progress towards a goal. Fun is both in the process, and in the completion.

Fun is being active together, the thrill of an adventure, the joyful enthusiasm of children and the delight in surprising both yourself and others in what you can do or create.

Learning
Learning is about opportunities to experiment, improvise and discover – expanding our thinking and doing (hands-on, minds-on), helping us see and appreciate multiple perspectives.

Caring
Caring is about the desire to make a positive difference in the lives of children, for our partners, colleagues and the world we find ourselves in, and considering their perspective in everything we do.

Going the extra mile for other people, not because we have to – but because it feels right and because we care. 

Caring is about humility – not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less.

Quality
From a reputation for manufacturing excellence to becoming trusted by all – we believe in quality that speaks for itself and earns us the recommendation of all.

For us quality means the challenge of continuous improvement to be the best toy, the best for children and their development and the best to our community and partners.

LEGO History Timeline

The name 'LEGO' is an abbreviation of the two Danish words "leg godt", meaning "play well". It’s our name and it’s our ideal.

The LEGO Group was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen. The company has passed from father to son and is now owned by Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, a grandchild of the founder.

It has come a long way over the past almost 80 years - from a small carpenter’s workshop to a modern, global enterprise that is now, in terms of sales, the world’s fourth-largest manufacturer of toys.

The LEGO brick is our most important product. This is why we are proud to have been named twice – “Toy of the Century”. Our products have undergone extensive development over the years – but the foundation remains the traditional LEGO brick.

The brick in its present form was launched in 1958. The interlocking principle with its tubes makes it unique, and offers unlimited building possibilities. It's just a matter of getting the imagination going – and letting a wealth of creative ideas emerge through play.

Browse the LEGO history through the decades on your left...

Timeline 1932 - 1939

1939 
The LEGO Factory has 10 employees.

1937
Godfred Kirk Christiansen starts creating models. He is 17 years old.

1936
Godtfred Kirk Christiansen (GKC) cuts Ole Kirk's motto “Only the best is good enough” and hangs it up in the workshop. 

Selected Product News 1936 
Numskull Jack on the goat

1935
The business manufactures its firs LEGO wooden duck and markets “Kirk´s Sandgame” its first construction toy.

Selected Product News 1935
The LEGO Duck
Clothes hangers (Dagny Holm design)

1934 
The company and its products now adopt the name LEGO, formed from the Danish words "LEg GOdt" ("play well"). Later, it is realised that in Latin the word means "I put together".
The firm has 6-7 employees.

1932 
Ole Kirk Kristiansen, master carpenter and joiner, establishes his business in the village of Billund, Denmark. His firm manufactures stepladders, ironing boards, stools and wooden toys.

His son, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, starts working in the business at the age of 12.

Timeline 1940 - 1949

1949
The company produces around 200 different plastic and wooden toys, including Automatic Binding Bricks, a forerunner of the LEGO bricks we know today. They are sold in Denmark exclusively.
The first packaging with four colours is introduced.

Selected Product News 1949
The LEGO Automatic Binding Brick with four and eight studs
A plastic fish
A plastic sailor

1948
LEGO has 50 employees.

Selected Product News 1948
A game of Tiddlywinks

1947
The Windsor SH Plastic Moulding Machine arrives at Esbjerg Port.
As a test, six series of wooden toy animals are exported to India.

Selected Product News 1947
Plastic ball for infants
The educational traffic board game "Monypoli"

1946
The LEGO Group is the first in Denmark to buy a plastic injection-moulding machine for toy production. The machine costs DKK 30,000. By comparison, the revenue of the firm this year is DKK 450,000.

Selected Product News 1946
Wooden bricks with decorations (letters and figures)

1943
The firm has approx. 40 employees.

1942
The LEGO factory burns to the ground, but the production of wooden toys is quickly resumed

1940
Denmark is occupied by the Germans. Godfred Kirk Christiansen does not travel to Germany to study as planned. Instead, he becomes manager at LEGO.

Timeline 1950 - 1959

1959
Futura, the product-development department, now has five members of staff.
A market analysis department is established.
Photography department is established.
LEGO France, British LEGO Ltd., LEGO Belgium and LEGO Sweden are established.

The machines in the production are now so automatic that one operator can handle two machines at a time.
LEGO gives the municipality of Billund approx. 20 acres of land and DKK 50,000 for a sports ground.

Selected Product News 1959
Bilo-fix (wood + plastic)

1958
The current LEGO stud-and-tube coupling system is patented. The new coupling principle makes models much more stable.
Ole Kirk Kristiansen passes away and Godtfred Kirk Christiansen becomes head of the company.
The first telex machine and photocopier in Billund.
140 employees in Billund.

Selected Product News 1958
Sloping (roof tile) bricks
Letter Bricks

1957 
Godtfred Kirk Christiansen is appointed Managing Director.
The LEGO Brick’s interlocking principle is invented.
LEGO Schweiz is established.
The LEGO Group celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Selected Product News 1957
International and Danish flags
A LEGO brick with light inside

1956
The first foreign sales company is established in Hohenwestedt, Germany under the name LEGO Spielwaren GmbH.
The company buys its first own truck.

Selected Product News 1956
Bicyclists and motorcyclists (little plastic figures)

1955
After further developing the LEGO Bricks, the company launches the revolutionary "LEGO System of Play" – creating an new play platform.
The first real export of LEGO begins. First country is Sweden.
Godtfred Kirk Christiansen demonstrates the new product at a toy fair in Nuremberg, Germany. Reactions are not positive.

Selected Product News 1955
LEGO System of Play: 28 sets and 8 vehicles plus supplementary elements

1954
The word LEGO is officially registered in Denmark on 1st May.
Godtfred Kirk Christiansen travels to England and meets a purchasing agent on the ferry. They talk about toys. The agent thinks that toys lack idea and system. This spawns the LEGO System idea in the mind of Godtfred Kirk Christiansen.

Selected Product News 1954
The Beam brick
LEGO windows and doors

1953 
The Automatic Binding Bricks get a new name: "LEGO Mursten" ("LEGO Bricks").
The name LEGO is printed inside all bricks.
The first application for registration of the trademark. The Danish registration is accepted on the 1 May 1954.

Selected Product News 1953“Gift Boxes” containing a plastic Chevrolet building car
Plastic ambulance

1952
Ole Kirk's plans to expand, and a plant is built. It costs DKK 350,000.
The company now has its first canteen.

Selected Product News 1952
Big plastic and wooden cars

1951 
The first ever film about LEGO is shot. The photographer is Christian Lund, and the film is black and white with no sound.
Plastic toys account for half of the company's output.

Selected Product News 1951 
The building base with 10 x 20 studs
The plastic tractor (Ferguson) – both as a building set and as a finished model

1950
Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, son of the founder, Ole Kirk Kristiansen, is appointed Junior Vice President the day he turns 30.

Selected Product News 1950Three sets containing plastic bricks aimed at Kindergardens

Timeline 1960 - 1969

1969
The DUPLO series for under-fives is launched internationally.
843 employees in Billund.
The first LEGOLAND film.
LEGO car tyres are now made of PVC.

Selected Product News 1969
The 12-volt motor joins the Train series
The DUPLO® Brick (after being test-marketed in Sweden in 1968)

1968
LEGOLAND^® Billund opens its gates on 7th June and attracts 625,000 visitors in its first season, 3000 on the opening day.
The first computer in LEGO Group - an NCR 390 for salary administration. The machine costs DKK 85,000.
First sales to Latin America: Peru and Curacao.

Selected Product News 1968Automatic Direction Changer
Jeep (designed by Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen)

1967
The LEGOLAND Band is established.
There are now 218 different LEGO elements (not counting colour variations) and between 18 and 19 million LEGO sets are sold during the year.
The small wheel for small cars is invented – launches in 1970.

Selected Product News 1967
Biplane
Motorised Truck Set

1966
The product range comprises 57 sets and 25 vehicles. A total of 706 million LEGO elements are produced during the year.
LEGO is now sold in 42 countries.

Selected Product News 1966
The battery-driven LEGO Train
Light Brick with wire and light

1965
First sales in Spain.
More than 600 employees in Billund.

Selected product News 1965Tiles
Doll Furniture Set

1964
Model sets, complete with building instructions, are launched as a natural addition to existing Basic and Supplementary sets.
First sales to the Middle East (Lebanon).
LEGO bricks are exhibited at the Danish pavilion at the New York World Fair.
Production plant LEGO Werkzeugbau GmbH in Hohenwehenstedt, Germany opens.

Selected Product News 1964
LEGO Model cars
Jumbo bricks (produced by Samsonite in the USA)

1963 
Godfred Kirk Christiansen presents the company to the ten product characteristics:

1. Unlimited play potential
2. For girls and for boys
3. Fun for every age
4. Year-round play
5. Healthy, quiet play
6. Long hours of play
7. Development, imagination, creativity
8. The more LEGO, the greater the value
9. Extra sets available
10. Quality in every detail

LEGO Elements are now moulded in ABS, a plastic which improves the clutch power.
LEGO Austria is established.
Procurement department established.
INTERLEGO AG is established in Switzerland.
Billund Airport opens.
The first international company film, "Mr. Johnson from Australia", is produced.

Selected Product News 1963Large & Small Wheels & Turn-table
London Bus

1962
The LEGO Wheel is launched after being worked on since 1958.
Sales start in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Morocco and Japan.
LEGO Australia is established.
The first personnel manager hired.

Selected Product News 1962
The LEGO Wheel
The Measurement line (Launched in Denmark in 1963)

1961
The range comprises 50 sets, 15 vehicles and various loose elements.
Sales start in the US and Canada via a license agreement with Samsonite Corp.
First ever strike at LEGO.
LEGO Italy is established.
Godfred Kirk Christiansen buys a small Piper Apache plane (room for two pilots and three passengers) in association with Sonderjyllands Flyselskab (later to become Cimber Air). A landing field is established just outside Billund.

Selected Product News 1961
Big Town Set
Terapi I, II and III (pre-school products)

1960
The wooden toy warehouse is destroyed by fire. Production of wooden toys is discontinued entirely.
Approximately 450 employees in Billund.
LEGO Finland and LEGO Nederland are established.

Selected Product News 1960
Number Bricks
Cardboard Town Plan

Timeline 1970 - 1979

1979
Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen is appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of INTERLEGO A/S.
The DUPLO rabbit logo is registered as a trademark.
LEGO Singapore is established.
Godtfred Kirk Christiansen is appointed Knight of the Order of Dannebrog.

Selected Product News 1979
LEGOLAND Space
FABULAND
SCALA
DUPLO "house box"

1978
“System within a System” – Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen’s development model splits production into product ranges and lines.
The DUPLO Rabbit Logo appears.
The first LEGO Road Show takes place in Dayton, Ohio. Later, this becomes the LEGO World Shows.
LEGO Japan (Nihon LEGO K.K.) is established.
The first telefax is purchased (DKK 68,000).

Selected Product News 1978
LEGOLAND mini figures with movable arms and legs
Base plates with road markings
USS Constallation
The Castle

1977
Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, the third generation, joins the LEGO Group management.
LEGO Australia is established.
DUPLO Factory in Billund is now an independent unit in the LEGO Group.

Selected Product News 1977
LEGO TECHNIC
DUPLO doors, windows and "symbol" figures without arms and legs

1976
LEGOLAND Sieksdorf is closed.
Sculpturer Robert Jacobsen's "LEGO" is revealed in Billund.
Minitalia, that launched in Italy in 1971, is removed from the product line.

Selected Product News 1976
LEGO VILLE 
Harley Davidson motorcycle

1975
LEGO USA moves from Brookfield to Enfield, Connecticut.
Procurement in the US is established.
The LEGO Group has 2,500 employees.
LEGO Portugal is established.
English becomes the official corporate language.

Selected Product News 1975
The Expert Series
Moon Landing
Engine with Firemen (the fore runner of the Minifigure, that launches in 1978)

1974
LEGO Spain is established.
LEGO Overseas A/S is established.
LEGO Futura ApS is established.
The Mount Rushmore replica is created in the LEGOLAND Park.
The LEGOLAND park in Billund receives visitor no. 5 million.
The Esso Motor Hotel (built 1968) in Billund is bought and the name changed to Hotel Vis-a-Vis.

Selected Product News 1974
The LEGO family figures
Car and Caravan

1973 
A single new LEGO logo replaces the various logos that have been used until now. The new LEGO logo unifies all the company's products under one banner.
First sales to Eastern Europe (Hungary).
LEGO USA is established in Brookfield, Connecticut.
LEGO Portugal is established.
German psychologist Karin Grossmann writes the book "Mach mehr aus LEGO". It is a study of 200 children and their play with LEGO bricks.
LEGOLAND Sierkersdorf opens near Lübeck, Germany.

Selected Product News 1973
LEGOLAND ships
The London Bus
Doll's house units, together with furniture components

1972
The license agreement with Samsonite ends in the US.
The Information & Public Relations department is established.
1,8 billion LEGO Bricks and other elements have been produced.
Firs sales to the Czech Republic.

Selected Product News 1972
New LEGOLAND cars
4,4 V train (re-launch)

1971
First sales to the Far East.
New moulding factory opens at Højmarksvej.
Minitalia – a LEGO Competitor-product launches – but only in Italy.

Selected Product News 1971
Doll house elements incl. furniture
The inspirational book "We play with LEGO^®"

1970
Almost 1000 employees in Billund.
First prototype of an adding machine arrives.

Selected Product News 1970
The coloured cogwheels
LEGO Impulse boxes (cars)

Timeline 1980 - 1989

1989 
The educational products department changes its name to LEGO Dacta. The word "dacta" derives from the Greek word "didactic", meaning "the study of the purpose, means and substance of learning and the learning process". 
Dr. Seymour Papert becomes LEGO Professor of Learning Research. 
The first LEGO Dacta Centre opens in LEGOLAND (renamed TECHNIC LAND after a couple of years). 
Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen is inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame.

Selected Product News 1989 
The Pirate line
World People (LEGO Dacta)

1988 
Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen introduces the LEGO Group vision.
Kornmarken factory opens.
The first official LEGO World Cup building championships are held in Billund in August. 
LEGO Canada is established. 
The exhibition "The Art of LEGO" tours the United Kingdom. 

Selected Product News 1988 
DUPLO Circus
DUPLO Plane
Forest People
Black Star
LEGO clothing 

1987 
The brick logo is developed. 
Almost 6,000 employees. 
LEGO Products are now selling in 115 markets.
The LEGO office in South Africa is closed. 
Korean Mountaineer Young-Hu buries a small LEGO model on top of Mount Everst in the Himalayas.
LEGO Historical Collection (aka LEGO Idea House) which was founded in 1980, becomes an independent unit under KIRKBI A/S. Transfers to LEGO A/S in 1991.

Selected Product News 1987 
DUPLO and LEGO buckets 
LEGOLAND Monorail 
Playboard (DUPLO Baby)

1986 
The LEGO Group is granted the title "Purveyor to Her Majesty the Queen" on 16 April (the Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe of Denmark). 
Godfred Kirk Christiansen resigns as chairman of the board of LEGO System A/S and LEGO Overseas and Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen takes over. 
LEGO Fiction becomes LEGO Publishing. 

Selected Product News 1986 
The DUPLO Family (dog included)
The Technic figure
Light and Sound 
Technic Computer Control (educational) 

1985 
The LEGO Prize is founded in April. It is an international annual award of DKK 750,000 (increased in 1989 to DKK 1,000,000) for exceptional efforts on behalf of children. 
Procurement department established in Korea. 
Approx. 5000 employees, 3000 of these in Billund. 
Collaboration with Professor Seymour Papert and the Boston M.I.T. begins. 

Selected Product News 1985 
DUPLO Farm
LEGO Technic Control (educational) 
New range of LEGO trains

1984 
LEGO Brazil is established. 
LEGO Korea is established. 
McDonald’s co-promotion in USA and Canada.
The American, Hong Kong produced, TYCO Brick is launched, leading to lawsuits in several countries.

Selected Product News 1984 
The LEGOLAND Castle Series 
Clive Crocodile (FABULAND) 

1983 
3700 employees worldwide. 
LEGO Overseas holds its first World Distributor Conference in Billund.

Selected Product News 1983 
DUPLO Baby series (incl. six rattles)
Big DUPLO figures with movable arms and legs
DUPLO Train
FABULAND books 

1982 
LEGO South Africa is established. 
The LEGO Fiction department established.
The LEGO Group celebrates its 50-years jubilee with all employees in Billund.
The Book “50 years of Play” is launched.

Selected Product News 1982 
DUPLO Mosaic (educational) 
Technic I (educational) 

1981 
First LEGO World Show in Denmark. 
There is now a LEGO Strasse in Hohenwestedt, Germany.
A new plant for decorating, assembly, packing and warehousing opens in Baar, Switzerland. Closes in 2001.
The Scala Line, which is introduced in 1979, is cancelled. 

Selected Product News 1981 
Edward Elephant (FABULAND)
Educational programme (22 boxes) 

1980 
The Educational Products Department is established. 
Technic Logo is developed by Papermint.
According to a survey, 70% of all Western European families with kids under 14 now have LEGO bricks in their home. 

Selected Product News 1980 
DUPLO pull-along and rocking toys for toddlers
DUPLO sound element

Timeline 1990 - 1999

1999 
LEGOLAND California opens in Carlsbad, southern California, in March. 
LEGO Group undergoes restructuring. The changes result in the loss of 1000 jobs. 
Mitchel Resnick of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is named as the new LEGO Papert Professor of Learning Research. 
The LEGO brick is named as one of the "Products of the Century" by Fortune Magazine. 
LEGO World Shop opens on the internet. 
The first LEGO products-only store opens in the Bluewater centre in Dartford, London, England. 

Selected Product News 1999 
LEGO MINDSTORMS Robotics Invention System 1.5
Star Wars (LEGO SYSTEM) 
Rockraiders (LEGO SYSTEM)
Winnie the Pooh and Friends (LEGO DUPLO)
LEGO TECHNIC Slizers.
ROBOLAB (educational)
LEGO Soft (educational) 

1998 
The brand statement "Just Imagine..." is introduced into the LEGO universe. 
For the first time ever, LEGO Group faces a deficit. 
In April the new LEGO logo is presented. It is a graphically "tightened" version of the logo used for the past 25 years. 
In May there is an urgent recall of the LEGO PRIMO Ladybird rattle from end-consumers and retailers after it is discovered that there is a risk of it lodging in small children's throats. 
LEGO Media International begins collaboration with the Danish Egmont Group on the publication of children's books. 
The Next Generation Forum is established. 
The Japanese emperor Akihito and the empress Michiko visit LEGOLAND Billund. 

Selected Product News 1998 
LEGO MINDSTORMS
LEGO TECHNIC CyberMaster
Eight new LEGO PRIMO sets
Res-Q (LEGO SYSTEM)
X-Treme (LEGO SYSTEM) 
ZNAP 
LEGO Mudhoppers (Kid's Wear)
LEGO Creator (software)
LEGO Chess (software) 
LEGO Loco (software)

1997 
For the first time, a CD-ROM containing building instructions is included with a model set. The set also contains a Bar Code Truck with a programmable bar-code reader. 
A 700 m2 LEGO Imagination Center is opened on 13th October in Disney Village, Florida. 
The first LEGO MINDSTORMS Learning Center opens at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, USA. 
The names PRIMO and DUPLO are changed to LEGO PRIMO and LEGO DUPLO on January 1st. 
Consumer Service Centre Billund and Consumer Service Centre Americas established.
LEGO happening in Kremlin Palace, Moscow (more than 300.000 children participate). 
LEGO Kids Wear shop opened in Oxford Street, London. 

Selected Product News 1997 
LEGO SCALA
Diver theme (LEGO SYSTEM) 
The Bat Castle (LEGO SYSTEM Castle)
UFO boxes (LEGO SYSTEM Space)
LEGO Island (software) 
Yellow Submarine (LEGO TECHNIC) 
LEGO DUPLO Dinosaurs 

1996 
www.lego.com is launched. 
LEGOLAND Windsor, the first LEGOLAND family park outside Denmark, opens on March 29. 
New development department, SPU Darwin, is established. Its work includes the development of software based on and related to LEGO products. 
LEGOLAND Billund has now had 25 million visitors since its opening on in 1968. 
The new LEGO Truck Show takes to the road. 
The LEGO Award goes to actor Paul Newman and the organization "The Hole in the Wall Gang". 

Selected Product News 1996 
Time Cruisers (LEGO SYSTEM)
Western (LEGO SYSTEM)
Exploriens (LEGO SYSTEM Space) 
The children's magazine LEGO Clicks (France and Switzerland) 

1995 
Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, son of the company's founder, passes away on 13th July. 
LEGO Belgium and LEGO Netherlands become LEGO Benelux. 
Weekly LEGO programmes on national television in Latvia and Lithuania. 
LEGO happenings and exhibitions in Latvia, Peru, Hungary, Switzerland, Denmark, Greenland, the USA, Canada, Italy and Ecuador. 

Selected Product News 1995 
LEGO DUPLO PRIMO (DUPLO BABY in North America)
LEGO FreeStyle 
LEGO SYSTEM Aquazone
LEGO TECHNIC Control II 
DUPLO play books

1994 
LEGO Mexico is established. 
First ever TV campaign in China. 
The UNHCR uses LEGO mini-figures on posters around the world. 
The "Travel in Space", arranged by LEGO USA, opens in Space Center, Houston. 
E-mail is taken into use between LEGO Japan and Billund. 
The LEGO Center in Billund opens. 
8,880 employees world-wide. 
Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen is appointed Knight of the Order of Dannebrog.

Selected Product News 1994 
LEGO Belville 
Islanders (LEGO Pirate line) 
Super-Car (LEGO TECHNIC)
Spyrius (Space)
DUPLO playhouse 

1993 
Building happening on the Red Square in Moscow in co-operation with the department store GUM. 
A 60.000m² DUPLO factory opens in Willisau, Switzerland. The plant closes in 2006.
LEGO South Africa is re-established. 
LEGO Kid's Wear launched. 

Selected Product News 1993 
Ice Planet 2002
Forklift truck (TECHNIC)
LEGO DUPLO 4,5-V Train with new rail system and sounds 
The LEGO SYSTEM Basic Brickvac

1992 
A Guinness record in railway line construction is set - 545 meters of LEGO rails with three model locomotives. 
The world's largest LEGO Castle is built on Swedish television. Over 400,000 LEGO bricks are transformed into a castle 4.45 m x 5.22 m castle, measured for the Guinness Book of Records. 
The Second LEGO World Cup Final is held in Billund in August with 32 children participating from 11 countries. 
LEGO Japan is established. 
LEGO Hungary is established. 
For the first time, a large scale introduction of LEGO products is made in the People's Republic of China. 
First LEGO Show in Russia. 
LEGO Imagination Centre is opened in Mall of America in Blomington, Minneapolis, USA. 

Selected Product News 1992 
LEGO Town Paradisa theme
LEGO DUPLO Toolo
Truck with pneumatic elements (Technic)

1991 
Hotel Vis-a-Vis in Billund is renovated and renamed Hotel LEGOLAND. 
7,550 employees. 
The number of moulding machines in the five LEGO factories reaches 1,000.

Selected Product News 1991 
Harbour theme (LEGO Town) 
Ships (re-launch) 
Flex-system elements (Technic) 
9-V train (Travo controlled) 

1990 
The LEGO Group is now one of the world's 10 largest toy manufacturers - the only one in Europe (the others are American and Japanese). 
The magic barrier - one million visitors in a single year - is broken for the first time at LEGOLAND Billund on 4th September. 
Godtfred Kirk Kristiansen, son of the company's founder, celebrates his 70th birthday on 6th July. 
LEGO Malaysia is established. 
LEGO Publishing is renamed LEGO Licensing. 
The LEGOLAND Band issues an LP. 
Professor Xavier Gilbet, IMD, Switzerland, is appointed LEGO Professor, Business Dynamics. 

Selected Product News 1990 
DUPLO Zoo
Model Team 
LEGO Technic Control Center 
LEGO Dacta composing kit

Timeline 2000 - 2010

2009
The LEGO Group is now the world’s fifth largest toy manufacturer in terms of sales.
Warner Bros. and the LEGO Group announce plans to develop the first-ever feature film based on LEGO bricks and icons.
The LEGO Group announces a multi-year partnership with Disney Consumer Products obtaining exclusive rights to construction toys based on the entire portfolio of Disney and Disney Pixar properties.
A completely new product line – LEGO Games – is launched. The line consists of a series of board games that can be played by the whole family. Pilot launch in the UK and Germany. Rest of world to follow.

Selected product news 2009
LEGO Games
Powerminers

2008
The LEGO brick celebrates its 50th anniversary.
While maintaining production in production sites in Eastern Europe, Mexico and Denmark, the LEGO Group decides to take back the majority of its production so that most LEGO products will be produced inhouse.
The Taj Mahal is launched – containing the largest number of bricks so far: 5,922 bricks.
LEGO owner Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen is inducted to the Toy Industry Hall of Fame (US).

Selected product news 2008
LEGO Indiana Jones
Agents

2007
The LEGO Group celebrates its 75th anniversary on 10 August in good shape.
LEGO Club has approx. 2.6 million members.
All distribution for the European and Asian markets is gathered in one distribution center in the Czech Republic.
The LEGO Group enters a license agreement with Lucasfilm Inc. on the production of LEGO Indiana Jones sets.
The LEGO Star Wars™ Millennium Falcon is the largest LEGO model so far. Weight 6 kilos. Number of elements included: 5,195 pieces.

Selected product news 2007
Power Functions (electric building system)
LEGO Aqua Riders

2006
4922 employees.
The LEGO Group announces plans to outsource major parts of production to external partners.
The LEGO plant in Willisau (Switzerland) closes.
www.LEGO.com averages more than 8 million aggregated daily unique visitors per month.
The visitors spend an average of about 28 minutes at LEGO.com.
CEO Jørgen Vig Knudstorp publicly announces Shared Vision – an action plan for the company until 2010.

Selected product news 2006
MINDSTORMS NXT is launched – new and considerably improved version of the LEGO robotics system.
Parcheesi – Board Game

2005
The LEGOLAND parks are sold to Merlin Entertainments. The parent company of the LEGO Group – KIRKBI – buys a share of Merlin Entertainments. Today KIRKBI owns approx. one third of Merlin. The LEGO Group posts a profit again. The company is back on track.
CEO Jørgen Vig Knudstorp launches a five-year strategy plan (Shared Vision) for the LEGO Group.
The LEGO Group sets up its LEGO Ambassador Progamme to create closer ties between the company and LEGO Fans.
LEGO Factory at www.lego.com enables you to design your own model and then buy the LEGO elements you need to build it online.

Selected product news 2005
LEGO Vikings
Exo-Force
DINO 2010
LEGO Designer Sets

2004
In January, the LEGO Group announces the results of 2003 – a huge deficit. Owner and CEO Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen heads up the building of an action plan to turn around the company. In October he appoints Jørgen Vig Knudstorp as new CEO of the company.
The year ends with another huge deficit due to heavy write-downs.
The LEGO Group and Ferrari launch an agreement to make LEGO sets based on the iconic race cars.
The DUPLO trade mark is relaunched as a result of consumer requests.
LEGO Factory at www.LEGO.com enables you to create your own model and buy the LEGO elements required to build it.

Selected product news 2004
LEGO Ferrari
LEGO Outdoor Racers

2003
The LEGO Group signs the UN Global Compact initiative.
For LEGO minifigures who represent real-life persons or characters from books, movies or TV series, the yellow facial colouring is replaced by a more authentic skin colour, facial expression and hair style.
The first BIONICLE film, Mask of Light, is released and proves to be a big success.

Selected Product News 2003
CLIKITS – new design system for girls
LEGO Orient Expedition

2002
The brand statement "Play On" replaces "Just Imagine...".
The LEGO DUPLO brand is replaced by the LEGO EXPLORE brand covering all pre-school activities.
LEGO Brand Retail stores open in Cologne, Germany (September), Milton Keynes, England (November) and Moscow, Russia (December).
LEGOLAND Deutschland opens at Günzbrug, Germany.

Selected Product News 2002
Music Composer (LEGO EXPLORE)
Music Roller (LEGO EXPLORE)
Island Extreme Stunts (+ PlayStation game)
WilliamsF1 Racer
Galidor
SpyBotics

2001
LEGO My World receives an important award in Germany for the best software learning product at the book fair in Frankfurt.
LEGO Mindstorms Robot “Jitter” is sent into orbit around the earth with the International Space Station.
LEGO Serious Play is unveiled in the autumn.
Deficit is again turned to profit for LEGO Group.

Selected Product News 2001 
LEGO BIONICLE (+ BIONICLE PC and Nintendo game)
LEGO DUPLO dolls
LEGO Bob the Builder
LEGO Harry Potter
Jack Stone
Alpha Team
LEGO My World (software)
Island 2 - The Brickster's Revenge (software)
LEGO MINDSTORMS Robotics Invention System 2.0 – released in rest of world

2000 
The company mission and fundamental beliefs are being revised to "Children are our role models..."
The British Association of Toy Retailers names the LEGO brick "Toy of the Century".
The LEGO Group achieves its budgeted surplus of DKK 500 million and employees are rewarded with a bonus and a global party.
The LEGO Group signs a partnership deal with Warner Bros. relating to the launch of LEGO Products based on Harry Potter’s magic universe.
LEGO factory opens in Kladno, Czech Republic.
The LEGO Group runs a DKK 1 billion deficit.

Selected Product News 2000
LEGO & Steven Spielberg MovieMaker Set (LEGO Studios)
Decoration foam (LEGO SCALA)
Grand Silver Champion (LEGO TECHNIC)
Speed Slammers (LEGO TECHNIC)
LEGO MyBot
LEGO Football (LEGO Soccer in the US)
The Musical Apple
LEGO MINDSTORMS Robotics Invention System 2.0 – released in Japan

Timeline 2010 -

2012“Step Up”: Organisational change in order to prepare the LEGO Group for future growth and to make it more adaptable and competitive. Corporate Management changes from 6 to 22 persons.
LEGO Universe closes as well as DesignbyME, because the two product lines are not sustainable.
LEGO Education becomes a separate subsidiary under LEGO A/S.

Selected Product news 2012LEGO Friends. A new line targeted at girls aged 5-8

2011LEGOLAND Florida opens. The world’s largest LEGOLAND Park.
The LEGO Group launches its first appcessory “Life of George".
The LEGO Group is now the world’s third largest toy manufacturer in terms of sales.

Selected Product news 2011LEGO Technic Unimog
Ninjago
Alien Conquest

2010
Online game LEGO Universe launches.
The World’s largest LEGO Mosaic is assembled in London. It measures 15,3 x 6,4 meters and consists of 384.000 LEGO Bricks and 1500 building plates and the motif is several Star Wars figures.

Selected Product news 2010Prince of Persia
Atlantis

info : http://aboutus.lego.com/en-us/lego-group/the_lego_history