KANSAI HELIOS

What KANSAI HELIOS does

KANSAI HELIOS is the European industrial coatings subsidiary of Kansai Paint Co., Ltd., a publicly listed Japanese coatings manufacturer. Established in 2018 to consolidate Kansai Paint's European operations, the company operates as a system supplier of industrial coatings and varnish systems spanning liquid coatings, powder coatings, e-coats, gelcoats, industrial sealants and adhesives, industrial wood coatings, road markings, automotive refinish under the Helios Refinish brand, architectural coatings, specialty chemicals, and synthetic resins. Its core technical differentiator is "system coatings" — the ability to deliver consistent color, surface finish, gloss level, and aging properties across multiple coating technologies applied sequentially on complex industrial surfaces such as construction vehicles, agricultural machinery, and metal components.

The company generates revenue through direct B2B enterprise sales to industrial manufacturers, with pricing conducted on a quote-based, tailored-to-requirements basis rather than through publicly disclosed price lists. It serves a diversified set of vertical segments — heavy equipment and construction, metal and machinery manufacturing (primary), plus architectural coatings, automotive refinish, road infrastructure, and industrial wood — across more than 19 countries with manufacturing and country-specific sales organizations in Europe, the United States, Brazil, India, China, Turkey, and elsewhere. Customer relationships are described as long-term and direct.

KANSAI HELIOS pursues an aggressive inorganic growth strategy backed by parent Kansai Paint and, since February 2024, strategic capital partner Mitsui & Co. Major acquisitions include CWS Lackfabrik GmbH (antimicrobial powder coatings, February 2023) and Weilburger Coatings (German industrial coatings group with approximately €150 million in annual revenue, completed May 2024). The company is simultaneously reorganizing its Adriatic operations by relocating architectural coatings production from Zagreb, Croatia to Slovenia and Serbia, and is investing $20 million to quadruple capacity at its Johnstown, Ohio facility by 2030.

Name

KANSAI HELIOS

Legal name

KANSAI HELIOS Coatings GmbH

Website

https://kansai-helios-industry.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

KANSAI HELIOS is the European industrial coatings subsidiary of Japan's Kansai Paint, supplying liquid, powder, e-coat, gelcoat, adhesive, and sealant systems to manufacturers of construction vehicles, machinery, and metal components across more than 19 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Coatings

NAICS

Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510), Chemical Manufacturing (325), Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturing (3255)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial & Protective Coatings (IMAEAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Industrial Protective Coatings (IMAEAHAB)

Keywords

• Industrial coatings
• Powder coatings
• Liquid coatings
• E-coat systems
• Synthetic resins

Headquarters

HQ city

Domzale

HQ country

Slovenia

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Coatings Sales: Sale of industrial coatings and varnish systems including liquid coatings, powder coatings, e-coats, gelcoats, and industrial sealants to manufacturing companies across various industries such as construction vehicles, metal machinery, and industrial equipment. Revenue is generated through direct B2B sales with long-term customer relationships.
2. Architectural Coatings: Sale of architectural and decorative coatings for residential and commercial building applications
3. Car Refinish Coatings: Automotive refinish coatings under the Helios Refinish brand for professional auto body shops
4. Road Marking Systems: Durable road marking coatings and systems for traffic safety applications
5. Specialty Chemicals and Resins: Industrial chemicals and synthetic resins for manufacturing and coating applications

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

KANSAI HELIOS manufactures and supplies industrial coatings and varnish systems — including liquid coatings, powder coatings, e-coats, gelcoats, industrial adhesives and sealants, industrial wood coatings, road marking systems, automotive refinish coatings (Helios Refinish), architectural coatings, performance chemicals, and synthetic resins — for demanding industrial sectors such as construction vehicles, agricultural and earth-moving equipment, metal machinery, road infrastructure, and automotive refinish. The company positions itself as a system supplier, engineering matched colour, surface finish, gloss level, and aging properties across multiple coating layers applied to a single asset. Operations span Europe plus the United States, Brazil, India, and China through the Weilburger Group and other subsidiaries.

Product overview

KANSAI HELIOS operates as a comprehensive system supplier of industrial coatings and varnish systems, offering a portfolio of both proprietary and acquired brands. The core product suite includes liquid coatings, powder coatings, e-coats, gelcoats, adhesives and sealants for industrial applications, complemented by specialized segments in industrial wood coatings, road markings, automotive refinish (Helios Refinish), architectural coatings, chemicals, and synthetic resins. The company has expanded its portfolio through strategic acquisitions, notably adding CWS Powder Coatings (specializing in antimicrobial powder coatings, acquired February 2023) and WEILBURGER Group (German industrial coatings company with global operations, acquired February 2024). These acquisitions have strengthened the company's market position in powder coatings and synthetic resins while expanding its geographical footprint across Europe, North America, South America, and Asia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Liquid Coatings Water-based and solvent-based liquid coating systems used as protective and decorative finishes for industrial metal surfaces, machinery, and components. Sold to industrial manufacturers across construction, heavy equipment, and general metal industries.
• E-Coat Electrophoretic (electrodeposition) coating technology delivering uniform coverage on complex metal geometries, providing corrosion protection and finish quality for industrial metal components. Sold to industrial manufacturers.
• Powder Coatings Thermoset and thermoplastic powder coating systems offering durable finishes with reduced VOC emissions. Sold to industrial customers across construction, machinery, and metal finishing sectors.
• Adhesives & Sealants Industrial-grade adhesives and sealant products for bonding and sealing applications across manufacturing and assembly processes. Sold to industrial manufacturers.
• Gelcoats Specialized gelcoat formulations for fiberglass-reinforced composite surfaces, providing surface protection and aesthetic finishes. Sold to composite manufacturers.
• Industrial Wood Coatings Coating systems designed for wood and wooden façade applications in industrial and architectural settings, providing durability and weather resistance. Sold to industrial wood manufacturers and applicators.
• Road Markings Durable road marking coatings and systems designed for traffic safety applications, providing long-lasting visibility and performance under various environmental conditions. Sold to road authorities and contractors.
• Helios Refinish High-performance automotive refinish coatings for professional collision repair and vehicle customization, delivering colour accuracy and durable finishes. Sold to professional body shops and refinishers.
• Architectural Coatings Decorative and protective wall coatings for residential, commercial, and industrial building applications. Sold to professional applicators, builders, and distribution partners.
• Chemicals Performance chemicals for industrial applications and specialized manufacturing processes. Sold to industrial customers as inputs to coatings and related manufacturing.
• Resins Synthetic resins for industrial and coating applications, supporting the company's own formulation capabilities and sold to industrial customers across multiple product lines.
• CWS Powder Coatings Specialized antimicrobial powder coatings offering technical expertise and expanded European production and distribution capabilities. Acquired as part of the CWS Lackfabrik GmbH acquisition and integrated into the KANSAI HELIOS group.
• WEILBURGER Group Industrial Coatings

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• WEILBURGER GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Following acquisition, Weilburger Group operates as part of KANSAI HELIOS. Weilburger is a German-based industrial coatings business with over 120 years of history, operations in multiple countries (Germany, USA, Brazil, India, China), and annual turnover of approximately 150 million EUR. The acquisition expands KANSAI HELIOS' global presence and market position in industrial coatings.
• CWS Lackfabrik GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023CWS Lackfabrik GmbH, a German specialist in antimicrobial powder coatings, was acquired by Kansai Helios Coatings GmbH on February 1, 2023. The acquisition enhances KANSAI HELIOS' market position in powder coatings and synthetic resins, strengthening technical expertise and expanding production and distribution capabilities across Europe.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hempel: Danish privately-held global coatings supplier focused on protective, marine, and industrial segments. Comparable product portfolio (liquid, powder, anti-corrosive) and similar mid-tier global footprint serving industrial and infrastructure customers.
• Jotun: Norwegian privately-held coatings company with marine, protective, and industrial segments. Closely comparable product mix and customer overlap in heavy equipment, infrastructure, and industrial metal protective coatings.
• Teknos: Finnish privately-held industrial coatings manufacturer with strong presence in metal, wood, and powder coatings across Europe. Closely comparable mid-sized European industrial coatings competitor with overlapping liquid and powder portfolios.
• Axalta Coating Systems: US-listed pure-play industrial and refinish coatings specialist serving heavy-duty equipment, industrial metal, and collision repair — almost a one-to-one product-and-segment match with Kansai Helios' industrial coatings and Helios Refinish lines.

Broad incumbents

• PPG Industries: US-listed global coatings leader with extensive industrial, automotive refinish, and architectural portfolios. Direct overlap with Kansai Helios across industrial metal coatings and Helios Refinish, including ownership of Tikkurila in Eastern Europe.
• RPM International: US-listed specialty coatings holding company with multiple industrial, maintenance, and corrosion-protection brands. Comparable in serving industrial protective and specialty coatings niches, though broader and more US-centric than Kansai Helios.
• Akzo Nobel: Dutch global paints and coatings major with a large industrial coatings segment serving metal finishing, automotive, and heavy equipment OEMs — directly overlapping Kansai Helios' core industrial customer base, but at significantly greater scale and breadth.
• Sherwin-Williams: World's largest coatings company with a sizable industrial and automotive refinish division. Competes with Kansai Helios for OEM coatings contracts and shares exposure to powder, liquid, and e-coat technologies.
• BASF Coatings: Coatings division of BASF SE serving automotive OEM, automotive refinish, and industrial applications. Directly comparable technology portfolio (e-coat, liquid, powder) and customer overlap with Kansai Helios in heavy equipment and metal manufacturing.

Regional players

• CIN: Portuguese Iberian coatings producer serving architectural, industrial, and protective segments. Comparable industrial coatings technology but primarily competes in a different European geography than Kansai Helios' core Central/Eastern Europe base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/about

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries28 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KANSAI HELIOS