What Grillo-Werke Aktiengesellschaft does

Grillo-Werke Aktiengesellschaft is a privately held, family-controlled German specialty chemicals and zinc products manufacturer founded in 1842 and headquartered in Duisburg, Germany. The company operates through two main divisions—Chemical Products and Zinc Products—across production sites in Duisburg and Frankfurt-Höchst, supported by wholly-owned subsidiaries including GRILLO Chemicals GmbH, GRILLO Zinc Metals GmbH, GRILLO Zinc Powder GmbH, ASB Informationstechnik GmbH, and CHEMAD GmbH. Its product portfolio spans sulfuric acid derivatives (oleum, sulfur dioxide, sulfuric acid), sulfates and sulfites (dimethyl ether GRILLO-one, dimethyl sulfate, sodium bisulfate/bisulfite/pyrosulfite, hydrochloric acid), zinc die-casting alloys (ZAMAK, ECO ZAMAK, ZAMAK Ultra, special alloys), zinc strip/foil/wire (including aluminum and ZnAl/SnZn alloy variants), zinc oxide (industrial, cosmetics, pharmaceutical grades), and zinc powder, serving end markets including energy storage and batteries, corrosion protection, agriculture and animal care, cosmetics, food processing, and construction.

The company's underlying technology is rooted in zinc and sulfur chemistry, with proprietary capabilities in zinc-air battery cells (claimed five times higher energy density than lithium-ion), thermal-sprayed zinc and zinc-aluminum coatings for corrosion protection with up to 100-year service life, zinc-water hydrogen generation for fuel cells, and sustainably produced ECO ZAMAK alloys. GRILLO makes money through direct B2B sales of specialty chemicals and zinc products at quote-based pricing tied to customer specifications and volumes, supplemented by technical consulting, project support, and circular-economy recycling services such as the Closing the Loop program with Aurubis AG. Distribution is conducted through direct enterprise sales globally, with marketing supported by trade-fair participation, technical publications, and a comprehensive media library. The customer base is industrial and highly diversified across energy, infrastructure, agriculture, cosmetics, and food sectors, with only Grivalmar (Ecuadorian shrimp industry) named publicly as a customer reference.

Name

Grillo-Werke Aktiengesellschaft

Legal name

Grillo-Werke AG

Website

https://grillo.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1842

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Grillo-Werke AG is a privately held German specialty chemicals and zinc products manufacturer, founded 1842 in Duisburg, serving industrial customers across energy storage, corrosion protection, agriculture, cosmetics, and food with proprietary zinc and sulfur chemistry products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Chemicals

NAICS

Nonferrous Metal (except Copper and Aluminum) Rolling, Drawing, Extruding, and Alloying (33149), Other Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (42469)

SIC

Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro primary industry

Sulfites & Sulfur Dioxide (Sodium Metabisulfite, Potassium Bisulfite) (AFAJAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Organic Acid Salts (Calcium/Sodium/Potassium Propionates, Sorbates, Benzoates) (AFAJAFAB)

Keywords

• Zinc chemicals manufacturing
• Sulfur derivatives production
• Die-casting alloys
• Corrosion protection coatings
• Thermal spraying materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Duisburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Chemical Products Sales: Sale of chemical products including sulfuric acid derivatives (oleum, sulfur dioxide, sulfuric acid), sulfates and sulfites (dimethyl ether DME, dimethyl sulfate, sodium bisulfate, sodium bisulfite, sodium pyrosulfite, hydrochloric acid), and commercial trading products.
2. Zinc Products Sales: Sale of zinc products including ZAMAK die-casting alloys, zinc strip and foil, zinc wire, zinc oxide, zinc powder, and anodes for various industrial applications.
3. Technical Services and Consulting: Comprehensive service and consulting including project consulting, process optimization, individual product development, and technical customer support.
4. Recycling Solutions: Circular economy solutions including the 'Closing the Loop' project with Aurubis AG, processing zinc-rich oxide from recycling into zinc sulfate.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Grillo-Werke AG manufactures and sells zinc and sulfur-based specialty chemicals and zinc products for industrial B2B customers. The portfolio spans sulfuric acid derivatives (oleum, sulfur dioxide, sulfuric acid), sulfates and sulfites (dimethyl ether DME, dimethyl sulfate, sodium bisulfate, sodium bisulfite, sodium pyrosulfite, hydrochloric acid), zinc die-casting alloys (ZAMAK, ECO ZAMAK, ZAMAK Ultra, special alloys), zinc strip, foil and wire products, zinc oxide (industrial, cosmetic, pharmaceutical grades), zinc powder, anodes, and animal-care products such as ImproBed and Grillopet.

Product overview

GRILLO-Werke AG is a technology leader specializing in zinc and sulphur chemical products, organized into two main divisions: Chemical Products and Zinc Products. The Chemical Products division encompasses animal care solutions (Grillopet, ImproBed), sulphuric acid derivatives (Oleum, Sulphur dioxide, Sulphuric acid), and sulphates & sulphites (Dimethyl ether GRILLO-one, Dimethyl sulphate, Sodium bisulphate, Sodium bisulphite, Sodium pyrosulphite, Hydrochloric acid). The Zinc Products division includes anodes, KKS-Beton concrete corrosion protection, ZAMAK die-casting alloys (ZAMAK, ECO ZAMAK, ZAMAK Ultra, Special alloys), zinc strip and foil products, zinc wire variants (zinc wire, aluminum wire, ZnAl alloy wire, SnZn alloy wire, special solutions), zinc oxide (for industry, cosmetics, pharma), and zinc powder. The company operates as a B2B specialty chemicals and zinc products manufacturer serving industries including agriculture, corrosion protection, energy/batteries, cosmetics, and food.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RHEINZINK: Titanium zinc products for construction and architectural applications
• ECO ZAMAK
• GRILLO-one
• ImproBed
• Grillopet

Products and services

• Grillopet Animal care product for pet care applications, part of the Animal Care product line.
• ImproBed Animal care product for livestock housing that reduces ammonia emissions by 77% (confirmed by LUFA testing) compared to TA Luft requirements. Used by livestock farmers and producers.
• Oleum Sulfuric acid derivative product for industrial applications.
• Sulphur dioxide Sulfuric acid derivative product for industrial applications; carries Halal and Kosher certifications.
• Sulphuric acid Sulfuric acid derivative product for industrial applications.
• Dimethyl ether (DME) GRILLO-one Green dimethylether aerosol propellant with significantly reduced environmental footprint; REDcert² biomass-balanced certified.
• Dimethyl sulphate Sulfate product for industrial applications; REDcert² biomass-balanced certified at Frankfurt-Höchst site.
• Sodium bisulphate Sulfate product used in various industrial applications including food industry (Fami-QS certified).
• Sodium bisulphite Sulfite product for industrial applications; carries Kosher, Halal, NSF, and ISO 22000 certifications.
• Sodium pyrosulphite Sulfite product for industrial applications.
• Hydrochloric acid Sulfate product for industrial applications.
• Anodes Zinc anodes for electrochemical applications and corrosion protection (cathodic protection systems).
• KKS-Beton Corrosion protection system for concrete structures using zinc technology (cathodic protection).
• ZAMAK Zinc-based die-casting alloy for industrial manufacturing applications.
• ECO ZAMAK Sustainable variant of ZAMAK die-casting alloy with improved environmental profile, developed in cooperation with Glencore.
• ZAMAK Ultra Premium ZAMAK die-casting alloy variant for industrial die-casting applications.
• ZAMAK Special Alloys Custom ZAMAK die-casting alloy formulations developed for specific industrial requirements.
• Zinc strip Zinc strip for various industrial applications.
• Zinc foil Zinc foil product for industrial applications.
• Soldering/Brazing products Zinc-based soldering and brazing products.
• Zinc wire Zinc wire for thermal spraying and welding applications.
• Aluminum wire Aluminum wire for thermal spraying applications in corrosion protection.
• ZnAl alloy wire Zinc-aluminum alloy wire for thermal spraying applications.
• SnZn alloy wire Tin-zinc alloy wire for specialized industrial applications.
• Zinc wire special solutions Custom zinc wire solutions developed for specific industrial requirements.
• Zinc oxide High-purity zinc oxide available in industrial, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical grades, with Kosher, NATRUE, COSMOS, and GMP certifications supporting cosmetics, pharma, and industrial applications.
• Zinc powder (ZEP) Zinc powder (ZEP - Zinc-Iron-Powder) for battery industry, thermal spraying, and various industrial applications; recognized with the VARTA Environmental Protection Award for CO2 footprint reduction.
• GG-Alu-PROTECT Newly launched aluminum wire product (2025) developed in partnership with GAD for thermal spraying corrosion protection applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 77% ammonia reduction confirmed by LUFA testing with ImproBed compared to TA Luft requirements
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• IZABW (International Zinc and other Aqueous Batteries Workshop)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2025GRILLO is main sponsor (Hauptsponsor) of the 4th International Zinc and other Aqueous Batteries Workshop (IZABW) to be held in Kyoto, Japan.
• Aurubis AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 'Closing the Loop' cooperation project between Aurubis AG and GRILLO-Werke AG creates a verifiable, complete recycling loop for copper, zinc, and other valuable metals. Aurubis produces copper cathodes from recycling raw materials, and the zinc-rich oxide byproduct is used by GRILLO to produce zinc sulfate. The residue from GRILLO's processing (containing copper, tin, and lead) is returned to Aurubis for metal recovery, closing the circular economy loop.
• GlencorecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation starting July to further develop ZAMAK die-casting alloys. The partnership aims to optimize ZAMAK in form while making it more sustainable, combining Glencore's metallurgical expertise with GRILLO's zinc chemistry capabilities.
• GAD (Gemeinschaft Aluminium Druckguss)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development and presentation of GG-Alu-PROTECT, a new aluminum wire product for thermal spraying applications in corrosion protection.
• CHEMAD GmbHcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndependent test laboratory of GRILLO-Werke AG specializing in analytics for a wide range of materials. Provides precise and reliable testing with qualified team and modern equipment, including LAGA PN 98 sampling and research project support.
• NAATBatt InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGRILLO is Lead Sponsor and Premier Zinc Battery Sponsor of NAATBatt Sodium-Zinc Battery Workshops, supporting international exchange on zinc-based battery technologies and research.
• DURALINK Project ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGRILLO participates in the DURALINK project aimed at optimizing steel welds and corrosion protection to improve durability and cost efficiency of offshore wind turbines.
• B@TS (BMBF Research Initiative)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGRILLO participates in the BMBF-funded B@TS research initiative focused on battery research, attending status seminars and exchanging with other industry actors.
• ChePap Rhein-Ruhr Energy Efficiency NetworkminorOthersGRILLO participates in the ChePap Rhein-Ruhr III energy efficiency and climate protection network of NRW chemical and paper industries, operating under the Initiative Energieeffizienz- und Klimaschutz-Netzwerke. Other participants include INOVYN, Kabel Premium Pulp & Paper, and others.
• University and Research PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGRILLO maintains partnerships with various universities and research institutes including DECHEMA-Forschungsinstitut, DLR, Fraunhofer Institutes (HHI, IZM), Helmholtz Institut Ulm, IKS Dresden, TU Braunschweig Battery LabFactory, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, RWTH Aachen, and others for collaborative research and development.
• Industry AssociationsminorOthersGRILLO cooperates with industry associations including Deutsche Gesellschaft für Galvano- und Oberflächentechnik, Bundesverband der Deutschen Gießerei-Industrie, International Zinc Association (IZA), Initiative Zink, NAATBatt International, and others for industry collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Wacker Chemie: Wacker Chemie is a German specialty chemicals company with strong positions in polysilicon, silicones, and biosolutions, comparable to GRILLO as a German mid-sized chemicals house serving industrial B2B markets with proprietary processes.
• Umicore: Umicore is a Belgian materials technology group active in specialty zinc products, catalysts, and battery materials, overlapping with GRILLO's zinc oxide and emerging zinc-battery ambitions at a much larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Lanxess: Lanxess is a Cologne-based specialty chemicals company with inorganic and zinc-compound chemistries serving industrial customers, broadly similar to GRILLO's chemicals division in product class and German industrial customer base.
• BASF: BASF is the largest German chemical company and a global producer of inorganic chemicals, sulfuric acid derivatives, and battery materials, with overlapping products to GRILLO's chemical division (sulfites, sulfates, DME) at far greater scale and breadth.
• Evonik Industries: Evonik is a German specialty chemicals major producing inorganic and performance chemicals for industrial customers, comparable to GRILLO's chemical specialties division with a substantially larger R&D and distribution footprint.

Direct peers

• Boliden: Boliden is a Nordic miner and smelter producing zinc, copper, and lead along with certain zinc by-products, making it a natural comparable to GRILLO's zinc and sulfur chemistry portfolio on both upstream metals and downstream specialty chemical output.
• Nyrstar: Nyrstar is one of the world's largest zinc smelters and a producer of zinc alloys and by-products, directly comparable to GRILLO's zinc metals and ZAMAK die-casting alloy franchise. Both serve industrial customers with zinc-based materials on a global B2B basis.
• Aurubis AG: Aurubis is GRILLO's 'Closing the Loop' recycling partner and Europe's largest copper recycler, producing zinc-rich oxide byproducts that feed GRILLO's zinc sulfate production. Both are European non-ferrous metals processors serving industrial customers.
• Korea Zinc: Korea Zinc is a leading integrated zinc and lead smelter producing refined zinc, by-products, and zinc-based specialty materials for industrial users, structurally similar to GRILLO's vertically integrated zinc chemicals and metals business.

Emerging players

• Oerlikon (Surface Solutions): Oerlikon's Surface Solutions division supplies thermal-spray coatings and materials for corrosion and wear protection, directly comparable to GRILLO's thermal-spray zinc and zinc-aluminum wire (including the new GG-Alu-PROTECT) for infrastructure protection.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@grillowerke1842
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grillo-werke-ag

Compliance19 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries6 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 Grillo-Werke Aktiengesellschaft