What Planatol does

Planatol is a German manufacturer of solvent-free industrial adhesives and computer-controlled adhesive application systems, founded in 1932 and headquartered in Rohrdorf (Upper Bavaria) with a second German site in Herford and wholly-owned sales subsidiaries in France (Planatol France S.A.R.L., 1998) and Italy (Planatol-Sifag S.r.l., 2012). The company serves enterprise industrial buyers across four primary verticals: graphics/paper processing (printers, bookbinders, publishers), packaging (folding cartons, paper bags, end-of-line sealing), wood and furniture (edge banding, surface coating, parquet/laminate), and specialty industrial applications (automotive, aerospace, textile, hygiene). It reports a presence in over 100 countries via subsidiaries and a network of international representatives and sales partners, with roughly 113 employees across four locations.

The business is structured as a dual chemistry-and-mechanical-engineering operation, an unusual combination that lets it sell precision-matched adhesive-plus-application-system bundles. On the chemistry side it produces dispersion, hot-melt, polyurethane, and pressure-sensitive adhesives, including the award-winning Planamelt hot-melt technology (Silver Print & Media Award 2016) that bridges EVA and PUR properties, and the Planarit powder adhesive line acquired from BASF's Kaurit business in 2019. On the engineering side it builds the Combijet fold-gluing systems (up to 64 application heads, ceramic nozzles, touchscreen control, remote diagnostics), Coldjet cold-gluing systems, Softjet entry systems, and modular components such as application heads, laser sensors (Eagle Eye), and controllers (Duojet). The portfolio emphasizes solvent-free formulations derived from renewable feedstocks (starch, cellulose, natural resins) and compliance-grade certifications (FDA, BfR, AEO, WHG).

Planatol monetizes primarily through hardware-style sales of adhesives (sold in container sizes from cans to bulk) and proprietary application systems, complemented by an aftermarket stream of service, spare parts, and retrofit solutions (e.g., Combijet Retrofit). Go-to-market is sales-led and enterprise B2B: direct field and inside sales from its own offices, technical/application-engineering consulting, and channel partners internationally. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bluecap AG, a German industrial-technology investment holding company, and includes the operating subsidiary Planatol System GmbH for application systems.

Name

Planatol

Legal name

Planatol GmbH

Website

https://planatol.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1932

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Planatol is a German manufacturer of solvent-free industrial adhesives and computer-controlled application systems, serving enterprise graphics, packaging, woodworking, and specialty-industrial customers in over 100 countries through direct sales and international partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Adhesives

NAICS

Adhesive Manufacturing (32552), Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturing (3255), Adhesive Manufacturing (325520)

SIC

Adhesives & Sealants (2891)

akta.pro primary industry

Adhesives (Structural & Assembly) (IMAEAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adhesives & Sealants Chemicals (IMAEABAA), Coating & Adhesive Raw Materials (Resins, Additives, Solvents) (IMAEAGAK)

Keywords

• Industrial adhesives
• Hot-melt adhesives
• Application systems
• Fold-gluing systems
• Solvent-free adhesives

Headquarters

HQ city

Rohrdorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

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. Industrial Adhesives: Sale of standard and custom-formulated industrial adhesives including dispersion adhesives, hot-melt adhesives, polyurethane adhesives, and pressure-sensitive adhesives for graphics, packaging, woodworking, and specialty industries. Products are sold in various container sizes from cans to containers.
2. Adhesive Application Systems: Sale of proprietary application systems including Combijet fold-gluing systems and Coldjet cold-gluing systems, along with modular components such as application heads, pressure vessels, traverses, and laser sensors. Systems are precision-matched to Planatol adhesives for optimum working results.
3. Service and Spare Parts: Aftermarket service, spare parts, and retrofit solutions for Planatol application systems, including technical support and remote diagnostics.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Planatol develops, produces, and sells industrial adhesives — including dispersion, hot-melt, polyurethane, and pressure-sensitive formulations — together with proprietary computer-controlled adhesive application systems for industrial customers. The company supplies matched adhesive-and-system solutions to the graphics, packaging, woodworking, and specialty industrial sectors, with formulations optimized for high-speed rotary printing, FDA/BfR-compliant food packaging, furniture and parquet bonding, and pressure-sensitive applications such as automotive cable wrapping and textile lamination.

Product overview

Planatol is a German manufacturer of solvent-free industrial adhesives and adhesive application systems, founded in 1932 and headquartered in Rohrdorf, Germany with facilities in Herford, France, and Italy. The company operates as a dual chemistry and mechanical engineering company with core competency in bonding, serving the graphics, packaging, and woodworking industries in over 100 countries. The product portfolio comprises two main categories: Adhesives (for paper/packaging, woodworking, and industrial applications including Planamelt, Planamelt HSP, ULTIMATE, and Planarit products) and Application Systems (including Combijet fold-gluing systems, Coldjet cold-gluing systems, Softjet, and modular components such as application heads, pressure vessels, sensors, and controllers). The company emphasizes the perfect matching between adhesives and application systems in all-in-one solutions. Notable product families include Planamelt award-winning hot-melt technology, Combijet high-speed fold-gluing systems with up to 64 application heads, and the Coldjet computer-controlled cold-gluing systems. Planatol also partners with BASF for Kaurit and Kauramin adhesive systems for woodworking applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Planamelt: Hot-melt adhesive technology for brochure binding, awarded the Print & Media Silver Award in 2016
• Combijet
• Coldjet
• Planarit

Products and services

• Adhesives for Paper and Packaging Comprehensive range of adhesives for paper processing and packaging industry including fold-gluing, bookbinding, lamination, mailing, folding carton, end-of-line packaging, and paper bag applications. Supplied in container sizes ranging from small cans to industrial containers.
• Adhesives for Woodworking Flexible and efficient adhesives for furniture, kitchens, parquet, laminate, wood composites, doors, and windows, including BASF Kaurit and Kauramin system partnership products acquired with Wetzel.
• Industrial Application Adhesives Specialized industrial adhesives for construction, textile lamination, automotive applications such as adhesive tapes, insulation films, and trim strips, pest control, and pressure-sensitive adhesive applications.
• Combijet Fold-Gluing Application Systems Computer-controlled high-speed fold-gluing systems for rotary printing applications. Includes Combijet 10NET (up to 64 application heads, high automation) and Combijet 10PV (up to 8 heads for small and medium rotaries), with ceramic nozzles, automatic cleaning, and touchscreen operation.
• Coldjet Cold-Gluing Application Systems Computer-controlled cold-gluing systems with modular configuration including AKS 250, AKS-200, AS-102, and AKS-100 application heads, pressure vessels, Eagle Eye laser sensors, traverses, spray heads, and the Duojet controller for various industrial applications.
• Industrial Application Systems Modular application systems for packaging/end-of-line, textile manufacturing, construction, pharmaceutical and hygienic industries, and special machines, with laser-based verification capabilities.
• Service and Spare Parts Customer service, spare parts, and retrofit solutions for Planatol application systems including Combijet and Softjet product families, with downloadable spare parts lists, technical support, and remote diagnostics.
• Planamelt Hot-Melt Adhesive Technology Award-winning hot-melt adhesive technology positioned between EVA and PUR adhesives, developed for brochure binding in the graphics industry. Won the Print & Media Silver Award in 2016 and offered in regular, Pro, and HSP (High Speed Performance) variants.
• ULTIMATE End-of-Line Packaging Adhesives End-of-Line packaging adhesives for closing and sealing applications with requirements for extreme temperatures and high production speeds in modern packaging lines.
• Planarit Powder Adhesives Self-polymerizing powder adhesives acquired from BASF (formerly sold under the Kaurit brand), available in six variants for different woodworking applications and production processes.
• Softjet Application System Entry-level application system for fold-gluing, available in standard and Touch variants for various printing requirements, positioned below the Combijet 10NET and 10PV lines.
• Combijet Retrofit Solutions Retrofit solutions for existing Planatol application systems to extend functionality, modernize equipment, and prolong service life of installed Combijet and Softjet lines.

Quantifiable outcome

• Application speeds up to 20 m/sec on rotary printing machines
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 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

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BASFcoreTechnology or IntegrationPlanatol acquired BASF's Kaurit powder adhesive business effective January 1, 2019, and now continues these products under the Planarit brand. Additionally, Planatol holds a BASF system partnership for Kaurit and Kauramin adhesives in the woodworking sector. This partnership provides access to BASF's adhesive resin technology and establishes Planatol as an authorized distributor and continuation partner for these product lines.
• Industrieverband Klebstoffe e.V. (IVK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanatol is a member of the German Adhesives Industry Association (IVK), participating in various working groups on industry developments, regulatory changes, approvals, and new standards. This membership keeps Planatol informed of industry trends and regulatory developments.
• StifterverbandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanatol has been awarded the Stifterverband 'Research Seal' (Forschungssiegel) recognizing the company's commitment to and excellence in research and development activities. This certification is granted to companies demonstrating sustained investment in R&D.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sika AG: Swiss specialty chemicals company with a strong position in construction, automotive, and industrial adhesives/sealants; serves overlapping woodworking and automotive customer segments.
• Bostik (Arkema): Arkema's adhesives division covering packaging, construction, and industrial assembly; overlaps with Planatol's packaging and woodworking segments as a large multinational competitor.
• H.B. Fuller Company: US-based global adhesive manufacturer serving packaging, hygiene, construction, and automotive markets; competes with Planatol in paper, packaging, and industrial specialty applications at scale.
• Henkel AG (Adhesive Technologies): Global leader in industrial adhesives with a vastly broader portfolio (Loctite, Pattex, Bonderite) serving packaging, automotive, electronics, and woodworking; competes with Planatol at the high-end of packaging and industrial assembly.

Direct peers

• Jowat SE: German mid-sized industrial adhesives manufacturer with a comparable product portfolio spanning hot-melt, dispersion, and PUR adhesives for woodworking, packaging, and graphics industries—Planatol's primary verticals.
• Kleiberit Adhesives: German family-owned adhesives specialist serving woodworking, automotive, and industrial assembly with reactive PUR hot-melts and dispersion adhesives, directly overlapping Planatol's Planarit woodworking and industrial specialty offerings.
• WEICON GmbH & Co. KG: German manufacturer of specialty adhesives and sealants for industrial and technical applications, competing with Planatol in industrial specialty and automotive segments.
• Nordson Corporation: US manufacturer of adhesive dispensing and application equipment used in packaging, product assembly, and converting—directly competing with Planatol's Combijet and Coldjet application systems business.

Emerging players

• Tremco Illbruck: European manufacturer of sealants, adhesives, and passive fire protection products for construction and industrial applications; overlaps with Planatol's industrial specialty and packaging end-of-line offerings.
• Valco Melton: Specialist in adhesive application and inspection systems for paper, packaging, and converting industries, providing direct competition in the application-systems business alongside Planatol's Combijet/Coldjet lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/planatol-gmbh

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Planatol