WHW Walter Hillebrand

What WHW Walter Hillebrand does

WHW Walter Hillebrand GmbH & Co. KG is a German specialty industrial coatings company founded in 1937 and headquartered in Wickede (Ruhr), Germany. It operates two integrated divisions: WHW Hillebrand, which applies cathodic corrosion protection coatings to metallic components, and Hillebrand Chemicals, which develops and produces the proprietary coating chemistries used in those processes. The company operates from six locations across Germany, employs approximately 650 people, and reports a chemical throughput of about 4,000 tonnes per year alongside 53 completed development projects carried out at its in-house Centre for Innovation and Technology.

The company's coating portfolio includes proprietary product lines such as PREMIUM SILVER and the more recent SYNOGARD system, qualified against the proprietary specifications of major automotive OEMs — BMW GS 90010 and VW 13750 are explicitly cited. It serves as an approved supplier to BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Porsche, Brose, Bosch, MAN, and Mahle, anchored by long-tenured relationships that are typical of supplier-customer dynamics in the German automotive value chain. The business model is vertically integrated B2B industrial services: WHW generates revenue through per-part coating charges (service division) and through the sale of proprietary coating chemistries (chemicals division), with revenue concentration in the automotive OEM and Tier 1 segment.

WHW sits within the privately held EWH Holding GmbH & Co. KG parent structure. It was an early digital adopter in its segment, completing what it describes as a global-first SAP integration across its coating line in 2014. Growth is being pursued through product extension into electromobility coatings (SYNOGARD), partnership-led service expansion (omniTECHNIK for thread locking, Primat Curtis), an internal training academy (WHW Akademie O!), and multilingual (German, English, Turkish) market outreach. There is no public funding history and no AI/ML capability disclosed in the available material.

Name

WHW Walter Hillebrand

Legal name

WHW Walter Hillebrand GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://whw.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

WHW Walter Hillebrand GmbH & Co. KG is a German specialty coatings company that applies cathodic corrosion protection coatings and supplies proprietary coating chemistries to automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers across six German locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Surface Coatings

NAICS

Electroplating, Plating, Polishing, Anodizing, and Coloring (332813), Paint and Coating Manufacturing (32551), Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (33281)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Specialty Cleaning, Polishing And Sanitation Preparations (2842)

akta.pro primary industry

Corrosion Control & Cathodic Protection Services (IMAIAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corrosion Control & Asset Integrity Services (Cathodic Protection/Coatings QA) (IMAIACAK)

Keywords

• Industrial surface coatings
• Cathodic corrosion protection
• Zinc-nickel electroplating
• Coating chemicals
• Zinc flake coating

Headquarters

HQ city

Wickede

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Coating Services: WHW Hillebrand provides surface coating services including pre-treatment, electroplating, passivation, sealing, and post-coating services (sorting, assembly, packaging, logistics) for fasteners and industrial components primarily serving automotive industry.
2. Coating Chemicals: Hillebrand Chemicals develops and manufactures specialized coating chemicals including pre-treatment products (GC PREP), electrolytes (GC CORE), passivations (DDPASS, GC PASS), and sealants (GC TOP) for cathodic corrosion protection systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

WHW Walter Hillebrand provides cathodic corrosion protection coating services (zinc-nickel, zinc, zinc-iron, zinc flake, tin-nickel, electrophoretic dip coating systems) for automotive fasteners and industrial components, complemented by in-house development and production of specialized coating chemicals through its subsidiary Hillebrand Chemicals, and post-coating services (sorting, thread locking, assembly, packaging, logistics) at 6 integrated German locations.

Product overview

WHW Hillebrand is a leading coating company specializing in cathodic corrosion protection with nearly 90 years of experience. The company operates two main divisions: WHW Hillebrand (coating services) and Hillebrand Chemicals (coating chemistry development and production). WHW Hillebrand offers zinc-nickel systems (PREMIUM SILVER, PREMIUM PLUS, PREMIUM BLACK, PREMIUM BLACK FINISH), zinc systems (HIGH QUALITY ZINC, HIGHCOR), zinc-iron systems (BRILLIANT SILVER, BRILLIANT BLACK), combination coatings (DUPLEX), zinc flake systems (PREMIUM ZINCFLAKE SILVER/BLACK), zinc die-cast systems (PREMIUM DIE CAST FINISH), tin-nickel systems (SYNOGARD), and supporting services including pre-treatment, post-coating, thread locking, and training (WHW Akademie O!). Hillebrand Chemicals develops and produces specialized coating chemicals including GC PREP pre-treatment series, GC CORE electrolyte systems, GC PASS and DDPASS passivation series, and GC TOP sealants. The company produces 4,000 tonnes of chemicals per year and operates 6 locations with 650 employees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PREMIUM SILVER: Zinc-nickel coating with high-quality corrosion protection for automotive applications, offering >720h salt spray resistance
• PREMIUM BLACK
• PREMIUM PLUS
• SYNO GARD
• HIGH QUALITY ZINC
• PREMIUM ZINCFLAKE BLACK
• PREMIUM ZINCFLAKE SILVER
• DUPLEX
• BRILLIANT SILVER
• BRILLIANT BLACK
• HIGHCOR
• PREMIUM DIE CAST FINISH
• GC PREP
• GC CORE
• GC PASS
• GC TOP

Products and services

• PREMIUM SILVER Alkaline zinc-nickel coating system with 12-15% nickel content providing >720 hours corrosion protection, silver appearance, and 180°C temperature resistance for automotive applications.
• PREMIUM BLACK High-performance zinc-nickel alloy coating with deep black appearance and excellent corrosion protection, designed for the automotive industry.
• PREMIUM PLUS Zinc-nickel acidic coating achieving a stainless steel-like appearance on steel and iron, providing >360 hours white rust resistance and >720 hours red rust protection as an alternative to stainless steel.
• PREMIUM BLACK FINISH Alkaline zinc-nickel with adapted passivation and a black decorative top coat providing >240 hours salt spray resistance without visual changes.
• HIGH QUALITY ZINC Acidic zinc coating system with uniform layer thickness distribution, reliable corrosion protection, and adjustable friction coefficients for mass-produced goods.
• HIGHCOR Zinc polymerisation system combining acidic zinc coating, thick-layer passivation, and a thermally-activated inorganic sealant for 300 hours white rust and 480 hours red rust resistance.
• BRILLIANT SILVER Alkaline zinc-iron coating with 0.3-1.0% iron incorporation, transparent passivation, and silver appearance for corrosion protection of mass-produced and rack goods.
• BRILLIANT BLACK Alkaline zinc-iron coating with black passivation providing >480 hours corrosion protection for complex geometries.
• DUPLEX Zinc-nickel coating with electrophoretic black dip paint (EDP/KTL) providing active and passive corrosion protection up to 180°C with low total layer thickness.
• PREMIUM ZINCFLAKE SILVER Zinc flake coating using DELTA-PROTEKT, DELTA-SEAL, and DELTA-TONE 9000 chemistry, providing >720 hours corrosion protection for mass-produced goods via dip-spin process.
• PREMIUM ZINCFLAKE BLACK Zinc flake coating with even layer thickness distribution and >720 hours corrosion protection for mass-produced goods in a black finish.
• PREMIUM DIE CAST FINISH Direct passivation system for zinc die-cast materials providing >200 hours salt spray protection without prior galvanizing.
• SYNOGARD Tin-nickel alloy coating with graphite particles providing exceptional hardness, mechanical resistance, electrical conductivity, and corrosion protection, designed for electromobility applications.
• GC PREP Cleaning Additives (100/200/900 Series) Hillebrand Chemicals pre-treatment cleaning additive product line for degreasing with high cleaning efficiency, broad spectrum of action, and long service life.
• GC CORE Electrolyte Systems (110/210, 350/400/500, 600) Hillebrand Chemicals electrolyte systems for zinc, zinc-nickel, and zinc-iron coating processes, including variants with lubricating properties for friction-critical fastening applications.
• DDPASS / DDPASS ZECO Passivation Passivation system for zinc-nickel surfaces with transparent finish, including an environmentally conscious ZECO variant.
• GC Multipass and GC PASS Series Passivations Multi-layer and series passivation systems (GC PASS 100/110/120, 410/421/430, 600/650/670, 800) for zinc and zinc-nickel coatings, including thick-layer and high-performance variants.
• GC TOP Sealant Range (LUB 503, TOP 101, 120, 121, 180, 189, 311, 427, 471) Hillebrand Chemicals sealant and top coat product line for friction coefficient adjustment, decorative finishes, and enhanced corrosion protection on coated surfaces.
• WHW Services after coating Post-coating services including 100% sorting with 19 fully automatic optical-measurement sorting systems, assembly and testing, packaging, and logistics.
• Thread Locking Services Thread pre-coating services using omniTECHNIK precote micro-encapsulation products, delivered in cooperation with Primat Curtis (Italy) at the Fröndenberg site per DIN 267-27/28 and manufacturer specifications.
• WHW Services before coating Pre-treatment services delivered prior to coating application, including cleaning and surface preparation.
• Precision Deburring Chemical deburring in barrel application achieving ±1 μm accuracy for narrow tolerance ranges with damage-free material processing.
• WHW 360° Integrated value-added service bundle spanning pre-treatment, coating, chemicals, and post-coating across the WHW group under a single delivery model.

Quantifiable outcome

• >720 hours corrosion protection in salt spray test per DIN EN ISO 9227
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Primat Curtis (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHW Hillebrand coats thread locking products in cooperation with Primat Curtis at their full-service site in Fröndenberg, providing comprehensive thread pre-coating services according to DIN 267-27/28 and manufacturer specifications.
• omniTECHNIK Mikroverkapselungs GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationCertified partner of omniTECHNIK, WHW Hillebrand applies all standard precote® thread locking products, enabling specialized micro-encapsulation coatings for screw connections.
• DGO/ZVO (German Galvanizing Association)minorOthersParticipates in validated inter-laboratory tests with DGO/ZVO and DSV associations for quality assurance of corrosion testing results.
• DSV (German Corrosion Protection Association)minorOthersCollaborates with DSV for validated inter-laboratory corrosion testing to ensure measurement result quality.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Atotech (Element Solutions): Global leader in surface-finishing chemistry and equipment for the automotive and industrial markets. Directly comparable as a supplier of zinc-nickel electrolytes, passivations, and engineered coatings serving many of the same OEM and Tier 1 customers WHW serves, but at vastly greater international scale.
• Chemetall (BASF Coatings): BASF's surface-treatment division offers pre-treatment, passivation, and coating chemicals for automotive, coil, and industrial applications. Overlaps with Hillebrand Chemicals' GC PREP/GC PASS portfolio and serves the same German OEM customer base, but as part of a global platform.
• MacDermid Enthone Electronics Solutions (Element Solutions): Supplier of specialty plating chemistries and surface-finishing solutions for automotive, electronics, and industrial markets. Overlaps with WHW's electroplating and passivation portfolio and competes for the same Tier 1 specification slots.
• Nihon Parkerizing: Major Japanese surface-treatment chemical supplier with global operations in pre-treatment, anti-corrosion, and lubricant coatings for automotive and industrial markets. Compares to Hillebrand Chemicals' chemistry portfolio, though primarily serves Asian OEMs.

Direct peers

• Dörken MKS-Systeme: German specialist in zinc flake coatings (DELTA-PROTEKT, DELTA-SEAL, DELTA-TONE 9000) used in the very product lines WHW offers under its Premium Zincflake brand. A close functional peer in cathodic corrosion protection chemistry with deep automotive specification penetration.
• NOF Metal Coatings Europe: Specialist in zinc flake and zinc-rich anti-corrosion coatings (GEOMET, DACROMET) widely used on automotive fasteners. A direct competitor to WHW's zinc flake product family, serving the same fastener-manufacturer customer segment with proprietary chemistry.
• Aalberts Surface Treatment: European network of industrial surface-treatment service plants (e.g., Impreglon, AHC) offering coatings, passivations, and finishing for automotive and industrial customers. Highly comparable service-side business to WHW Hillebrand, with broader geographic reach but less chemical-captive integration.
• SurTec (Freudenberg Chemical Specialities): Developer and producer of chemicals for surface treatment (cleaning, pre-treatment, electroplating, passivation, sealants). Directly comparable to Hillebrand Chemicals' GC product family and serves overlapping automotive and industrial customers, primarily in Europe.
• Helmut Rübsamen GmbH & Co. KG: German specialist in functional coatings for fasteners and precision components, with a strong automotive OEM and Tier 1 book. Direct Mid-market peer to WHW Hillebrand in coating services for fasteners, offering zinc, zinc-nickel, and specialty finishes in a similar B2B specification-driven model.

Regional players

• Zinkpower Group: Large European hot-dip galvanizing service network with plants across Germany and neighboring countries. Adjacent corrosion-protection service provider, comparable in industrial-coating service model, but uses a different (hot-dip) process than WHW's electrolytic/zinc-flake systems.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/whw_de
• Facebookfacebook.com/whwhillebrand

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 WHW Walter Hillebrand