Chemetall
Chemetall, a BASF Coatings business unit, manufactures chemical surface treatments for metals and materials — including passivation, conversion coatings, and pre-treatment solutions — serving aerospace, battery/EV, and general industrial manufacturers across more than 20 industries and 100+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersFrankfurt, Germany
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Chemetall does
Chemetall is a surface treatment business operating as a business unit of BASF Coatings (a division of BASF SE), headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, and legally constituted as Chemetall GmbH. The company develops and manufactures chemical treatments for metal and material surfaces — including passivation, conversion coatings, and pre-treatment solutions — serving industrial manufacturers across more than 20 industries, with primary verticals in aerospace, battery/EV manufacturing, and general industrial manufacturing. It cites over 130 years of surface treatment experience, presence in 100+ countries, 40 subsidiaries, 17 production sites, and access to 2,500+ surface treatment experts.
The product portfolio centers on integrated, end-to-end surface treatment solutions spanning metal pretreatment, glass treatment, plastic recycling, and aerospace technologies. Its flagship recent innovation is Gardolene D, marketed as the first chromium-free and fluoride-free passivation technology for copper foils used in batteries for electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and energy storage systems; it enhances surface energy for improved anode adhesion and reduced electrical resistivity, extending battery lifespan by up to 6% after 1,000 cycles versus traditional chromium (VI) methods, while providing compliance with the EU Battery Regulation (EU 2023/1542). The company's largest global production facility is in Pinghu, China, with additional referenced sites in Langelsheim, Germany, and planned application-lab expansion in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Chemetall operates a B2B model, generating revenue through the sale of surface treatment chemicals and related solutions to manufacturers, sold through direct channels and, increasingly, through a channel-partner distribution model anchored by Azelis. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and follows a quote-based B2B approach. The Azelis relationship provides customers 24/7 digital access to product documentation, ordering, safety information, and sample requests via digital customer portals, and has been progressively expanded across Southeast Asia, Canada, and broader North America.
Chemetall firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chemetall
- Legal name
- Chemetall GmbH
- Website
- https://chemetallna.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Chemetall, a BASF Coatings business unit, manufactures chemical surface treatments for metals and materials — including passivation, conversion coatings, and pre-treatment solutions — serving aerospace, battery/EV, and general industrial manufacturers across more than 20 industries and 100+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chemetall industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Surface Treatment Chemicals
- NAICS
- Chemical Manufacturing (325), Paint and Coating Manufacturing (32551), Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510), Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing (3259)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Electroplating & Metallization Chemicals (Cu/Ni/Au plating, additives) (IMAEAKAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industrial & Protective Coatings (IMAEAGAB), Industrial Protective Coatings (Steel/Concrete/Equipment) (IMAIAKAB)
Keywords
Where Chemetall is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Frankfurt
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Chemetall business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Surface Treatment Products and Solutions: Chemetall generates revenue through the sale of surface treatment chemicals, passivation solutions, conversion coatings, and related industrial chemical products. Revenue comes from B2B sales to manufacturers across aerospace, automotive, electronics, and general industrial sectors, with products sold through direct channels and distribution partners like Azelis.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Chemetall product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chemetall develops, manufactures, and sells specialty chemical surface treatment solutions for metal substrates, including passivation technologies, conversion coatings, pretreatment chemicals, and cleaners used in industrial finishing lines. Its products serve aerospace, battery/EV, automotive, and general industrial manufacturers seeking corrosion protection, paint adhesion, and regulatory-compliant chemistries such as chromium-free and EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542-compliant formulations.
Product overview
Chemetall is a surface treatment business unit of BASF Coatings offering a comprehensive portfolio of surface treatment solutions. The company provides an integrated platform of technologies including surface treatment solutions, metal pretreatment processes, glass treatment solutions, plastic recycling solutions, and aerospace technologies. The product portfolio centers on Gardolene D, a chromium-free and fluoride-free passivation technology for copper foils, alongside broader surface treatment technologies serving more than 20 industries across 100+ countries. The company operates 17 production sites globally and maintains 40 subsidiaries with access to 2,500+ surface treatment experts.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Gardolene D
Quantifiable outcome
- Battery lifespan extended by up to 6% after 1,000 cycles compared to traditional chromium (VI) methods
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Chemetall
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Chemetall technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Chemetall partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- AzeliscoreChemetall and Azelis expanded their distribution partnership agreement across North America, covering the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Azelis provides digital customer portals enabling 24/7 access to Chemetall's surface treatment technologies, including technical and safety information downloads, ordering, and sample requests. The partnership combines Chemetall's surface treatment innovations with Azelis's market reach, digital capabilities, and local technical support for an integrated customer experience.
- Azelis CanadacoreAzelis appointed as exclusive distributor for Chemetall's surface treatment products for general industrial applications across Canada, effective April 1, 2026. The collaboration leverages Azelis's digital platforms, regional market knowledge, and technical expertise to provide 24/7 access to Chemetall's technologies. Both companies characterize this as a strategic initiative to capture emerging market opportunities and support growth in Canada's surface treatment industry.
- AzeliscoreAzelis and Chemetall extended their distribution partnership to include Thailand and the Philippines, along with Vietnam, for surface treatment solutions across Southeast Asia. Azelis will distribute Chemetall's solutions and supply aerospace technologies in the Philippines. Chemetall plans to open a new application laboratory in Ho Chi Minh City to support the local market.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Chemetall competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Atotech (Element Solutions Inc): Atotech is a global leader in specialty chemicals for surface finishing and electronics, directly competing in passivation, plating, and pre-treatment chemistries. Highly comparable to Chemetall's metal pretreatment and copper foil passivation portfolio serving automotive, electronics, and industrial customers.
- MacDermid Enthone (Element Solutions Inc): MacDermid Enthone Electronics Solutions provides metal finishing chemistries and surface treatment solutions for electronics, automotive, and industrial applications. Direct competitor in conversion coatings, passivation, and pre-treatment technologies overlapping with Chemetall's portfolio.
- Quaker Houghton: Quaker Houghton is a leading global supplier of industrial process fluids and surface treatment chemistries for metalworking and metal finishing. Directly comparable to Chemetall's metal pretreatment offerings to industrial manufacturers.
- SurTec (Nordson): SurTec, part of Nordson, supplies specialty chemicals for surface treatment including cleaning, activation, and passivation of metal substrates. Direct peer in metal pretreatment chemistries for automotive, electronics, and industrial customers.
- Aalberts Surface Treatment: Aalberts operates a Surface Treatment division providing metal finishing, coating, and heat treatment services and chemistries. Comparable business model combining surface treatment chemicals and treatment services for industrial customers.
- Coventya: Coventya is a global specialty chemical supplier focused on metal finishing, electroplating, and surface treatment chemistries. Directly comparable to Chemetall in passivation, pretreatment, and decorative/functional coatings for automotive and industrial markets.
Broad incumbents
- Henkel: Henkel operates a large Adhesive Technologies division with metal pretreatment and surface treatment offerings for automotive and industrial customers. Broad incumbent with overlapping chromate-free pretreatment chemistries competing for similar OEMs.
- PPG Industries: PPG is a global coatings and specialty materials supplier with industrial and aerospace pretreatment product lines. Comparable as a broad incumbent serving aerospace, automotive, and industrial surface treatment end markets.
- DuPont de Nemours: DuPont's Electronics & Industrial segment supplies specialty chemistries for semiconductor, circuit materials, and industrial finishing. Overlaps with Chemetall in electronics-grade surface treatment and industrial pre-treatment applications.
- Sherwin-Williams (Industrial Coatings): Sherwin-Williams' Performance Coatings Group supplies industrial and protective coatings including pretreatment products for metal substrates. Comparable as a broad incumbent in industrial surface finishing value chain.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Chemetall social profiles
Digital presenceChemetall financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chemetall leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Chemetall funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chemetall M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Chemetall
What does Chemetall do?
Chemetall develops, manufactures, and sells specialty chemical surface treatment solutions for metal substrates, including passivation technologies, conversion coatings, pretreatment chemicals, and cleaners used in industrial finishing lines. Its products serve aerospace, battery/EV, automotive, and general industrial manufacturers seeking corrosion protection, paint adhesion, and regulatory-compliant chemistries such as chromium-free and EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542-compliant formulations.
Is Chemetall a public or private company?
Chemetall is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Chemetall founded?
Chemetall was founded in 1985. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Chemetall based?
Chemetall is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Chemetall make money?
One revenue line is on record: surface Treatment Products and Solutions.
Who are Chemetall's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Atotech (Element Solutions Inc), MacDermid Enthone (Element Solutions Inc), Quaker Houghton, SurTec (Nordson), Aalberts Surface Treatment and Coventya. Broad incumbents are Henkel, PPG Industries, DuPont de Nemours and Sherwin-Williams (Industrial Coatings).
Does Chemetall have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chemetall.
What industry is Chemetall in?
Chemetall's product category is Surface Treatment Chemicals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAKAK, Electroplating & Metallization Chemicals (Cu/Ni/Au plating, additives), with a secondary code of IMAEAGAB, Industrial & Protective Coatings. Its NAICS code is 325 and its SIC code is 2890.