What Sukano does

Sukano AG is a Swiss, family-owned specialty chemicals company founded in 1988 that develops and produces additive and color masterbatches and compounds for polyester, biopolymer, engineering polymer, and high-temperature resin applications. Its core technology is polymer modification through additive integration, crystallization enhancement, color dispersion, and functionality enabling for virgin and recycled materials, with notable proprietary offerings including NIR-detectable black and color masterbatches (for recyclability sorting), UV protection masterbatches, antimicrobial/antiviral masterbatches, melt viscosity enhancers for recycled PET, nucleating agents, and what the company describes as the first commercially available Mobility Aid masterbatch for ISBM PET bottles. The company runs four production sites (Switzerland as global HQ and R&D center, USA/South Carolina for the Americas, Malaysia for APAC, and Hungary/Kays Kft. for engineering plastics with recycled content) complemented by a sales office in Shanghai (established 2025) and a global distributor network spanning more than 20 countries.

Sukano sells to plastic converters and brand owners across five primary end-markets: Packaging, Consumer Durables, Building & Construction, Healthcare, and Fibers. Its business model is sales-led direct plus channel: direct technical sales from regional manufacturing facilities combined with exclusive and non-exclusive distributors in EMEA, APAC, and the Americas, supported by trade-show presence (Fakuma 2024/2026), industry associations (EUBP, NAPCOR, PETCORE EUROPE, APR), webinars, and content marketing. Revenue is generated through quote-based pricing on custom-formulated products tied to volume, formulation complexity, and technical specifications, typically under multi-year contracts; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company emphasizes regulatory compliance (REACH, FDA, EU Food Contact Materials — over 90% of products serve food-safety applications), in-house testing (Analytical Center, Technical Center, Recyclability Lab), and circularity (over 65% of products support recycling and circularity), positioning itself as a specialist partner for converters facing regulatory, aesthetic, and recyclability challenges. Strategic growth has been funded organically and through the February 2024 acquisition of a majority stake in Hungarian engineering plastics compounder Kays Kft., extending Sukano into automotive, electrical & electronics, and railway end-markets.

Name

Sukano

Legal name

Sukano AG

Website

https://sukano.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Sukano is a Swiss, family-owned specialty chemicals company founded in 1988 that develops additive and color masterbatches and compounds for polyester, biopolymer, and engineering resins, serving plastic converters and brand owners in Packaging, Consumer Durables, Building & Construction, Healthcare, and Fibers globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Schindellegi

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 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. Masterbatch and Compound Sales: Sukano develops, produces, and sells additive and color masterbatches and compounds for polyester, biopolymer, engineering polymer, and high-temperature resin applications. Revenue is generated through direct product sales to plastic converters and brand owners, with pricing based on formulation complexity, volume, and technical requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sukano develops, produces, and sells additive and color masterbatches and compounds for polyester (PET and rPET), biopolymers (PLA), engineering polymers, and high-temperature specialty resins. Its products are formulated to enhance aesthetics, functionality, processability, and recyclability of plastics used by converters and brand owners across packaging, consumer durables, building and construction, healthcare, and fibers applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SUKANO UV Polymer Protection: UV protection masterbatches for outdoor applications that prevent microcrack formation and maintain polymer optical properties.
• SUKANO Antimicrobial
• SUKANO Infrared Absorber
• SUKANO Laser Engraving
• SUKANO Antistatic
• SUKANO Flame Retardant
• SUKANO Mold Release
• SUKANO Slip/Antiblock
• SUKANO Mobility Aid
• SUKANO Nucleating Agents
• SUKANO Melt Viscosity Enhancer
• CPET Light
• SUKANO NIR Detectable Black

Products and services

• SUKANO UV Polymer Protection Masterbatches UV protection masterbatches for outdoor applications that prevent microcrack formation and maintain polymer optical properties (clarity, gloss) and mechanical performance, supplied to plastic converters and brand owners needing weatherable end products.
• SUKANO Antimicrobial Masterbatches High-performance antimicrobial masterbatches that inhibit replication of viruses and bacteria on plastic surfaces throughout the product's lifetime, for healthcare, packaging, and consumer durables applications.
• Masterbatches with Long-Term Antiviral Effect for PET and PA Fibers Masterbatches delivering durable antiviral protection on PET and PA fiber surfaces for fiber and textile applications requiring long-term hygiene performance.
• PET Antifogging Agent Antifogging compound for PET packaging that prevents condensation and maintains packaging clarity, developed in partnership with Emery Oleochemicals.
• SUKANO Mobility Aid Masterbatch First commercial mobility aid masterbatch for ISBM PET bottles that reduces bottle-to-bottle friction on conveyor lines without spray coatings, enabling high line efficiency and preserving material clarity.
• SUKANO Slip/Antiblock Masterbatches Slip and antiblock masterbatches for film and sheet extrusion that lower the coefficient of friction and reduce adhesion between polymer surfaces, supplied to film converters.
• SUKANO Mold Release Masterbatch Mold release masterbatch for injection molding that reduces demolding force and improves cavity filling, supplied to injection molders.
• SUKANO Nucleating Agents Nucleating agent masterbatches that enhance the crystallization process of PET and PLA, enabling faster cycle times and the use of higher rPET content in thermoformed and other end applications.
• SUKANO Melt Viscosity Enhancer Melt viscosity enhancer masterbatch that reconnects polymer chains to improve melt strength and processing window for recycled polymers, enabling higher rPET content in end products.
• SUKANO NIR-Detectable Black Masterbatch NIR-detectable black masterbatch for PET that is certified for recyclability, ensuring dark-colored PET products can be sorted and recycled in existing clear PET recycling streams.
• SUKANO Infrared Absorber Masterbatch Infrared absorbing masterbatch for heat-protection and solar heat management in automotive and building & construction polymer applications.
• SUKANO Laser Engraving Masterbatch Laser marking masterbatch that enables durable, high-contrast markings on plastic parts for identification, traceability, and branding.
• SUKANO Antistatic Masterbatch Antistatic masterbatch that prevents static charge buildup on film and packaging surfaces for converters and brand owners in electronics and packaging.
• SUKANO Flame Retardant Masterbatches Halogen-free flame retardant masterbatches for polymers that delay ignition and slow flame spread, targeting building & construction, electrical & electronics, and transportation applications.
• SUKANO Color Correction Masterbatches Color correction masterbatches that absorb UV and re-emit as visible blue light to neutralize yellow discoloration in recycled polymers caused by heat history and impurities.
• PET Closures Additive Masterbatch Package Additive masterbatch package enabling production of recyclable PET closures that support closure-to-bottle recycling, closing the PET bottle recycling loop for packaging converters and brand owners.
• CPET Light Masterbatch / Compound Transparent, temperature-resistant CPET (Crystallizable PET) light compound enabling recyclable and ovenable thermoformed PET packaging, co-developed with Illig for thermoforming applications.
• SUKANO Transparent Impact Modifier Transparent impact modifier that enables replacement of copolyester resins with recycled or virgin PET while maintaining clarity across cold, flash-frozen, and room temperature applications.
• BOPLA Antiblock Masterbatch for Compostable Plastic Packaging Antiblock masterbatch for BOPLA coex films developed with NatureWorks to improve surface quality and barrier properties of compostable plastic packaging for biopolymer processors.
• Tailor-Made Masterbatch Formulation Service Custom formulation and development service, supported by in-house Analytical, Technical, and Recyclability Centers, that develops bespoke masterbatch and compound solutions to customer specifications.
• Regulatory Compliance Service Regulatory advisory and compliance service covering REACH, FDA, EU Food Contact Materials, and global market standards for masterbatches, compounds, and resins used in packaging, extruded films, profiles, and injection-molded parts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sixfold decrease in PET bottle mispicks by production robots
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• NatureWorksminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration developing compostable plastic packaging solution with SUKANO Antiblock masterbatch significantly improving surface quality of BOPLA coex films.
• KAYS Kft.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Sukano acquired majority stake in KAYS Kft., a Hungarian company specializing in compounding engineering plastics using recycled content for Automotive, E+E, and Railway markets. This synergistic alliance unlocks new growth opportunities and complements existing product portfolio.
• PlastiColorsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 7 November 2023Partnership to meet growing market demand for PET packaging in South Africa through local distribution expertise.
• Emery OleochemicalsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2022Joint product development and launch for PET Antifogging compound, combining expertise from both companies.
• AvantiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 April 2022Development partnership for masterbatches for biobased PEF-film applications. This collaboration facilitates fast adoption of PEF in diversified markets, accelerating PEF growth and reducing environmental impact of the plastics industry.
• IlligminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 October 2021Long-standing development partnership in thermoforming, resulting in CPET-light development for recyclable and temperature-resistant PET packaging applications.
• SidelminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2019Technical partnership demonstrating that making light barrier white opaque PET bottles from recycled material is possible at the same throughput.
• OmyaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 March 2018Development of novel voiding agent masterbatches for BOPET and BOPLA films combining calcium carbonate expertise with Sukano's masterbatch technology.
• Austral ChemicalsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018Exclusive distribution partnership in Chile allowing Chilean customers to benefit from Sukano's expertise in high performance masterbatches in PET and PLA applications.
• Total Corbion PLAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2017Partnership to launch functional and optical PLA masterbatches based on Total Corbion PLA's Luminy® neat resins. Masterbatches exclusively available from Sukano to complement properties of PLA resins for converters.
• Fondation Jan & OscarminorOthersSwiss non-profit organization partnership providing long-term support to fight plastic pollution through waste banks and youth education.
• Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR)coreOthersInternational non-profit organization focused exclusively on improving plastic recycling. Sukano actively participates in PET Toners and Additives Task Group, and PET Technical, Films, Olefins, and Communications Committees.
• PETCORE EUROPEcoreOthersBrussels-based non-profit representing entire PET value chain with 160+ member companies. Sukano participates in LCA, Thermoformed PET Trays, and BOPET working groups, and chairs Opaque and Functional Bottles group.
• European Bioplastics (EUBP)minorOthersAdvocacy association for bioplastics industry in Europe promoting economic and regulatory framework for bioplastics market growth.
• NAPCORminorOthersNational Association for PET Container Resources serving PET packaging industry in US, Canada, and Mexico. Sukano actively participates in Opaque & Functional and Thermoform Committees.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths2 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sukano
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SukanoGroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Sukano