The history of RAL Colours began in a period of economic transformation: the first series-production automobile was being manufactured, the age of the talking movies had begun and an economic recovery in Germany had resulted in a rise in prosperity. RAL set the first binding standards in 1927 with a collection of the 40 most widely used colours in industry and public life. These 40 colours were defined for the first time and uniquely classified using RAL numbers. Today, the 2,328 RAL colours are a defining worldwide standard used in industry, trade and design, as well as by professional users of colour.