CF Group
CF Group is a family-owned German manufacturer and distributor of swimming pool equipment and water treatment products, operating through 16+ brands, 17 production/logistics sites, and 1,200 employees across 40+ countries to serve public, commercial, residential, and trade pool customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1962
- HeadquartersWendlingen, Germany
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What CF Group does
CF Group is a German, family-owned manufacturer and distributor of swimming pool equipment and water treatment products, headquartered in Wendlingen with 1,200 employees across more than 40 countries and 17 owned production and logistics sites. Operating through 16+ brands (Chemoform AG, founded 1962; DELPHIN, dinotec, STARLINE, AZTECK, HEISSNER, NEPHEA SPA, delifol, DEL SAS, and others), the company supplies the full pool lifecycle — filtration, heating, pumps, lighting, cleaning robots, liners, covers, water care chemistry, and analysis/dosing technology — alongside adjacent categories such as pond systems and drinking-water treatment.
The business is vertically integrated from chemical formulation and component manufacturing through to multi-brand distribution, supported by inside sales and a proprietary B2B e-commerce portal (Chemoform Onlineshop) targeting trade customers. Revenue mechanics are predominantly one-time transactional sales of equipment and consumables to three customer segments: public/commercial pool operators, residential pool owners, and pool trade professionals (installers, service companies, retailers), with B2B trade pricing including minimum-order surcharges, weight-tiered freight, and free-delivery thresholds.
Ownership is family-controlled with a minority private equity position held by Crédit Mutuel Equity (initial investment December 2019, reinvested January 2022 to fund expansion and acquisitions, including the 2019 acquisition of FIJA Group). The group pursues a buy-and-build strategy in a fragmented European pool-equipment market, distinguishing itself as the only family-owned multispecialist manufacturer-distributor at scale in its segment.
CF Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CF Group
- Legal name
- CF Group Deutschland GmbH
- Website
- https://chemoform.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1962
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- CF Group is a family-owned German manufacturer and distributor of swimming pool equipment and water treatment products, operating through 16+ brands, 17 production/logistics sites, and 1,200 employees across 40+ countries to serve public, commercial, residential, and trade pool customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CF Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Swimming Pool Equipment & Water Treatment
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water Testing & Chemical Balancing (HSAIALAB)
Keywords
Where CF Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wendlingen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
CF Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Pool Equipment Sales: Sale of pool equipment, accessories, and components including filtration systems, heating solutions, lighting, and cleaning equipment.
- Water Treatment Products: Sale of water care, sanitation, and treatment products for swimming pools.
- B2B E-commerce: Direct B2B online sales through proprietary e-commerce platform targeting trade customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard B2B Trade Pricing |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Free Delivery Threshold |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Package Shipping |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Freight Shipping Rates |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
CF Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CF Group manufactures and distributes swimming pool equipment, water treatment chemicals, filtration systems, heating solutions, pool liners, and drinking water treatment products through a portfolio of 16+ brands. The company sells primarily to pool trade professionals (installers, service companies, retailers) and commercial/public pool operators via direct sales and a B2B e-commerce portal. Products serve residential, commercial, and public swimming pools, pond systems, and drinking water treatment applications.
Product overview
CF Group is Europe's only family-owned manufacturer and distributor of swimming pool equipment and water treatment solutions, operating as a multi-specialist in the pool equipment market. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio organized across three main product categories: Pools Equipment & Accessories (including filtration, heating, pumps, lighting, cleaning robots, and water attractions), Ponds (for garden water features), and Drinking Water Treatment (for clean water supply). The product portfolio includes both own-manufactured components and multiple acquired brands such as Chemoform AG (water care products, established 1962), delifol (pool liners and membranes), DINOTEC (water analysis technology), DELPHIN (water treatment), STARLINE (premium pool equipment), AZTECK (pool systems), HEISSNER (pool and garden), and NEPHEA SPA (premium spa products). The company operates 17 production and logistics sites with 1,200 employees across 40+ countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Balena: Pool equipment brand
- Aqualux
- AZTECK
- delifol
- Chemoform AG
- DEL SAS
- Pool Partner
- DELPHIN
- dinotec
- Drnüskén
- HEISSNER
- lacoform
- NEPHEA SPA
- Ocea
- planet pool
- ROLDECK
- STARLINE
- CF Pool Products
Products and services
- Pool Equipment & Accessories (Pools Equipment & Zubehör) Complete range of pool equipment and accessories including filtration systems, heating solutions, pumps, LED lighting, automatic pool cleaning robots, pipe fittings, roller covers, safety covers, pool enclosures, pool liner membranes, water attractions (counter-current systems, massage stations, waterfall showers), and pool shells (styrofoam, polyester, steel wall) for residential and commercial swimming pools.
- Pond Systems (Teiche) Pond products and complete ecosystem solutions for garden and decorative water features, serving residential and landscape customers.
- Drinking Water Treatment (Trinkwasseraufbereitung) Drinking water treatment products and systems for clean water supply, serving commercial and municipal water treatment applications.
- CHEMOFORM Water Care Products Water care, sanitation, and chemical treatment products for swimming pool maintenance under the CHEMOFORM brand, including chlorine-based and alternative sanitizers, pH adjusters, algaecides, and specialty water care chemistry.
- DELPHIN Water Care Products Water care and treatment products for swimming pools under the DELPHIN brand, including chemical sanitizers and maintenance chemistry.
- dinotec Water Analysis & Treatment Technology Water analysis technology, dosing technology, UV disinfection, and measurement systems for professional pool water quality monitoring and chemical treatment delivery under the dinotec brand.
- delifol Pool Liner Membranes Pool liner membranes (delifol Schwimmbadbahnen) for waterproofing swimming pools, including standard and custom-made solutions, anti-slip protection (Trittschutz), and Elbe brand membranes.
- STARLINE Pool Equipment & Heat Pumps Premium pool equipment and accessories including STARLINE heat pumps for pool heating under the STARLINE brand.
- AZTECK Complete Pool Systems Complete pool systems under the AZTECK brand, including pool shells and integrated pool equipment packages.
- Aqualux Pool & Wellness Products Pool and wellness products under the Aqualux brand for residential and commercial pool markets.
- HEISSNER Pool & Garden Products Pool and garden products under the HEISSNER brand, serving residential pool and pond markets.
- NEPHEA SPA Premium Spa Products Premium spa and wellness products under the NEPHEA SPA brand for the high-end residential spa market.
- Ocea Pool Cover Products Pool cover products under the Ocea brand, including safety covers and roller covers for swimming pools.
Quantifiable outcome
- European market leadership as the only family-owned manufacturer and distributor in the pool equipment market
Companies that use CF Group
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CF Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
CF Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CF Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fluidra: Spanish-listed global pool equipment and water treatment manufacturer/distributor. Closest direct competitor to CF Group, with overlapping product categories (filtration, pumps, chemicals, automation) and pan-European distribution — though Fluidra is significantly larger and publicly traded.
- Hayward Holdings: US-listed pool equipment manufacturer with strong North American and European presence. Directly comparable product portfolio (pumps, filters, heaters, automation, cleaners) and channel model serving trade and OEM customers.
- Waterco Limited: Australian-listed manufacturer of pool equipment, water treatment, and spa products with European distribution. Comparable product range (pumps, filters, heaters, chemicals) and similar multi-brand positioning in the trade channel.
- Maytronics: Israeli-listed global leader in robotic pool cleaners (Dolphin brand). Direct overlap with CF Group's AquaCat, VIRTUOSO, and ORCA automatic pool cleaner product lines, particularly in the European trade channel.
- BWT Group: Austrian/European water treatment group with a dedicated pool and spa division. Directly comparable to CF Group's dinotec and Chemoform water treatment businesses, with overlapping chemistry and dosing technology offerings.
Broad incumbents
- Pentair: US-listed water solutions company with a Pool segment offering pumps, filters, heaters, and automation. Competes in many of the same product categories but as part of a diversified industrial portfolio with broader flow and water treatment exposure.
- Lonza Group (Pool Chemicals): Swiss-listed specialty chemicals giant owning the Arch pool chemicals franchise. Competes with Chemoform AG's chlorination, pH control, and algaecide product lines as a global chemical incumbent with deeper R&D and regulatory resources.
- SCP Pool Corporation: US-listed wholesale distributor of pool supplies and equipment. Sits on the buy side of the same trade channel CF Group targets; useful comparable for channel economics even though SCP is a distributor rather than manufacturer.
Emerging players
- Intex Recreation: Global leader in above-ground and inflatable pools and pool accessories. Competes with CF Group's lower-end residential pool offerings (Stahlwand-Becken, AZTECK) in the consumer/DIY segment, though largely through retail rather than the B2B trade channel.
Regional players
- Behncke Group: German-based manufacturer of pool equipment, heat exchangers, and water treatment systems. A smaller but technically focused regional competitor serving the same DACH trade channel as Chemoform AG.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CF Group social profiles
Digital presenceCF Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
CF Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CF Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CF Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
CF Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CF Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CF Group
What does CF Group do?
CF Group manufactures and distributes swimming pool equipment, water treatment chemicals, filtration systems, heating solutions, pool liners, and drinking water treatment products through a portfolio of 16+ brands. The company sells primarily to pool trade professionals (installers, service companies, retailers) and commercial/public pool operators via direct sales and a B2B e-commerce portal. Products serve residential, commercial, and public swimming pools, pond systems, and drinking water treatment applications.
Is CF Group a public or private company?
CF Group is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was CF Group founded?
CF Group was founded in 1962. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is CF Group based?
CF Group is headquartered in Wendlingen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does CF Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Pool Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are water Treatment Products and B2B E-commerce.
Who are CF Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fluidra, Hayward Holdings, Waterco Limited, Maytronics and BWT Group. Broad incumbents are Pentair, Lonza Group (Pool Chemicals) and SCP Pool Corporation. Intex Recreation is listed as an emerging player. Behncke Group is listed as a regional player.
Does CF Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for CF Group.
What industry is CF Group in?
CF Group's product category is Swimming Pool Equipment & Water Treatment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAIALAB, Water Testing & Chemical Balancing.