What AF-COLOR does

AF-COLOR is a German specialty chemicals manufacturer and distributor of color masterbatches, carbon black concentrates, additive masterbatches, purging compounds, biodegradable masterbatches, and biomass-balanced masterbatches for plastics processors. Formally structured as a branch office (Zweigniederlassung) of AKRO-PLASTIC GmbH and operating within the Feddersen Group since 2003, the company runs production from its Niederzissen, Germany facility and serves industrial customers across automotive (including E-mobility), electrical and electronics, packaging and cosmetics, construction, consumer goods, and toys. Its product portfolio is organized under registered sub-brands — AF-Color®, AF-Carbon®, AF-Complex®, AF-Clean®, AF-Eco®, and the circular-economy AF-CirColor®/AF-CirCarbon®/AF-CirComplex® family — with formulations engineered for multiple polymer carriers including PA, PPA, PK, PE, PP, PBT, and POM.

Technically, AF-COLOR differentiates through carrier-system-matched masterbatches (notably polyketone-based grades that preserve PK's mechanical, tribological, and moisture-resistance properties), an EBA-based formaldehyde scavenger for POM processing, carbon black-free NIR-detectable black masterbatches for recyclable packaging, and an endothermic foaming agent enabling up to 40% density reduction in polyamides. The portfolio includes heat-stabilizer grades for PA 6/PA 6.6 (e.g., RAL 2003 orange for high-voltage E-mobility components, rated to 320°C) and food-conformant grades per EU 10/2011 and FDA. Operations are certified to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, ISO 50001:2018, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, and ISCC PLUS.

Commercially, AF-COLOR operates a sales-led B2B model with regional account managers, dedicated field sales (Außendienst) with company vehicles, technical solution consulting, trade-fair presence, and quote-based pricing tailored to customer-specific polymer, color (RAL, Pantone, custom), and volume requirements. Distribution leverages direct customer contact domestically and the Feddersen Group's international platform for cross-border reach, including the USA. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the company has no independent funding history, no M&A activity, and no public listing, operating instead as a non-autonomous specialty unit inside an established diversified industrial group.

Name

AF-COLOR

Legal name

AF-COLOR, Zweigniederlassung der AKRO-PLASTIC GmbH

Website

https://af-color.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AF-COLOR is a German specialty manufacturer of color, carbon black, and additive masterbatches serving automotive, E&E, packaging, construction, consumer goods, and toys, operating as a branch of AKRO-PLASTIC GmbH within the Feddersen Group from Niederzissen.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Polymer Masterbatches

NAICS

Synthetic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing (32513), Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851)

akta.pro primary industry

Masterbatch Manufacturing (Color, Additive, White/Black) (IMANABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Polymer Compounds & Masterbatches (Compounding, Color/Fill/Additive Concentrates) (IMAEANAJ), Color Masterbatches & Dispersions (IMAEAHAK), Bioplastics Compounding & Masterbatch (bio-based additives, colorants, fillers) (IMANANAB)

Keywords

• Color masterbatches
• Additive masterbatches
• Polymer colorants
• Purging compounds
• Plastic concentrates

Headquarters

HQ city

Niederzissen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 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. Masterbatch Product Sales: Development and production of colour masterbatches (AF-Color), black masterbatches (AF-Carbon), additive masterbatches (AF-Complex), purging compounds (AF-Clean), biodegradable masterbatches (AF-Eco), and biomass-balanced masterbatches. Products sold directly to customers in various industries including automotive, E&E, packaging, construction.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AF-COLOR develops and produces customized masterbatch formulations — color, carbon black, additive, biodegradable, biomass-balanced, and circular-economy masterbatches — as well as purging compounds for plastics processors across polymer bases including PA, PPA, PK, PE, PP, PBT, and POM. The company serves industrial customers in automotive, E&E, packaging, construction, consumer goods, and toys with technical consulting and tailor-made color/functional solutions.

Product overview

AF-COLOR operates as a masterbatch specialist developing and producing technically sophisticated color, carbon black, and additive concentrates (masterbatches) for the plastics industry. The product portfolio is organized under four core sub-brands: AF-Color® (color masterbatches), AF-Carbon® (carbon black concentrates including NIR-detectable alternatives), AF-Complex® (additive solutions including foaming agents, formaldehyde scavengers, and heat stabilizers), and AF-Clean® (purging compounds). Additional offerings include AF-Eco® for biodegradable masterbatches and the AF-Cir series (AF-CirColor®, AF-CirCarbon®, AF-CirComplex®) for circular economy applications. Products are formulated for various polymer bases including polyamide (PA), polyketone (PK), polyphthalamide (PPA), polyolefins (PE, PP), PBT, and POM, serving industries such as automotive, E&E, packaging, construction, consumer goods, and toys.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AF-Color®: Masterbatch color program for plastic applications
• AF-Carbon®
• AF-Complex®
• AF-Clean®
• AF-Eco®
• AF-CirColor®
• AF-CirCarbon®
• AF-CirComplex®

Products and services

• AF-Color® Comprehensive color masterbatch portfolio providing vibrant, color-stable pigmentation solutions for plastics processing across multiple polymer bases including PA, PPA, PK, PE, PP, and PBT.
• AF-Carbon® Technical carbon black concentrates (black masterbatches) optimized for various polymer systems including polyamides, polyphthalamides, polyolefins, PBT, and polyketone, including NIR-detectable carbon black-free alternatives.
• AF-Complex® Additive masterbatch solutions including formaldehyde scavengers for POM processing, foaming agents for polyamides enabling up to 40% density reduction, and heat stabilizer masterbatches for polyamides under thermal stress.
• AF-Clean® Purging compound product line for cleaning processing equipment including hot runners and valve gate nozzles, with specialized variants for polyketone and high-temperature polymers.
• AF-Eco® Environmentally compatible masterbatches based on biodegradable polyesters offering a broad color selection for sustainable plastics applications.
• AF-CirColor® Circular economy-oriented color masterbatches for recycled content applications.
• AF-CirCarbon® Circular economy-oriented carbon black masterbatches using PCR (post-consumer recycled) content.
• AF-CirComplex® Circular economy-oriented additive masterbatches for recycled content applications.
• Biomass-balanced Masterbatches Masterbatches with biomass-balanced attribute for reduced carbon footprint applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Foaming agent enables up to 40% density reduction for polyamides
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 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.

• AKRO-PLASTIC GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAF-COLOR is a branch office of AKRO-PLASTIC GmbH. Benefits from 30+ years of experience in plastics compounding. Maximises synergies in compounding, know-how, and production. AKRO-PLASTIC develops and produces plastic compounds at its facility in Niederzissen.
• BIO-FEDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBIO-FED is also a branch of AKRO-PLASTIC GmbH, specialising in sustainable plastics - bio-based and/or biodegradable. Develops at BioCampus Cologne. Together with AKRO-PLASTIC's production in Niederzissen, forms a complete ecosystem for bioplastics.
• K.D. Feddersen GmbH & Co. KGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Feddersen Group with over 70 years of history as a distributor for technical plastics. Provides international network, comprehensive expertise, innovative processes, and one of the most diverse delivery programmes worldwide.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tosaf: Israel-based global masterbatch specialist with a broad color and additive masterbatch portfolio, including NIR-detectable and functional additive lines that closely parallel AF-COLOR's offerings.
• Ampacet Corporation: One of the world's largest independent masterbatch producers; directly comparable as a specialist in color, black, and additive masterbatches with similar product taxonomy and customer verticals.
• Hubron International: UK-based specialist in black, white, and color masterbatches; directly comparable as a mid-sized European masterbatch manufacturer serving similar industrial and packaging customers.
• Clariant: Global specialty chemicals major with a dedicated ColorWorks masterbatch business; competes directly with AF-COLOR in color, additive, and black masterbatches for plastics across automotive, packaging, and E&E.
• Cabot Corporation: Major global producer of carbon black and black masterbatches for plastics; overlaps with AF-COLOR's AF-Carbon range and competes in similar end markets including packaging and automotive.
• Biotec GmbH: German manufacturer of biodegradable and bio-based plastics and masterbatches; directly comparable to AF-COLOR's AF-Eco and biomass-balanced product lines and a fellow German specialty producer.
• Plastiblends India: Indian masterbatch manufacturer with broad color and additive masterbatch lines; comparable in product structure and broad polymer coverage, with growing global ambitions that compete with European specialists.

Broad incumbents

• Avient Corporation (formerly PolyOne): Large specialty polymer materials provider with a dedicated Color, Additives & Inks segment; broader portfolio but directly competes in masterbatch formulations for AF-COLOR's served verticals.
• RTP Company: Compounder of specialty engineered thermoplastics offering color and additive masterbatches across engineering polymer bases; overlaps with AF-COLOR's engineering-polymer focus and customer base.

Others

• Reedy Chemical Foam & Additive: Additive and color concentrate producer serving plastics and foam industries; comparable as a fellow specialty additive masterbatch supplier with overlap in foaming and functional additive chemistries relevant to AF-Complex.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xxing.com/company/af-color
• Facebookfacebook.com/af.color
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/af-color

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 AF-COLOR