What Bosshard does

Bosshard-Farben AG is a Swiss manufacturer of paints, lacquers, glazes, and protective coatings for building and wood protection applications, headquartered in Rümlang, Switzerland. The company develops its products through in-house R&D and manufactures them at its Rümlang facility, which includes a newly completed production building. Its portfolio spans facade and interior silicate paints (ExpoSilit, ExpoSol Cristal), polyurethane lacquer systems (PigaPur), wood protection lines under the 70+ year arbezol brand, weathering glazes (ArboGrey), specialty finishes such as TopAir catalyst-based indoor air-quality additives, and the Sax Farben heritage-coatings sub-brand for monument preservation. Bosshard also exclusively distributes German manufacturer Hesse Lignal's lacquers and stains in Switzerland and Italian decorative brand Giorgio Graesan & Friends in German- and French-speaking Switzerland.

Bosshard sells exclusively through a network of 16 owned sales locations across Switzerland, staffed by technical advisors who provide on-site specification support to professional builders, contractors, architects, and consumers; pricing is quote-based rather than publicly listed. The company holds ISO-9001/14001 certifications, Swiss Environmental Label ratings (with A/B products integrated into Minergie-Eco standards), and Q-VSH-Label certified paint systems for industrial wood facades. Its silicone resin paints have carried Class A1 classification per BFS No. 26 for 50 years.

The business is family-owned, private, and led by Managing Director Philipp Bosshard, with reported headcount in the 51-100 range. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and all operations are confined to the Swiss market. Strategic activity in recent years has centered on capacity expansion, the Sax Farben acquisition in monument protection, product line extensions (PigaPur Matt in 2024), and broadened distribution partnerships.

Name

Bosshard

Legal name

Bosshard-Farben AG

Website

https://bosshard-farben.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Bosshard-Farben AG is a Swiss family-owned manufacturer of paints, lacquers, and wood-protection coatings, producing in-house at its Rümlang headquarters and selling through 16 technical-advisor-supported sales locations to Swiss builders, contractors, architects, and consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Coatings and Paint Manufacturing

NAICS

Paint and Coating Manufacturing (32551)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural & Decorative Coatings (IMAEAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wood Coatings & Finishes (IMAEAGAG), Industrial & Protective Coatings (IMAEAGAB), Specialty & Functional Coatings (Anti-microbial/Anti-slip/Insulating) (IMAIAKAM)

Keywords

• Architectural paints
• Wood protection coatings
• Facade silicate paints
• Industrial lacquers stains
• Monument preservation paints

Headquarters

HQ city

Rümlang

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

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. Paint and Coating Products: Bosshard-Farben AG generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of paints, lacquers, stains, and protective coatings for building and wood protection applications. Products are developed in-house through their own R&D and manufactured at their headquarters in Rümlang, Switzerland.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bosshard-Farben AG manufactures paints, lacquers, glazes, and protective coatings primarily for building and wood protection applications. The portfolio spans interior and exterior silicate paints, polyurethane-based lacquer systems, wood stains and weathering glazes, floor and wall sealers, and historical preservation coatings, all developed through in-house R&D and produced at the company's headquarters in Rümlang, Switzerland. The company also distributes complementary brands (Hesse Lignal, Giorgio Graesan & Friends) and operates a wholly-owned subsidiary (Sax Farben) for monument-grade coatings.

Product overview

Bosshard-Farben AG is a Swiss paint, varnish, and glaze manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of coating solutions. The core product lines include interior and exterior silicate paints (ExpoSilit, ExpoSol), polyurethane systems (PigaPur, PigaSil), and wood protection products (Arbezol, Arbosan with Ligno-Tec technology, ArboGrey weathering glazes). The company also distributes complementary brands including Hesse Lignal varnishes (since 2013) and Giorgio Graesan & Friends decorative paints. Specialty offerings include Sax Farben for monument preservation, TopAir additives for air purification, and the exemplum 721 color fan with 721 coordinated facade colors. The portfolio spans residential, commercial, and heritage preservation applications with products manufactured at the Rümlang headquarters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sax Farben: Premium historical paints and conservation coatings for listed monuments and heritage buildings, operating since 1889.

Products and services

• PigaPur Lacksystem High-tech polyurethane-based lacquer system for interior and exterior applications, available in various finishes including a matte variant optimized for Airless or Airmix application.
• MicroSil Ultra Interior paint with Soft Touch Finish providing a velvety, soft living experience for residential and commercial interior walls.
• Boscapox Aqua-2K-Emaille 4000 High-quality water-based 2-component floor and wall sealing enamel with maximum yield for professional floor and wall sealing applications.
• ArboNatura Color Natural, opaque wood protection paint with vibrant, bold colors for wood surfaces.
• Arbosan with Ligno-Tec Technology Wood protection products combining light protection and hydrophobization agents for durable protection of interior and exterior wood.
• ExpoSilit Interior Water-dilutable, solvent-free and preservative-free interior silicate paint with high water vapor permeability for ceilings and walls.
• ExpoSol Cristal Single-component exterior silicate paint using SOL technology for mineral substrates in outdoor applications.
• ExpoTex Glass Fiber and Fleece Materials Versatile glass fiber and fleece substrate materials for creative combinations with paint and gloss levels on walls and ceilings.
• ArboGrey Perlmutt Single-coat aqueous weathering glaze with pearlescent effect for wood facades, providing light reflections for decorative exterior wood applications.
• ArboGrey Classic Weathering glaze that gives wood a uniform gray appearance similar to natural weathering, providing a maintenance-free aesthetic for exterior wood facades.
• Tosanol Seidenglanzlack Professional-grade solvent-based satin enamel paint using PUAA (Poly Urethan Acrylat Alkyd) binding technology, refined for over 55 years for woodworking applications.
• Arbezol Wood Protection Product Line Comprehensive wood protection product line with nearly 40 products for interior and exterior wood applications, including glazes, stains, and protective coatings developed over 70+ years.
• ArboSol UV-Täferlack Single-component water-based PU-modified matte wood varnish with special light protection combination for yellowing-resistant indoor wood surfaces.
• Arbezol Aqualin Water-dilutable open-pore wood protection glaze based on emulsified oil binders and wax for exterior applications on native and tropical wood species.
• Sax Farben Heritage Paints Historical oil paints, silicate, and lime paints for professional monument preservation under the Sax Farben sub-brand, established since 1889 and now wholly owned by Bosshard.
• Hesse Lignal Varnishes and Stains (Distributed Brand) Exclusive Swiss distribution partnership since 2013 for high-quality German-made varnishes and stains for interior wood applications.
• Giorgio Graesan & Friends Decorative Paints (Distributed Brand) Exclusive Swiss distribution of Italian decorative paint products including Aurora Boreale, Estasi di Marmo, Muro Naturale Plus, and other specialty wall finishes for unique interior design.

Quantifiable outcome

• TopAir catalyst technology reduces formaldehyde, nicotine, cigarette smoke, and household odors
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hesse LignalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBosshard-Farben AG has been the exclusive distribution partner of German company Hesse Lignal since 2013. Hesse Lignal provides high-quality lacquers and stains for interior applications, complementing Bosshard's product portfolio for the wood-processing industry. Hesse Lignal is a family-owned company since 1910 with over 500 employees worldwide, market leader in Germany, and one of the three largest lacquer and stain manufacturers in Europe.
• Giorgio Graesan & FriendscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBosshard-Farben AG distributes Giorgio Graesan decorative paint products in German and French-speaking Switzerland. Giorgio Graesan & Friends is a community-based brand focused on aesthetic design and architectural decoration, offering exclusive decorative colors and wall techniques for unique interior design applications.
• Sax Farben AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBosshard acquired Sax Farben AG, a company specializing in historical paints for monument protection since 1889. Sax represents authenticity and material fidelity in coatings for heritage-protected buildings. The acquisition bundles competencies and innovations between the two companies.
• Stiftung Farbe (Swiss Color Foundation)minorOthersBosshard participates in the Swiss environmental labeling initiative managed by Stiftung Farbe, which evaluates the ecological characteristics and usability of paint products across Switzerland.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• DAW SE (Caparol): DAW SE is a major German family-owned paint manufacturer whose Caparol brand is one of Europe's leading architectural coating lines for facades, interiors, and wood protection. Closely comparable to Bosshard in vertical integration (R&D to manufacturing), German-speaking region focus, premium architectural positioning, and family-owned governance model.
• Remmers GmbH: Remmers is a German family-owned manufacturer specializing in wood protection coatings, facade paints, and specialty construction chemicals. Closely comparable to Bosshard's arbezol wood protection business and architectural coatings, with similar family-owned governance and German-speaking market focus.
• Sto SE & Co. KGaA: Sto SE is a German manufacturer specializing in facade coatings, renders, and insulation systems with a strong sustainability and quality certification profile. Directly comparable to Bosshard in architectural/facade paint focus, technical advisor distribution model, and premium positioning for construction professionals.
• Osmo Holz und Color: Osmo is a German manufacturer of wood finishes, stains, and protective coatings based on natural oils and waxes. Comparable to Bosshard's arbezol wood protection product line and ArboNatura/ArboGrey weathering glazes, with similar specialty positioning in premium wood coatings.
• Brillux: Brillux is a German paint and coatings manufacturer with deep focus on architectural paints, wood coatings, and facade protection — sold primarily through direct technical advisory distribution. Highly comparable to Bosshard in its family-owned structure, professional painter/architect customer base, and German/DACH-region specialty coatings focus.
• IVM Group (Sayerlack): IVM Group is an Italian wood coatings manufacturer whose Sayerlack brand serves furniture, joinery, and architectural wood applications across Europe. Comparable to Bosshard's PigaPur and arbezol wood lacquer product lines, with overlapping professional wood-finishing customer base.
• KABE Farben: KABE is a Swiss paint manufacturer producing architectural paints, plasters, and facade systems. Directly comparable as another Swiss-domiciled paint manufacturer competing in the same Swiss architectural coatings market with similar specialty/distribution focus.
• Südwest Lacke + Farben: Südwest is a German manufacturer of architectural paints, wood coatings, and industrial finishes with strong professional trades channel. Comparable to Bosshard in product mix, German-speaking market focus, and professional painter customer base.

Broad incumbents

• AkzoNobel (Dulux/Sikkens): AkzoNobel is a global paints and coatings giant whose Dulux and Sikkens brands compete across architectural and wood coatings segments. Comparable as the dominant incumbent competing in Bosshard's Swiss/DACH architectural coatings space with broader portfolio and scale advantages.
• PPG Industries (Tikkurila): PPG Industries is a global coatings leader; its Tikkurila brand (acquired 2021) is a leading Nordic paint manufacturer with strong architectural coatings positioning in Europe. Comparable as a multinational incumbent that has consolidated European paint brands, representing competitive pressure for Bosshard in architectural and wood coatings segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=rHqB_DAKSho
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bosshard-farben-ag

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Bosshard