LEVACO Chemicals
LEVACO Chemicals GmbH is a privately held German specialty chemicals manufacturer based in Leverkusen that produces defoamers, dispersants, emulsifiers, wetting agents, flocculants, cleaners, and custom contract-manufactured formulations for industrial customers in agrochemicals, paper, food processing, coatings, and cable manufacturing globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersLeverkusen, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What LEVACO Chemicals does
LEVACO Chemicals GmbH is a privately held German specialty chemicals manufacturer headquartered at the Chempark industrial site in Leverkusen (Johannes-Kepler-Str. 20, 51377 Leverkusen). The company produces a portfolio of process additives organized across six business units: Agro Solutions (adjuvants and additives for agrochemical formulations), Antifoam & Food Solutions (defoamers for food, beverage, sugar, and starch processing), Cable Solutions (superabsorbent polymers for wire and cable), Coating Solutions (dispersants, emulsifiers, and wetting agents for coatings and printing inks), Paper Solutions (defoamers, flocculants, cleaners, and calcium-hydroxide suspensions for paper and wastewater treatment), and Chemical Solutions & Contract Manufacturing (custom toll manufacturing). Core technologies include proprietary formulation IP under families such as DEFOSPUM®, DEFOFLOC®, DEFOCLEAN®, DEFOKALK®, LUCRACHEM®, and the DEFOTEST dH PLUS online measurement instrument for pH, water hardness, and organic-acid monitoring in paper production.
The company's go-to-market is a technical, sales-led B2B model targeting industrial formulators and processors. Distribution is operated through wholly owned regional subsidiaries in Austria (Vienna), Brazil (Vinhedo / São Paulo), and Hong Kong, with the German HQ coordinating global accounts. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; sales are quote-driven via a contact-form funnel with regional contact persons. Revenue is generated primarily from one-time product sales of specialty additives, complemented by professional-services revenue from contract manufacturing and toll processing at the Leverkusen site. Key certifications — ISO 9001/14001/45001/50001, EcoVadis 2025, Responsible Care, AEO, HALAL, KLBD, BIO, RSPO membership, and UN Global Compact participation since 2016 — qualify products for food-grade, sustainability-mandated, and international supply chains.
LEVACO is part of the LEVACO Chemicals Group holding structure and is led by Managing Directors Marius J. L. Mühlenberg and Jens Becker. The Paper Solutions business was historically operated under DEFOTEC Entschäumer Vertriebs-GmbH before being integrated into the GmbH. Customer concentration is not publicly disclosed and no named enterprise logos are referenced in source materials; the company serves diversified industrial end-markets spanning agrochemicals, paper production, food processing, paints and coatings, and cable manufacturing across Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
LEVACO Chemicals firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- LEVACO Chemicals
- Legal name
- LEVACO Chemicals GmbH
- Website
- https://levaco.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- LEVACO Chemicals GmbH is a privately held German specialty chemicals manufacturer based in Leverkusen that produces defoamers, dispersants, emulsifiers, wetting agents, flocculants, cleaners, and custom contract-manufactured formulations for industrial customers in agrochemicals, paper, food processing, coatings, and cable manufacturing globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
LEVACO Chemicals industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Chemicals
- NAICS
- Chemical Manufacturing (325), Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins (325991)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Surfactants & Performance Additives (IMAEABAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Adjuvant & Tank-Mix Additive Manufacturing (surfactants, oils, drift control) (AFABAIAE), Custom Synthesis & Technical Active Ingredient (AI) Manufacturing (intermediates, actives) (AFABAIAI), Textile, Leather & Paper Specialty Chemicals (IMAEABAM), Regulatory, Quality & EHS Compliance Services for Toll Manufacturing (QA/QC, SDS, REACH/EPA support) (AFABAIAK)
Keywords
Where LEVACO Chemicals is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leverkusen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
LEVACO Chemicals business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Specialty Chemical Products: Sale of proprietary chemical additives including defoamers, dispersants, emulsifiers, wetting agents, and process auxiliaries for industrial applications in agrochemicals, paper, food processing, and coatings.
- Contract Manufacturing: Custom chemical manufacturing and toll processing services at the Leverkusen production site, including specialty chemicals tailored to customer specifications.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
LEVACO Chemicals product offering
Product offeringCore offering
LEVACO Chemicals manufactures and sells specialty chemical additives — including defoamers, dispersants, emulsifiers, and wetting agents — for industrial applications in agrochemicals, paper production, food processing, paints and coatings, and the cable industry. Products are developed and produced at the Chempark Leverkusen production site in Germany and distributed globally through wholly owned subsidiaries in Austria, Brazil, and Hong Kong. The company also provides contract manufacturing (toll processing) of customized specialty chemicals at the Leverkusen facility.
Product overview
LEVACO Chemicals is a specialty chemicals manufacturer offering a portfolio of six business units: Agro Solutions, Antifoam & Food Solutions, Cable Solutions, Coating Solutions, Paper Solutions, and Chemical Solutions & Contract Manufacturing. Core products include dispersants, emulsifiers, wetting agents, and defoamers (DEFOSPUM®), flocculants (DEFOFLOC®), industrial cleaners (DEFOCLEAN®), calcium hydroxide suspensions (DEFOKALK®), and specialty additives. Production is based at the Chempark Leverkusen facility in Germany, with subsidiaries in Austria, Brazil, and Hong Kong. The company operates in agrochemicals, paper production, food processing, and coatings markets globally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Agro Solutions: Specialty chemicals and adjuvants for agrochemical formulations serving agriculture
- Antifoam & Food Solutions
- Cable Solutions
- Coating Solutions
- Paper Solutions
- Chemical Solutions & Contract Manufacturing
Products and services
- Chemical Solutions & Contract Manufacturing Toll processing and custom specialty chemical manufacturing service at LEVACO's Chempark Leverkusen production site in Germany. Designed for industrial customers requiring customized specialty chemical production to specification.
- DEFOKALK® 450 FD Highly efficient calcium hydroxide suspension for full sanitation of water cycles in paper production. Regulates pH and reduces water hardness and organic acids. For industrial paper mills.
- DEFOSPUM® PWW 74 Emulsion of fatty alcohols defoamer without silicone and mineral oil components for paper machine and wastewater treatment applications.
- DEFOSPUM® PWW 90 White emulsion defoamer for paper industry water circuits with excellent long-term effect.
- DEFOSPUM® PHT 110 Aqueous preparation of polyether polyols combined with natural fatty acids for defoaming and deaeration of water circuits in paper industry.
- DEFOSPUM® S 664 Liquid defoamer made from natural fats, fatty acids, alcohols, and emulsifiers without silicone, suitable for pulp and size press applications with food grade approvals.
- DEFOFLOC® CL series Cationic liquid flocculant based on polyacrylamide emulsion used as retention agent and dewatering accelerator on paper machines and wastewater treatment.
- DEFOFLOC® CP series Medium to high molecular weight polyelectrolyte based on cationic acrylamide derivative for retention and dewatering applications.
- DEFOBOND AL 6606 Medium to high molecular weight, low anionic polyelectrolyte based on acrylamide derivative functioning as synthetic dry strengthener for specialty paper production.
- DEFOFIX MCA 50 Highly cationic, cross-linked impurity fixing agent functioning as primary flocculant, compliant with BfR XXXVI recommendation.
- DEFOCLEAN® OT series Special formulation of detergents and emulsifiers for cleaning and odor control in paper machine circuits.
- DEFOCLEAN® 222 MOD 1 Industrial cleaner with water hazard class 1 approval for paper machine circuit cleaning.
- LUCRAMUL® EP VE01 Ethoxylated fatty acid volume booster for increasing specific volume of cardboard, board paper, and tissue through fiber structure expansion.
- LUCRACHEM® VLF 04 Component for elevating rinse aid formulations in food industry applications.
- DEFOSCALE® OK Advanced antiscaling solution for sugar production processes, extending campaign efficiency and saving energy and maintenance costs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Energy consumption reduced by more than 20% through investments in more energy-efficient systems
Companies that use LEVACO Chemicals
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
LEVACO Chemicals technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
LEVACO Chemicals partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)coreLEVACO is a member of RSPO, which aims to make sustainable palm oil production and trade the norm. RSPO membership is a prerequisite for product certification. LEVACO undergoes certification audits where the entire supply chain is examined for sustainable palm oil use. Membership supports the organization's goals of stopping deforestation, fair treatment of communities, and environmental protection.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
LEVACO Chemicals competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- LANXESS: German specialty chemicals company serving agrochemical, paper, and industrial process chemistry customers. Headquartered near Leverkusen with overlapping customer base and competitive overlap in additives and process chemicals.
- Clariant: Swiss-headquartered specialty chemicals producer with strong positions in surfactants, dispersants, and additives for coatings, paper, and personal care. Directly comparable product portfolio across LEVACO's core chemistries.
- Evonik Industries: Large German specialty chemicals company with additives and surfactants portfolios spanning coatings, paper, and agro applications. Comparable as a specialty additives competitor with substantially greater scale and broader product breadth.
- Solvay: Belgian specialty chemicals group with surfactants, specialty polymers, and process chemistry portfolios. Overlaps with LEVACO across agrochemical adjuvants, paper chemicals, and industrial additives applications.
- BASF: World's largest chemical company with extensive specialty additives for paper, agro, coatings, and food processing. Overlaps directly with LEVACO across multiple business units and represents the dominant pricing and supply competitor.
Direct peers
- Croda International: UK-listed specialty chemicals company focused on surfactants, emulsifiers, and performance additives for personal care, agro, coatings, and industrial markets. Closely comparable mid-to-large specialty additives peer with similar customer verticals.
- Ashland: US specialty chemicals company producing additives for coatings, personal care, and industrial applications including paper and process chemistry. Comparable as a focused specialty additives peer serving similar industrial end-markets.
- BYK (ALTANA): Specialty additives business of ALTANA focused on coatings and printing inks — including wetting agents, dispersants, and defoamers. Directly comparable to LEVACO's Coating Solutions business unit with overlapping product chemistries and customer base.
- Stepan Company: US-based specialty chemicals manufacturer of surfactants, polymers, and specialty products serving agricultural, cleaning, personal care, and industrial customers. Directly comparable specialty surfactant and performance additive producer.
- Elementis plc: UK-listed specialty chemicals company producing performance additives for coatings, personal care, and industrial applications. Comparable mid-cap specialty additives competitor with similar customer verticals and product types.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
LEVACO Chemicals social profiles
Digital presenceLEVACO Chemicals compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance12 records
LEVACO Chemicals financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
LEVACO Chemicals leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
LEVACO Chemicals subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
LEVACO Chemicals funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
LEVACO Chemicals 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 LEVACO Chemicals
What does LEVACO Chemicals do?
LEVACO Chemicals manufactures and sells specialty chemical additives — including defoamers, dispersants, emulsifiers, and wetting agents — for industrial applications in agrochemicals, paper production, food processing, paints and coatings, and the cable industry. Products are developed and produced at the Chempark Leverkusen production site in Germany and distributed globally through wholly owned subsidiaries in Austria, Brazil, and Hong Kong. The company also provides contract manufacturing (toll processing) of customized specialty chemicals at the Leverkusen facility.
Is LEVACO Chemicals a public or private company?
LEVACO Chemicals is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was LEVACO Chemicals founded?
LEVACO Chemicals was founded in 2014. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is LEVACO Chemicals based?
LEVACO Chemicals is headquartered in Leverkusen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does LEVACO Chemicals make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Specialty Chemical Products are the primary driver. The others are contract Manufacturing.
Who are LEVACO Chemicals's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are LANXESS, Clariant, Evonik Industries, Solvay and BASF. Direct peers are Croda International, Ashland, BYK (ALTANA), Stepan Company and Elementis plc.
Does LEVACO Chemicals have an API?
No public API is recorded for LEVACO Chemicals.
What industry is LEVACO Chemicals in?
LEVACO Chemicals's product category is Specialty Chemicals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEABAL, Specialty Surfactants & Performance Additives, with a secondary code of AFABAIAE, Adjuvant & Tank-Mix Additive Manufacturing (surfactants, oils, drift control). Its NAICS code is 325 and its SIC code is 2890.