Arcolor

What Arcolor does

ARCOLOR AG is a privately-held Swiss specialty chemicals manufacturer founded in 1996 in Waldstatt, canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, that develops, produces, and globally markets water-based printing inks, varnishes, primers, and auxiliaries. The company serves industrial manufacturers in three primary application segments: decor printing (gravure and digital inks for laminate flooring, furniture, kitchen fronts, and coated panels, where ARCOLOR self-describes as global market leader), packaging printing (food packaging, corrugated cardboard, labels, foils, adhesive tapes, and tissue), and industrial digital inkjet printing (water-based inks engineered for all major piezoelectric printhead brands). It also supplies specialty inks and varnishes for wallpaper, wood-based panels, and plastic films. Around 90 employees work across the Swiss headquarters and Chinese operations as of 2021.

The company's core technology centers on water-based ink formulations using organic pigments and natural casein (milk-derived protein) binders in place of conventional solvent-based chemistries, with proprietary pigment stabilization techniques that prevent sedimentation of high-density pigments such as titanium dioxide. Its product range spans the AR DECO series (ready-to-print gravure inks stable up to 600 m/min), AR UNIRES concentrate systems, digital inkjet inks covering up to 90% of the Pantone gamut in a 5-color setup, a broad varnish portfolio including barrier, anti-slip, thermochromic, and ISEGA-certified food-contact grades, and complementary auxiliaries. Production has been CO2-neutral since 2016 through renewable energy and an Uruguay reforestation offset, supported by ISO 9001/14001/45001 certifications. A 20,000 m² manufacturing facility in Quzhou, China opened in October 2024, adding 15,000+ tons of annual capacity alongside the Waldstatt site.

ARCOLOR operates a B2B direct sales model, supplying custom-formulated inks on a quote-based, multi-year contract basis to industrial converters and OEMs. Distribution combines direct technical sales with deep co-development partnerships with machine builders and all major industrial inkjet printhead manufacturers (Epson, Fuji, Kyocera, Ricoh, Xaar, Xerox). Roughly 95% of production is exported through wholly-owned entities in Switzerland (Waldstatt) and China (Arcolor Trading Shanghai since 2011, Quzhou Arcolor New Material since 2019). Marketing is anchored on technical content, an active open-house event program, and the company's employer brand. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Arcolor

Legal name

ARCOLOR AG

Website

https://arcolor.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ARCOLOR AG is a Swiss specialty chemicals manufacturer founded in 1996 that produces water-based printing inks, varnishes, primers, and auxiliaries for industrial decor, packaging, wallpaper, and inkjet printing applications, supplying manufacturers globally from facilities in Switzerland and China.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Printing Inks

NAICS

Printing Ink Manufacturing (325910), Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851)

akta.pro primary industry

Printing Inks (IMAEAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital & Specialty Inks (Inkjet, UV, Conductive) (IMAEAHAI), Packaging Inks (IMAEAHAH)

Keywords

• Water-based printing inks
• Decor gravure printing inks
• Industrial inkjet inks
• Packaging printing inks
• Overprint varnishes and auxiliaries

Headquarters

HQ city

Waldstatt

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Water-based Printing Inks: Manufacture and sale of water-based printing inks for decor printing, packaging, wallpaper, films, and industrial digital printing applications. Concentrate systems sold to customers who dilute to desired color strength.
2. Varnishes and Auxiliaries: Sale of complementary products including anti-slip varnishes, barrier coatings, laser varnishes, thermochromic varnishes, soft-touch varnishes, and printing auxiliaries/additives
3. Digital Printing Solutions: Specialized digital printing inks and primers for industrial inkjet applications, including white inks for digital printing

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Arcolor AG develops and manufactures water-based, practically solvent-free printing inks formulated with organic pigments and natural casein binders for decor printing, packaging, wallpaper, foil, and industrial inkjet digital printing applications. The company supplies concentrate systems that customers dilute to required color strength, complemented by a full range of overprint varnishes, primers, and printing auxiliaries. It is the global market leader in decor printing inks, exporting roughly 95% of its production from facilities in Switzerland and China.

Product overview

ARCOLOR is a manufacturer of water-based printing inks, lacquers, primers, and auxiliaries. The company operates as a single unified product portfolio organized around three core market segments: (1) Decor Printing — covering AR DECO (gravure printing), AR DECFILM (plastic films), AR DECO Pearlescent, AR DECO Effects, and AR DECO-White; (2) Packaging and Specialty Printing — covering the AR UNIRES 700/705, AR UNIRES 720, AR TINT, AR FLEX, AR POLY, AR HYG, AR DECWOOD, AR WALL, AR DAYGLOSS, AR PLAN, AR BAG, and AR EFFECTS ink series, complemented by a full range of varnishes (anti-slip, barrier, laser, soft-touch, thermochromic, DFC food-contact certified, and others) and auxiliaries (retarders, accelerators, defoamers, cleaners); and (3) Industrial Digital Printing/Inkjet — covering the CMYK ink system with yellow, red, blue, magenta, black, and white, developed for multiple print head brands, plus substrate-specific primers. Products are supplied as concentrates that customers dilute to specification. ARCOLOR also produces packaging for wallpapers, foils, tissues, labels, and other applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water-Based Printing Inks (Decor and Packaging Gravure Lines) Water-based, practically solvent-free printing inks formulated with organic pigments, water, and natural binders (including casein from milk), supplied as concentrate systems that customers dilute to desired color strength and viscosity for decor and packaging gravure printing applications.
• AR DECO Inks Ready-to-print primary color inks for decor gravure printing on decor papers and pre-impregnated papers, delivering color strength and production run stability up to 600 m/min, high lightfastness, and temperature stability.
• AR DECFILM Inks Printing inks specifically developed for plastic films (PP, PE, BOPP, PVC) with Corona pre-treatment recommended, intended for frontal printing of plastic substrates.
• AR DECO Pearlescent Inks Concentrated pearl gloss inks for decor gravure printing on decor papers and pre-impregnated papers, delivering high color strength and brilliance for decorative surfaces.
• AR DECO Effects Inks Custom decor ink solutions with special pigments including metallic (gold, brass, silver), luminous, and security inks, plus extenders for haptic and optical effects in decor paper printing.
• AR UNIRES 700/705 Concentrate Systems Highly concentrated water-based pigment paste concentrate systems that become ready-to-print inks when mixed with technical extenders, for packaging and specialty printing applications.
• AR UNIRES 720 Concentrate System Concentrate series with high color fastness and PAA-controlled content, converted to ready-to-print inks with technical extenders for packaging applications.
• AR TINT Inks

Quantifiable outcome

• Production speeds up to 600 m/min with high stability
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EpsoncoreTechnology or IntegrationPrinthead manufacturer partner for digital inkjet printing inks. ARCOLOR develops water-based inks specifically for Epson printheads with viscosity optimized for their technology.
• FujicoreTechnology or IntegrationPrinthead manufacturer partner (Fuji Samba) for industrial inkjet applications. Joint development of ink formulations optimized for Fuji technology.
• KyoceracoreTechnology or IntegrationPrinthead manufacturer partner for digital printing inks. Specialized ink development for Kyocera printhead technology.
• RicohcoreTechnology or IntegrationPrinthead manufacturer partner for industrial inkjet solutions. Inks developed specifically for Ricoh printheads.
• XaarcoreTechnology or IntegrationPrinthead manufacturer partner for digital printing inks. Collaborative development of ink systems for Xaar technology.
• XeroxcoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital printing technology partner. ARCOLOR inks developed for Xerox printhead systems.
• Various Machine BuilderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing trust-based partnerships with machine manufacturers in decor printing and digital printing industries for co-development of ink solutions.
• KMU Clima FoundationminorOthersSwiss SME climate foundation. ARCOLOR supports their project for reforestation of fallow land in Uruguay to offset CO2 emissions. Part of carbon-neutral production since 2016.
• Theodora FoundationminorOthersSwiss charitable foundation supporting wellbeing of children in hospitals. ARCOLOR provides financial donations to support their work.
• Landscheide - Residential Home and WorkplaceminorOthersLocal charity supporting people with mental, physical or psychological disabilities. ARCOLOR provides donations to support their residential and workplace programs.
• Tosam FoundationminorOthersFoundation providing work and training for people who need support at seven locations. ARCOLOR supports through financial donations for their social integration programs.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sun Chemical: World's largest producer of printing inks, serving packaging, publication, and industrial printing across all major ink chemistries including water-based. Comparable to Arcolor as the dominant global player in the same product category with a much broader portfolio.
• Flint Group: Global supplier of inks, coatings, and pressroom consumables for packaging and print. Comparable as a broad incumbent with water-based ink capabilities across packaging and industrial applications, though far larger and more diversified than Arcolor.
• Fujifilm Imaging Colorants: Specialty division of Fujifilm producing pigment dispersions and inkjet inks for industrial printing applications. Comparable as a competitor in industrial digital inkjet inks, also referenced as a partner printhead ecosystem in Arcolor's data.
• Toyo Ink (Artience Group): Japanese-headquartered manufacturer of printing inks, coatings, and functional materials with global reach across packaging, decor, and digital printing. Comparable as a broad-spectrum ink incumbent with overlapping gravure and water-based offerings in industrial and packaging markets.

Direct peers

• Siegwerk: Germany-headquartered printing ink manufacturer specializing in packaging and label inks, including water-based and UV formulations. Directly comparable as a specialist ink manufacturer with strong focus on sustainable water-based and customized formulations for industrial customers.
• Hubergroup: German printing ink specialist offering offset, gravure, flexographic, and water-based inks for packaging and publication. Highly comparable as a European-based, family-owned ink manufacturer emphasizing sustainable ink chemistry and technical customer support.
• Marabu GmbH: German manufacturer of specialty printing inks including water-based digital inks for industrial and graphical applications. Comparable as a European specialty ink maker with a strong focus on digital inkjet and customized ink solutions for industrial printers.
• Zeller+Gmelin: German mid-sized manufacturer of specialty printing inks including water-based, UV-curable, and security inks. Closely comparable as a privately held, mid-sized European ink specialist serving industrial printing customers with customized formulations.
• InkTec Co., Ltd. Korean specialty ink manufacturer focused on inkjet inks and digital printing fluids for industrial, packaging, and decor applications. Comparable as an emerging direct peer in water-based digital inkjet inks, serving similar printhead OEMs and substrates.
• Wikoff Color Corporation: US-based privately held printing ink manufacturer with water-based, energy-curable, and specialty ink product lines. Comparable as a privately held ink specialist serving industrial printing customers with customized ink formulations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ARCOLOR-AG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arcolor-ag

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arcolor