What Trocellen does

Trocellen is a European manufacturer of polyolefin (PO) foam solutions, headquartered in Troisdorf, Germany, and operating as a privately held subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. Founded in 1975, the company runs nine production plants worldwide with 600+ employees and serves 15 industries through specialized business units covering Automotive, Insulation, Data Center, Sport, Tapes, Footwear, Healthcare, and Packaging. It is the only manufacturer in Europe producing both chemically and physically cross-linked PO foams, and the sole global producer of Trocellen BIO, a foam made from sugar-cane-waste LDPE. Its technology stack also includes a proprietary twinsheet thermoforming process used for automotive air ducts, and the HOMESKIN aerogel insulation technology developed under an EU Horizon 2020 consortium.

The company's product portfolio spans cross-linked PE and PP foams, bio-based foams, NBR-based products, and certified tatami and sensory medical mats, supplied as rolls, sheets, and custom-processed parts (thermoformed, die-cut). Its business model is predominantly B2B and direct: enterprise sales to automotive OEMs and Tier 1/2 suppliers for air ducts, NVH and interior components; customized materials and converted parts for sports surfaces, footwear, tapes, healthcare, and packaging; and a growing direct-to-consumer channel via a webshop for insulation products. Revenue mechanics are based on contract-manufactured, specification-driven sales tied to OEM bills of materials and application-specific certification (e.g., WKF approval, medical-device certification), supplemented by custom processing services such as thermoforming and die cutting.

The operating backbone is an SAP-based ERP (S/4HANA migration in 2024-2025) with the Trockpit production-data system, supporting nine plants and multi-vertical compliance regimes including EcoVadis Gold (2025), ISCC PLUS, TISAX, and NMD registrations. Current corporate leadership is Oliver Cordt (CEO since 2022), and the company is actively diversifying — most visibly via joint go-to-market with Furukawa Electric in data-center thermal management and via medical-product launches — while preserving automotive as a core revenue vertical.

Name

Trocellen

Legal name

Trocellen GmbH

Website

https://trocellen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Trocellen is a European polyolefin foam manufacturer (founded 1975, Troisdorf, Germany) and Furukawa Electric subsidiary operating nine plants and 600+ employees to serve automotive, insulation, data center, sport, healthcare, and packaging customers with cross-linked, bio-based, and converted foam products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Polyolefin Foam Manufacturing

NAICS

Urethane and Other Foam Product (except Polystyrene) Manufacturing (32615), Adhesive Manufacturing (325520)

SIC

Plastics Foam Products (3086)

akta.pro primary industry

Polyethylene (PE) Foam Manufacturing (IMANAIAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Polypropylene (PP) Foam Manufacturing (IMANAIAF), Foam Protective Packaging (EPS/EPE/EPP, PU, Molded Foam) (IMALAFAA), Construction Foams & Gap Fillers (PU Foams, Low-Expansion) (IMADAOAM)

Keywords

• Polyolefin foam manufacturing
• Cross-linked foam solutions
• Automotive foam components
• Thermal insulation materials
• Protective foam packaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Troisdorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Polyolefin Foam Products: Manufacture and sale of finished goods, semi-finished products, and raw materials. Products include both chemically and physically cross-linked PO foams in various forms (rolls, sheets, custom sizes). Revenue generated from direct B2B sales to industrial customers and consumer markets.
2. Specialized Business Unit Products: Multiple specialized divisions (Automotive, Insulation, Sport, Footwear, Healthcare, Packaging, Adhesive Tapes) each serving specific industry verticals with tailored foam solutions. Revenue streams differentiated by industry application and product customization level.
3. Custom Processing Services: Converting services including thermoforming, die cutting, and custom fabrication. Value-added processing of foam materials to customer specifications. Technical support and application engineering included.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Trocellen manufactures and sells chemically and physically cross-linked polyolefin (PO) foams serving automotive, construction insulation, sports, footwear, healthcare, packaging, and data center industries. The company operates 9 production plants globally and offers finished foam products, semi-finished materials, and value-added converting services such as thermoformed air ducts and die-cut components for industrial customers.

Product overview

Trocellen is a European polyolefin foam solution provider offering a diversified portfolio of chemically and physically cross-linked polyolefin (PO) foams as its core materials. The company operates through multiple specialized business units: Automotive (providing thermoformed air ducts, die-cut parts, and foam components for vehicles), Insulation (thermal/acoustic solutions including HOMESKIN aerogel panels), Sport & Leisure (ProGame shock pads for artificial turf, ProGame Tatami martial arts mats, WellStepp healthcare sensory mats), Adhesive Tapes (XLPE foam tapes), Footwear (custom foam solutions), Packaging (protective foam packaging), and Data Center Solutions (in partnership with Furukawa Electric). The portfolio includes innovative products like Trocellen BIO (bio-based foam from sugar cane waste), TRO-CHIPS (foam cut blends), and recycled foam grades containing up to 30% recycled material. With over 600 employees at 9 plants worldwide, Trocellen serves 15 industries and is owned by Japanese parent company Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ProGame: Sport facility shock pads and tatami solutions for martial arts and sports facilities. Includes ProGame Shock Pads for artificial turf and ProGame Tatami for martial arts flooring.
• WellStepp
• TRO-CHIPS
• NATURELOOP

Products and services

• Chemically Cross-Linked Polyolefin Foams Fine cell structure polyolefin foams foamed horizontally with closed-cell resistance to media absorption, providing acoustic and thermal insulation. Used for seals, interior trims, air ducts, soft-touch solutions, and molded parts in automotive and industrial applications.
• Physically Cross-Linked Polyolefin Foams Very fine cell structure polyolefin foams with smooth surface and closed-cell structure, lightweight with excellent acoustic and thermal properties. Used for seals, soft-touch solutions, molded parts, and adhesive tapes across multiple industries.
• Twinsheet Thermoformed Air Ducts Thermoformed automotive air ducts manufactured using Trocellen's proprietary twinsheet thermoforming process, offering up to 65% weight savings compared to blow-molded HDPE ducts with thermal insulation and acoustic absorption benefits.
• ProGame Shock Pads Sport facility shock pads for artificial turf installations used in football, hockey, rugby, and korfball facilities. Registered in the Dutch Nationale Milieudatabase (NMD) and installed in over 100 facilities including professional stadiums.
• ProGame Tatami

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 65% weight reduction compared to solid HDPE air ducts
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and strategic.

• Furukawa ElectriccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Joint presence at Data Center World 2026 in Washington, D.C. showcasing unified portfolio of advanced data center solutions. Also co-presented at Data Center World Paris. Collaborative market approach for data center solutions.
• GLABsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026GLABs supported Polifoam Kft. (Trocellen's Hungarian subsidiary) in implementing a Transport Management System with intelligent loading and yard management capabilities.
• Foam Expo EuropecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Trocellen has participated in Foam Expo Europe for six consecutive years (2019-2024). Premier trade fair for manufacturers and processors of technical foam products and technologies in Europe.
• SAPcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 December 2024Trocellen migrating from SAP ECC to S/4HANA. EWM implementation presented as showcase at GUPS SAP Event. SAP Forum 2016 presentation on Trockpit project as best practice example. Company has been recognized as SAP showcase partner.
• IZB (International Suppliers Fair)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2024Long-standing exhibitor at Europe's leading trade fair for automotive supplier industry in Wolfsburg. 2024 event had ~800 exhibitors from 30+ countries. Platform for pioneering automotive innovations.
• HOMESKIN ConsortiumstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2017European consortium under Horizon 2020 framework developing silica aerogel-based insulation technology. Project aims at developing new composite material with lowest thermal conductivity for building insulation applications.
• Foam MRS Reactor Project ConsortiumstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2016EU and state North Rhine-Westphalia funded project. Consortium covers entire value chain from material through machine technology and process engineering to product. Partners include Fraunhofer UMSICHT, Gneuss, IKV, A. Schulman, Inde Plastik. Project develops unit for decoupled reactive modification of plastics integrated into foam extrusion.
• Various Partner Universities and InstitutesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrocellen collaborates with various partner universities, institutes, and designers to develop innovative solutions across applications. Collaboration mentioned in context of 600+ employees and many cooperating companies.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Zotefoams: UK-listed specialist manufacturer of cross-linked polyolefin foams (AZOTE and ZOTEK brands). Closest direct comp — uses proprietary batch-process cross-linking technologies (chemical and radiation/physical) to produce PE, PP, and specialty foams for automotive, aerospace, sporting goods, and industrial applications, structurally overlapping with Trocellen's core technology platform.
• JSP Corporation: Japanese foam manufacturer (AIRA, P-FINE, Miracell brands) producing expanded polypropylene (EPP) and other polyolefin foams for automotive, packaging, construction, and sports markets. Especially comparable given Trocellen's Japanese parent (Furukawa Electric) and overlapping automotive protective-packaging and construction insulation portfolios.
• Woodbridge Group: Canadian polyurethane foam specialist deeply integrated into automotive seating, NVH, and interior trim programs. Directly comparable to Trocellen's Automotive business unit for OEM foam components and lightweight acoustic/thermal solutions.
• Sealed Air: Global protective packaging producer (including foam-in-place, polyethylene, and EPS packaging solutions). Overlaps with Trocellen's Packaging business unit serving glass/container, electronics, and surface-protection packaging applications.
• Pregis: Protective packaging manufacturer offering EPS, polyethylene, and polyurethane foam-based cushioning, plus paper-based systems. Comparable to Trocellen's Packaging business unit (glass inserts, vibration absorbers, surface protection) for industrial and consumer protective packaging.

Broad incumbents

• Armacell: Global leader in engineered foams (PET and elastomeric insulation foams) with broad coverage in building insulation, HVAC, automotive, and industrial markets. A direct competitor in building/industrial insulation and a broad incumbent whose specialty foam and thermal/acoustic focus overlaps with Trocellen's Insulation business unit.
• Recticel: Belgian polyurethane foam manufacturer serving automotive, bedding, and insulation end-markets. Overlaps with Trocellen in automotive foam components, building insulation, and specialty foam applications, though focused on PU rather than PO chemistry.
• BASF: World's largest chemicals company with significant foam-related materials (Neopor, Styropor, Basotect, PU systems) spanning insulation, automotive, packaging, and footwear. A broad incumbent that competes with Trocellen across multiple foam chemistries and applications.
• Sekisui Chemical: Japanese chemical/foam manufacturer producing PE foam, interlayer film, and specialty insulation products for automotive, construction, and packaging. Comparable due to parent-Furukawa geographic adjacency and overlapping polyolefin foam and automotive/insulation applications.
• Vita Group: UK-based flexible polyurethane foam producer serving bedding, furniture, automotive, and industrial markets. Comparable to Trocellen in automotive and consumer foam applications, though differentiated by PU-chemistry focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TrocellenGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trocellen-italia-spa
• Xx.com/trocellen

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Trocellen