Dr. Hesse

Name

Dr. Hesse

Legal name

DR. HESSE GMBH & CIE. KG

Website

https://drhesse.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1890

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Dr. Hesse is a Bielefeld, Germany-based specialty chemical manufacturer founded in 1890 that develops and sells proprietary electroplating chemistries — zinc, zinc-nickel, electroless nickel, and plating-on-plastics systems — directly to industrial customers in automotive, sanitary, construction hardware, and oil and gas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electroplating Chemicals

NAICS

Chemical Manufacturing (325), Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing (325180)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Electroplating & Metallization Chemicals (Cu/Ni/Au plating, additives) (IMAEAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Electroplating & Metal Finishing (Anodizing/Galvanizing/Passivation) (IMAIAKAE)

Keywords

• Electroplating chemicals
• Galvanic surface treatment
• Zinc alloy coatings
• Electroless nickel plating
• Decorative electroplating

Headquarters

HQ city

Bielefeld

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electroplating Chemical Sales: Sale of proprietary electroplating chemistries, electrolytes, and surface treatment chemicals to industrial customers in automotive, sanitary, and manufacturing sectors. Products include zinc systems, nickel coatings, passivations, decorative electrolytes, and plastic plating solutions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Dr. Hesse manufactures and sells proprietary electroplating chemistries — including zinc and zinc-nickel systems, electroless nickel and nickel-tungsten coatings, decorative electrolytes (copper, nickel, chrome, satin nickel), passivations, sealers, pre-treatment cleaners, and plating-on-plastics processes — to industrial manufacturers in the automotive, sanitary, window hardware, and oil & gas sectors. The company provides custom chemistry development and implementation support for galvanic surface finishing, corrosion protection, and wear-resistance applications.

Product overview

Dr. Hesse is a German electroplating chemistry specialist with over 130 years of experience developing chemical processes for galvanic deposition. The company offers a portfolio of branded product lines spanning pre-treatment (FETTEX), etching additives, zinc and zinc alloy systems (ZINKOR®, LUNACID®), passivations (HESSOPAS® including the HESSOPAS® Noire black passivation), sealers (HESSOTOP, HOTSTAR), electroless nickel (HESSONIC including HESSONIC HP-W nickel-tungsten), decorative electrolytes (HESSOPORE, HESSOTRICHROME, OMEGA SUPER, PRIMUS®, SUPRAGAL®, SUPRAMATT), and plating on plastics solutions (HESSOPLAST®, VARIOETCH®). The portfolio includes specialty initiatives like the PANTHER Project for deep black surfaces and HESSONIOP self-lubricating coatings. These products serve industries requiring high-end corrosion protection, decorative finishes, and functional surface coatings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HESSONIC: Chemical nickel and chemical nickel-tungsten plating systems including HESSONIC HP-W for high corrosion and abrasion resistance applications
• HESSOPLAST
• HESSOPAS
• ZINKOR
• LUNACID
• PRIMUS
• SUPRAMATT
• VARIOETCH
• PANTHER PROJECT
• HESSONIOP
• HESSOPORE
• HESSOTOP
• HESSOTRICHROME
• HOTSTAR
• OMEGA SUPER
• SUPRAGAL
• FETTEX

Products and services

• ZINC- & ZINC ALLOY SYSTEMS (ZINKOR® and LUNACID®) Zinc and zinc-nickel coating systems for industrial corrosion protection. ZINKOR® provides alkaline cyanide-free zinc coatings with excellent brightness and throwing power; LUNACID® provides acidic zinc and zinc-nickel with boric acid-free, REACH-compliant formulation. Sold to industrial platers in automotive, window hardware, and construction sectors.
• HESSONIC® Electroless Nickel Systems (including HESSONIC® HP-W Chemical Nickel Tungsten) High-performance electroless nickel plating chemistries providing corrosion protection and wear resistance. HESSONIC® HP-W is a chemical nickel-tungsten alloy offering outstanding corrosion protection, high abrasion resistance, and acid/alkali resistance for oil extraction and other extreme environments. Sold to industrial manufacturers in oil & gas and other heavy-industry sectors.
• DECORATIVE ELECTROLYTES (HESSOPORE, HESSOTRICHROME, OMEGA SUPER, SUPRAGAL®, PRIMUS®, SUPRAMATT) Decorative electroplating chemistries for copper, nickel, chrome, satin nickel, and other premium surface finishes. PRIMUS® is an acid copper electrolyte for maximum brightness and uniform layer distribution; SUPRAMATT is an easy satin nickel plating system for OEM-quality automotive and sanitary applications. Sold to OEMs and plating houses in the sanitary, automotive, and consumer goods sectors.
• HESSOPAS® Passivations (including HESSOPAS® Noire) Passivation chemistries for zinc and zinc-alloy coatings. HESSOPAS® Noire provides a deep black passivation layer on zinc-nickel with REACH-compliant, cobalt-free, PFOS-free, and PFAS-free formulation. Sold to industrial platers requiring colored and protective post-plating finishes.
• SEALERS (HESSOTOP, HOTSTAR) Sealer chemistries applied after plating to enhance surface protection and finish longevity. HESSOTOP and HOTSTAR are Dr. Hesse's branded sealer lines. Sold to industrial platers as finishing steps in their coating processes.
• FETTEX Pre-Treatment / Cleaning Pre-treatment and cleaning chemistries used to prepare parts for electroplating, ensuring surface cleanliness and coating adhesion. Sold to industrial platers as preparatory step in coating lines.
• HESSOPLAST® Plating on Plastics (POP) Pre-Treatment Pre-treatment system for plating on plastics (POP) with ultra-low palladium concentration (<24 ppm) and high-speed electroless nickel (<5 min cycle time), PFOS-free. Sold to industrial platers performing decorative or functional metallization of plastic components for the automotive, sanitary, and consumer goods industries.
• VARIOETCH® Chrome-Free Pre-Treatment for POP Chrome-free etching pre-treatment for plating on plastics. Environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, suitable for all common plastics, and integrable into existing electroplating lines. Sold to industrial platers seeking chrome-free alternatives in POP processes.
• PANTHER PROJECT (Deep Black Surface Solutions) Product line of deep black surface solutions for elegant black coatings on decorative and functional components. Sold to manufacturers requiring premium black finishes across consumer-facing and industrial applications.
• HESSONIOP Self-Lubricating Coating for Fittings Self-lubricating coating system for hardware fittings delivering significantly increased corrosion and wear protection while remaining economical and ecological. Sold to fittings and hardware manufacturers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ultra-low palladium concentration <24 ppm in HESSOPLAST POP pre-treatment
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCtpF7avQu37lQnFcIDXT6aw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Dr. Hesse