Kelva

What Kelva does

Kelva, founded in 1969 in Lund, Sweden, manufactures industrial web cleaning systems that remove contaminants from continuous material webs during manufacturing and converting processes. The product portfolio is split into two technical approaches: contact cleaners (CWC, LC, LCW, WWC, WWCMR series) that use adhesive rollers to lift particles from the web surface, and non-contact cleaners (BR, SL, TL, HS, ST series) that use controlled airflow and vacuum to dislodge and extract contamination. Beyond the core cleaners, Kelva supplies complementary process components—filter/fan units, brakes, web tension controls, and pumps—that integrate into the same production line. End customers are manufacturers in printing, packaging, tissue, nonwoven, glass, and film, with approximately 7,000 cumulative installations worldwide.

Kelva has operated as a subsidiary of Swiss-based CHROMOS Group AG since 1982, and in 2016 production was relocated from Sweden to Switzerland within the parent group's footprint. The business model is predominantly capex equipment sales through a global distributor network covering more than 40 countries, supplemented by direct sales from Lund for larger accounts and spare-parts/service revenue. Application engineering, customization, and aftermarket support are central to the value proposition; the company communicates a payback period of approximately 12 months for customers acquiring equipment. Recent commercial activity has emphasized content marketing (a dedicated podcast, the Web Cleaner Finder configurator), thought leadership on contamination control ('taming the dust beast'), and application-specific solutions targeting the tissue and nonwoven verticals. No external funding events are disclosed, consistent with its position as a privately held operating subsidiary within the CHROMOS portfolio.

Name

Kelva

Legal name

CHROMOS Group AG

Website

https://kelva.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kelva, founded in 1969 in Lund, Sweden and a CHROMOS Group subsidiary since 1982, manufactures industrial web cleaning systems—both contact (adhesive roller) and non-contact (air/vacuum) cleaners—for continuous material webs used by printing, packaging, tissue, nonwoven, glass, and film manufacturers across 40+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lund

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Web Cleaning Equipment Sales: KELVA manufactures and sells web cleaning equipment (contact and non-contact systems) for industrial reel-to-reel and sheet-fed production processes. Solutions are customizable and modular-based. All equipment is self-developed and produced in-house.
2. Components, Spare Parts and Consumables: KELVA sells replacement components including adhesive rolls, brake pads, filter elements, and pump spare parts. Most spare parts are kept in stock with fast delivery. Parts not in stock can usually be manufactured from original drawings. Consumables include adhesive sheets and filter replacements.
3. Technical Support and Engineering Services: KELVA closely monitors each customer project from development to handover. Technical support is provided from the Netherlands. Each solution is individually adapted to customer applications with engineering assistance.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

KELVA designs, manufactures, and sells industrial web and sheet cleaning systems (both contact and non-contact types) that remove dust, particles, fibers and other contaminants from continuous material webs during converting and manufacturing processes. The portfolio includes supporting components such as filter/fan units, web tension controls, pneumatic brakes, diaphragm pumps, level regulators, adhesive rolls, and spare parts. All equipment is self-developed and produced in-house in Switzerland (production) and Sweden (R&D and engineering).

Product overview

KELVA is the inventor and world-leading supplier of industrial web cleaning solutions, offering two primary product lines: Contact Cleaners (CWC, LC, LCW, WWC, WWCMR) for direct-contact removal of contaminants using adhesive rollers on smooth materials like film, foil, and coated paper; and Non-Contact Cleaners (BR43, BR43L, BR45, SL1, TL1, TLX, HS65, HS85, ST85CC series) for dust removal using airflow and vacuum on sensitive or high-speed webs. Supporting components include Filter/Fan Units (AFF series), Brakes (B06), Web Tension Controls (LV9), Pumps (LF, IP, VP), and Level Regulators (LV). The portfolio serves materials including paper, corrugated board, textiles, nonwovens, tissue, film, foil, glass, and glass fiber across industries such as printing, packaging, medical equipment, and manufacturing. The company also provides the Web Cleaner Finder configuration tool and educational podcast content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 80–90% reduction in dust and airborne particles
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core, standard and minor.

• CHROMOS Group AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1982KELVA was taken over by the Swiss CHROMOS Group in 1982, becoming part of a strong and respected supplier group in the printing industry and many other processing industries in the European DACH region. CHROMOS Group manages a portfolio of around 90 brands including HP, FUJIFILM, Domino, Basler, and Universal Robots. Production was relocated to CHROMOS Group's headquarters in Switzerland in 2016, while sales, R+D, and engineering remain in Sweden.
• Matik, Inc. (USA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMain distributor for KELVA web cleaning products in the United States. Located in West Hartford, Connecticut. Provides sales, support, and service for KELVA products across the USA market.
• TECHPACK SAS (France)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWeb cleaning systems distributor for KELVA in France. Located in Irigny (Lyon), France. Handles sales of web cleaning systems to French market.
• Erhardt+Leimer S.r.l (Italy)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in Italy. Erhardt+Leimer is also a distributor for KELVA in India through Erhardt+Leimer (India) Pvt. Ltd.
• Beijing Webcon Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (China)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive or primary distributor for KELVA in China. Located in Beijing's Yizhuang Economic and Technological Development Zone, Daxing District.
• bfs Pressroom Solutions Limited (UK)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for KELVA in Great Britain. Located in Calcot, Berkshire. Covers UK pressroom solutions market.
• Gadelius Industry K.K. (Japan)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in Japan with offices in Tokyo and Kobe.
• News Engineering Co., Ltd. (Korea)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in South Korea. Located in Seoul's Gangnam-gu district.
• NEKKORB Solutions Limited (New Zealand/Australia)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in New Zealand and Australia. Located in Auckland, New Zealand.
• Chromos GmbH (Germany)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHandles KELVA components and spares distribution. Located in Augsburg, Germany.
• Flexotrade s.r.o (Czech Republic)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in Czech Republic. Located in Tabor, Czech Republic.
• IMPRYMA S.L. (Spain)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in Spain. Located in Barcelona, Spain.
• Nano Jet Marketing Solutions FZE (UAE)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in Middle East markets including UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar. Based in Fujairah Free Zone, UAE.
• ATR Equipamientos Graficos S.R.L. (Argentina)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in Argentina. Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• E+S Gammeler Equipamentos Gráficos Ltda. (Brasil)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in Brasil. Located in São Paulo, Brasil.
• Hofpartner AB (Norway/Sweden)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in Norway and Sweden. Located in Åmål, Sweden.
• CoPriTech ApS (Denmark)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in Denmark. Located in Kolding, Denmark.
• Joniko Oy (Finland)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in Finland. Located in Masala, Finland.
• ODIMAP SAS (France)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA pumps, components and spares in France. Located in Hargeville, France.
• USPRINT (Poland)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in Poland. Located in Warsaw, Poland.
• Ruy De Lacerda & Ca. Lda (Portugal)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in Portugal. Located in Porto, Portugal.
• Simtekno Endüstriyel Ürünler San. Tic. Ltd. Sti (Turkey)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in Turkey. Located in Istanbul, Turkey.
• PT. Dali Wisesa Abadi (Indonesia)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in Indonesia. Located in Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia.
• IR Group of Companies (Pakistan)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in Pakistan. Located in Karachi, Pakistan.
• MIN SHANG HOLDINGS PTE LTD (Singapore)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in Singapore. Located at Coleman Street, Singapore.
• Her Ling Company Ltd. (Taiwan)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in Taiwan. Located in Taipei City, Taiwan.
• Ingkawatt Supply Ltd.Part (Thailand)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in Thailand. Located in Bangkok, Thailand.
• IGS Asia Pacific co., Ltd. (Thailand)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdditional regional distributor for KELVA in Thailand. Located in Bangkok, Thailand.
• PrismaNova Ltda. (Colombia)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in Colombia. Located in Cali, Colombia.
• Agatec S.R.L. (Venezuela)standardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distributor for KELVA in Venezuela. Located in Maracay, Venezuela.
• Dovey Corporation (USA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal distributor for KELVA in the USA (Anderson, Indiana). Supplements main USA distributor Matik Inc.
• Powerwise Ink Pumps (USA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for KELVA pumps in the USA. Located in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vetaphone: Vetaphone is a leading corona-treatment supplier to printing, packaging, and extrusion converters. It does not sell web cleaners directly but competes for the same line-integration budget and customer relationships as KELVA.
• Tantec: Tantec supplies corona treaters and surface-treatment equipment for film, foil, and extrusion lines. While stronger in corona, it competes with KELVA at the converting-line integration level and shares many of the same converters as customers.
• Simco-Ion (a brand of ITW): Simco-Ion produces ionizing bars, static-control equipment, and web-cleaning systems for converting processes. Its product range and customer base in printing, film, and packaging closely overlap with KELVA's non-contact cleaning portfolio.
• Enercon Industries: Enercon manufactures corona and atmospheric plasma surface treaters plus industrial air-blown cleaning systems for webs. Its air-cleaning offering is functionally adjacent to KELVA's non-contact web cleaners across film, foil, and converting.
• Meech International: Meech makes static-elimination and web-cleaning equipment for converting and printing lines, overlapping directly with KELVA's non-contact cleaners and integrated antistatic features across packaging, medical, and film customers.
• Teknek: Teknek manufactures contact web cleaners using adhesive roller technology — the same core architecture KELVA commercialized in 2000. It is the most direct global competitor in contact web cleaning for film, foil, and coated substrates.

Broad incumbents

• Herbert Olbrich: Olbrich manufactures coating, laminating, and finishing machinery for industrial webs. As a broader incumbent in web-processing equipment, it competes with KELVA indirectly at the line-integration and capital-equipment level with converters in printing, packaging, and battery materials.
• Kampf: Kampf is a broad incumbent in slitting, rewinding, and winding machinery for film, paper, and foil. It does not sell dedicated web cleaners but addresses contamination at the line level, competing for the same capex budget at converter customers.

Emerging players

• Fraser Anti-Static Techniques: Fraser specializes in static elimination and ionizing bars for converting and packaging lines, complementing web cleaning rather than competing head-on; it is a partial-overlap emerging player in the same antistatic-cleaning value chain as KELVA.
• Pulsar Systems: Pulsar Systems supplies industrial cleaning equipment for webs and sheets in printing and converting environments. It is a smaller niche competitor with overlap primarily in paper and film cleaning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kelva-chromos-group

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Kelva