What Chemigate does

Chemigate Oy is a Finnish specialty chemical manufacturer producing modified starch-based binders, adhesives, cationic reagents, hydrophobic sizing agents, and bio-based polymers primarily for the paper and board industry. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Lapua, the company operates four production facilities across Finland (Lapua, Kaipiainen, Mietoinen, and Kokemäki) with an annual production capacity exceeding 100,000 tonnes. Its core technology is polysaccharide modification via enzymatic and chemical processes, with a proprietary product portfolio spanning fixatives (RaiFIX), cationic reagents (Raisacat), high-strength polymers (PrimeBOND), wet-end and surface sizing starches (Raisamyl, Classic, Tarantula, Finnative), hydrophobic adhesives (PrimeSIZE, including AKD, ASA, and resin-based products), water treatment polymers (PrimePHASE), and surface sizing starches designed to be combined with hydrophobic adhesives (PrimePRINT). Through its wholly owned subsidiary Finnamyl Oy, Chemigate maintains backward integration into raw material production — including potato starch and potato-based protein from 360 contracted farms — and operates a new Booster enzyme-based biomaterial production line (inaugurated 2024) via collaboration with International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) for bio-based alternatives to fossil-derived ingredients.

Chemigate generates revenue through direct B2B sales of its industrial product portfolio to paper and board manufacturers across the Nordics, broader Europe, and select Asian markets, with approximately 90% of products delivered as bulk shipments (powder or liquid). Pricing is quote-based and tailored to customer specifications, volumes, and multi-year contracts; technical sales engineers manage customer relationships and provide formulation customization and ongoing technical support. The customer base spans printing paper, packaging board, liquid packaging board, specialty paper, corrugated medium, and industrial water treatment segments. The company serves notable Nordic forest-industry customers including SCA Packaging Munksund, Metsä Board, and UPM.

Since June 2021, Chemigate has operated as a majority-owned subsidiary of Berner Oy, a Finnish family-owned conglomerate (founded 1883, €324.3M revenue and 536 employees in 2020). In 2022, Chemigate acquired the Finnamyl Group to secure potato starch raw material supply. The company has pursued multi-year capital investment programs — including a new polysaccharide modification plant in Lapua (operational February 2023) and the Kokemäki Booster line — alongside continuous sustainability improvements (Mietoinen heat pump energy retrofit 2021, Lapua heat recovery system completing end-2025). In 2025, Chemigate achieved EcoVadis Platinum certification, placing it in the top ~1% of assessed companies globally; this builds on consecutive Gold ratings in 2020, 2023, and 2024. The group employs 105 people.

Name

Chemigate

Legal name

Chemigate Oy

Website

https://chemigate.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chemigate Oy is a Finnish manufacturer of modified starch-based binders, adhesives, cationic reagents, and bio-based polymers serving paper and board manufacturers across the Nordics and broader Europe. It operates four Finnish production facilities, supplies 100,000+ tonnes annually, and sells into enterprise forest-industry customers including UPM, Metsä Board, and SCA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Paper and board starch chemicals

NAICS

Adhesive Manufacturing (325520), Wet Corn Milling and Starch Manufacturing (311221)

SIC

Adhesives & Sealants (2891), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Pulp & Paper Process & Water Chemicals (IMAEAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adhesives & Sealants Chemicals (IMAEABAA), Starch-Based Biodegradable Materials (TPS compounds, blends) (IMAEAOAF), Bio-Based & Biodegradable Compounds (PLA/PHA/Starch Blends) (IMANABAF)

Keywords

• Modified starch chemicals
• Paper industry binders
• Board adhesives
• Industrial starch polymers
• Bio-based paper chemicals

Headquarters

HQ city

Lapua

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Modified starch product sales: Chemigate manufactures and sells modified starch-based binders, adhesives, and chemical reagents to the paper and board industry. The company produces over 100,000 tonnes annually of modified starches, cationic reagents, and bio-based polymers for technical industrial use. Revenue is generated through direct B2B sales to paper mills and board manufacturers.
2. Potato starch and protein (Finnamyl): Finnamyl, Chemigate's subsidiary, produces potato starch and potato-based protein, contributing to the group's vertical integration in raw material supply for the starch product line.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Chemigate Oy manufactures and sells modified starch-based binders, adhesives, cationic reagents, water treatment polymers, and bio-based polymers for technical industrial applications, primarily for the paper and board industry. The portfolio includes proprietary product lines such as RaiFIX fixatives, Raisacat cationic reagents, PrimeBOND strength polymers, Raisamyl/Tarantula/Finnative wet-end, surface sizing, spray and coating starches, PrimePHASE water treatment polymers, and PrimeSIZE hydrophobic adhesives (AKD, ASA, resin-based).

Product overview

Chemigate is a Finnish company manufacturing modified starch-based binding and adhesive materials for technical applications. The product portfolio includes multiple product lines: fixatives (RaiFIX®), cationic reagents (Raisacat®), high-strength polymers (PrimeBOND), wet-end starches (Classic & Raisamyl®), native starches (Finnative), surface sizing starches (Raisamyl®, Tarantula®, Finnative), spray starches, coating starches (Tarantula®, Raisamyl®, Finnative), water treatment polymers (PrimePHASE), and hydrophobic adhesives (PrimeSIZE). Products are primarily supplied to the paper and board industry as ecologically sustainable alternatives to oil-based raw materials. The company operates manufacturing facilities in Lapua, Kaipiainen, and Mietoinen, Finland, and has a subsidiary Finnamyl that produces potato starch.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Raisamyl: Starch products for paper industry applications
• RaiFIX
• Raisacat
• PrimeBOND
• PrimePHASE
• Finnative
• Tarantula
• PrimeSIZE
• PrimePRINT

Products and services

• RaiFIX® Fixative products for technical applications in the paper and board industry. Used by paper mills and board manufacturers to fix and retain additives during papermaking processes.
• Raisacat® Cationic reagents used in paper and board manufacturing processes, including the Mietoinen production site's specialty chemical line.
• PrimeBOND High-strength polymer binders designed for enhancing paper and board structural properties in technical papermaking applications.
• Classic & Raisamyl® (Wet-end starches) Wet-end starches used as binding agents in paper manufacturing to improve paper strength and retention of additives during the papermaking process.
• Finnative Native starch products derived from potato and other sources for various industrial applications across paper, board, surface sizing, spray, and coating starch uses.
• Raisamyl® & Tarantula® & Finnative (Surface sizing starches) Surface sizing starches applied to paper surfaces to improve printability, surface strength, and surface properties in paper and board manufacturing.
• Raisamyl® & Finnative (Spray starches) Spray starch products for surface treatment applications in paper and board production, applied to improve inter-layer bonding and surface properties.
• Tarantula® & Raisamyl® & Finnative (Coating starches) Coating starches used in paper and board coating formulations to enhance surface properties such as smoothness, gloss, and printability.
• PrimePHASE Water treatment polymers for industrial water management and process water treatment applications, supporting efficiency and environmental compliance.
• PrimeSIZE (Hydrophobic adhesives) Hydrophobic adhesive products for paper and board sizing, including AKD (alkyl ketene dimer), ASA (alkenyl succinic anhydride), and resin-based solutions. Known for stability, retention, and shelf life. Used in printing papers, packaging boards, liquid packaging boards, and specialty papers. Can be combined with PrimePRINT surface sizing products.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 900 tonnes CO2 reduction annually through Lapua heat recovery system
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 December 2023Chemigate's subsidiary Finnamyl collaborates with IFF on production and process development, including enzymatic biomaterial production technology. The partnership aims to replace fossil-based ingredients with bio-based alternatives in home care, personal care, and paper/board applications. IFF works with Kemira on paper industry applications. The Kokemäki investment represents a clear continuation of the Lapua project completed in 2022.
• CaverioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCaverion has been Chemigate's maintenance partner for over 20 years, providing maintenance, repair, and installation services at the Lapua site. Caverion's team received the global 'Golden Helmet' safety award for working over 14 years without an accident. Caverion contributes to safety development together with Chemigate's own staff.
• KemiraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFF works together with Kemira on paper and board industry applications as part of the IFF/Kemira collaboration referenced in the Finnamyl Kokemäki investment announcement. This partnership enables new capacity for paper industry applications.
• Powder-TransminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPowder-Trans is a logistics company that transports Chemigate's products. The companies have conducted joint risk analyses to improve transport safety and work together on customer delivery coordination.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Roquette: Global leader in starch-based ingredients and polyols with significant industrial (including paper and board) applications. Roquette produces modified starches, cationic starches, and bio-based polymers for paper customers, making it a directly comparable starch-chemistry peer serving the same end market as Chemigate.
• Ingredion: Specialty starch and ingredient manufacturer with a paper and industrial starches segment producing cationic, modified, and native starches for paper and packaging applications. Directly comparable to Chemigate's Raisamyl, Raisacat, and Finnative product lines on customer use case and chemistry.
• Tereos: European cooperative producing native and modified starches (corn, wheat, potato) for industrial customers including paper and board manufacturers. Tereos competes directly with Chemigate in European starch supply, with overlapping products in wet-end and surface sizing starch chemistry.
• Kemira: Major specialty chemicals supplier to the pulp and paper industry with strength in sizing chemistries (AKD, ASA), cationic polymers, and water treatment — products that directly overlap Chemigate's PrimeSIZE, Raisacat, and PrimePHASE lines. Referenced in the IFF/Kemira paper-industry collaboration, confirming direct competitive overlap.
• Agrana: Austrian starch and sugar producer with industrial starches (corn and potato based) sold to paper and packaging customers in Europe. Comparable in chemistry and customer base to Chemigate's Finnamyl/Raisamyl wet-end and coating starches.

Broad incumbents

• Cargill: Global agricultural commodity processor with an industrial starch and bio-based polymer business serving paper, packaging, and industrial customers. Much broader in scope than Chemigate but supplies comparable modified starch and bio-based polymer chemistries to overlapping paper-industry accounts.
• Tate & Lyle: Specialty food and industrial ingredients producer with a significant modified starch portfolio. While primarily food-focused, the industrial starch range overlaps Chemigate's modified starch and cationic reagent chemistries used in paper manufacturing.
• Solenis: Global specialty chemicals supplier focused on water-intensive industries including pulp and paper, offering sizing agents, retention aids, and water treatment chemistries that overlap Chemigate's PrimeSIZE, RaiFIX, and PrimePHASE product families.
• BASF: Global chemical major with a paper chemicals portfolio including sizing agents, strength additives, and coating binders that overlap Chemigate's product families. Much larger scale and broader offering make it a broad incumbent rather than a direct specialty competitor.

Emerging players

• Penford (Ingredion subsidiary): Specialty starch producer with a focus on paper and packaging applications, including cationic and modified starches. Now part of Ingredion, it represents a focused competitor in paper starch chemistry comparable to Chemigate's niche positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chemigate

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Chemigate