What framas Kunststofftechnik does

framas Kunststofftechnik GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer founded in 1948 and headquartered in Pirmasens, specializing in performance plastic components for the global footwear industry. The company operates a network of ten wholly-owned facilities across Germany, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, the USA, Taiwan, and South Korea, and employed 3,572 people as of December 2024. Its product offering centers on injection-molded outsoles, heel counters, midsoles, and shoe lasts produced from advanced thermoplastics (TPU, TPE, PA, PEBA), supported by in-house R&D, mold design and manufacturing, and additive manufacturing of tooling.

The company operates as an end-to-end technical development partner for footwear brands, integrating concept development, 2D-to-3D engineering, prototyping, mold design, simulation, sampling, testing, and mass production within a single workflow. Proprietary process capabilities include precision injection molding at approximately 35-second cycle times, laser texturing of mold surfaces for repeatable pattern customization, additive manufacturing of conformal-cooled tooling, and modular footwear design approaches supporting disassembly and recyclability. In 2024 it processed 11,010 tons of plastics, of which 3,568 tons were recycled and 724 tons bio-based, and it reports under GRI standards while preparing alignment with EU ESRS.

framas generates revenue through B2B contracts with global footwear OEMs under a custom project-based pricing model. Revenue streams span hardware sales of molded components, professional services for R&D and tooling, and one-time mold manufacturing engagements. The go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales executed through direct relationships, with supporting content marketing via technical blog posts, organic social media on LinkedIn/Facebook/Instagram, and industry event participation. Ownership is independent and private under German corporate law, with three Managing Directors (Patrick Jann, Martin Jachmann, Sebastian Roscher) and no disclosed PE/VC involvement or M&A activity.

Name

framas Kunststofftechnik

Legal name

framas Kunststofftechnik GmbH

Website

https://framas.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

framas Kunststofftechnik is a German injection-molding manufacturer of performance plastic footwear components — outsoles, heel counters, and lasts — serving global footwear brands through ten wholly-owned facilities in Europe, Asia, and North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Footwear Components Manufacturing

NAICS

Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261), Footwear Manufacturing (316210)

SIC

Rubber & Plastics Footwear (3021)

akta.pro primary industry

Footwear Components & Subassemblies Manufacturing (Soles/Heels/Insocks/Outsoles/Uppers) (IMAOAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Custom Injection Molding & Contract Manufacturing (Job Shops/CMs) (IMANAFAJ)

Keywords

• Footwear components manufacturing
• Injection molding services
• Mold design tooling
• Performance plastic outsoles
• Footwear R&D services

Headquarters

HQ city

Pirmasens

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Plastic Component Manufacturing: framas generates revenue through manufacturing and supplying performance plastic components (outsoles, heel counters, midsoles) to footwear brands through long-term technical partnerships.
2. Technical Development Services: Revenue from R&D, mold design, simulation, prototyping, and product development services provided to footwear brands as a technical development partner.
3. Mold Manufacturing: Design and manufacturing of injection molds for footwear components, including tooling investment and sampling services.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

framas Kunststofftechnik is a global manufacturer of performance plastic components for the footwear industry. The company produces injection-molded outsoles, heel counters, and midsoles using advanced thermoplastic materials (TPU, TPE, PA, PEBA). It also serves as an all-in-one technical development partner, offering R&D, mold design, simulation, prototyping, and injection molding production services to footwear brands from concept through mass production.

Product overview

Framas Kunststofftechnik is a global manufacturer of performance plastic components for the footwear industry and an all-in-one technical development partner offering manufacturing solutions. The company's portfolio centers on injection-molded footwear components (particularly outsoles and heel counters), supported by comprehensive R&D, mold design/manufacturing, and injection molding production services. Their offering integrates research and concept development through mass production, covering the full product development journey from 2D to 3D, prototyping, mold design, simulation, testing, and final production. The company works with advanced thermoplastic materials including TPU, TPE, PA (Polyamide/Nylon), and PEBA for various footwear applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Molded Components Performance plastic components manufactured via injection molding for the footwear industry, including outsoles, heel counters, and midsoles. These are the core manufacturing output of the company, serving global sports and performance footwear brands.
• R&D Services Research and development services covering the footwear product development journey from concept through prototyping, including 3D printing, simulation, and design capabilities for footwear brands.
• Mold Services Mold design and manufacturing services including smart tooling strategies, laser texturing, and mold making for footwear components used in injection molding production.
• Injection Services Injection molding production services for footwear components using hot runner and cold runner systems, processing materials at temperatures ranging from 200–300°C depending on the material.
• Heel Counter Reinforcement components for footwear heel areas providing structural support, manufactured in TPU, TPE, and other thermoplastics via injection molding.
• Shoe Last Shoe last products and automation solutions for creating precise footwear forms that define shoe shape and fit, supporting the footwear product development process.
• Sustainability Consulting Sustainability services including material optimization for recycled and bio-based plastics, circular design support, and environmental impact reduction consulting for footwear brands.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,568.2 tons of recycled plastics and 723.7 tons of bio-based materials processed in 2024
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• BalenacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership in the FootLoop project exploring circular footwear systems through modular design, mono-material thinking, and advanced manufacturing. Balena provides expertise in sustainable materials and circular economy approaches.
• Moon Rabbit Adaptive LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership in the FootLoop project bringing together modular design expertise and adaptive lab capabilities to explore fully circular footwear systems.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Texon International: Global manufacturer of structural footwear components including heel counters, toe puffs, and insole materials, serving athletic and casual footwear brands—directly comparable to framas's heel counter and structural component offering.
• Vibram: Italian manufacturer of high-performance rubber outsoles and shoe bottoms sold to footwear brands worldwide. Comparable to framas as a specialized sole/component supplier with a brand-recognized performance technology portfolio.
• Klöckner DESMA Elastomertechnik: German manufacturer of injection molding machinery and turnkey production cells for the footwear industry. Closely tied to framas's process technology stack and a potential equipment/customer adjacency.
• OrthoLite: Leading global supplier of open-cell foam insoles to athletic and casual footwear brands. Comparable to framas as a component-level B2B partner selling formulated, branded subassemblies into footwear OEM supply chains.
• ACS S.p.A. Italian manufacturer of plastic and technical components for the footwear industry including heel counters, shanks, and reinforcements. Directly comparable product portfolio and customer base to framas's component business.
• Mehler Texnologies (Freudenberg Performance Materials): Manufacturer of technical textiles and reinforced nonwovens used as footwear components (uppers, linings, structural layers). Comparable as a component supplier selling engineered materials into branded footwear.
• Strohwig Group: Specialist mold maker for the footwear industry, designing and manufacturing injection and compression molds. Comparable to framas's mold-design and tooling business and a likely partner/competitor for new tooling programs.
• Bapalon Group: European group specialized in injection-molded plastic components for footwear (soles, top-pieces, heel tips). Comparable scale, technology base, and B2B brand-customer model to framas.

Broad incumbents

• Covestro: Major producer of TPU and polycarbonate materials, including branded thermoplastic polyurethanes for athletic and safety footwear. Comparable as a key material supplier adjacent to framas's TPU-based component portfolio.
• BASF: Global chemical major supplying TPU, PA, and specialty plastics to the footwear industry, including through its Footwear Solutions unit. Comparable as a material/technology provider overlapping with framas's material expertise in TPU/TPE/PA/PEBA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/framasgroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/framas
• Instagraminstagram.com/framasgroup

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries11 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 framas Kunststofftechnik