What Tessenderlo does

Tessenderlo Group nv is a diversified Belgian industrial group headquartered in Brussels, founded in 1919 and listed on Euronext Brussels (TESB). The company operates through five business segments — Agro (Tessenderlo Kerley, Tiger-Sul, Violleau for crop nutrients and crop protection), Bio-valorization (PB Leiner for gelatin and collagen peptides and Akiolis for rendering, proteins and fats), Industrial Solutions (DYKA Group plastic piping systems, Kuhlmann Europe specialty chemicals, moleko), Machines & Technologies (Picanol weaving machines, Proferro foundry, Psicontrol electronics, Melotte 3D metal printing), and T-Power (a 425 MW gas-fired combined cycle power plant). Tessenderlo serves enterprise customers across agriculture, food, pharmaceutical, construction, water treatment, textile and energy end markets in over 100 countries, with a global team of more than 7,000 employees.

The group generates revenue predominantly through one-time sales of industrial and specialty chemical products (fertilizers, gelatin, collagen peptides, plastic piping systems, weaving machines, electronics, power) under B2B quote-based pricing, supplemented by a 15-year tolling arrangement with RWE Group for T-Power. Technology differentiation rests on proprietary specialty chemistry processes — including cold-soluble gelatin (CRYOGEL, the first to market), INSTAGEL instant gelatin, patent-pending TEXTURA texturizers, advanced membrane electrolysis at Loos (France), and a circular bio-valorization model that converts animal by-products from Akiolis rendering into high-margin gelatin and collagen peptides for food, pharmaceutical and biomedical customers.

Following its 2023 combination with Picanol Group and the December 2025 agreement to merge collagen/gelatin assets with Darling Ingredients into a joint venture (Nexida) targeting roughly $1.5 billion in annual revenue and ~30% of global collagen supply, Tessenderlo has reshaped into a more focused specialty industrial group. The 2026 acquisition of a minority stake in FMC Corporation ($400M, ~20%) and ongoing Agro-segment bolt-ons (Tiger-Sul, Cinis SOP plant) signal continued capital deployment into specialty chemistry and bio-based adjacencies.

Name

Tessenderlo

Legal name

Tessenderlo Group nv

Website

https://www.tessenderlo.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Tessenderlo Group is a Belgian diversified industrial group producing specialty fertilizers, gelatin and collagen peptides, plastic piping systems, high-tech weaving machinery, and power, serving agriculture, food, pharma, construction and water treatment customers in 100+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diversified Industrial Conglomerate (Specialty Chemicals, Plastics & Gelatin Manufacturing)

NAICS

Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253), Food Manufacturing (311), Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing (325311), Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing (325314), Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (32532)

SIC

Agricultural Chemicals (2870), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Food And Kindred Products (2000), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Hydrocolloids, Thickeners & Gelling Agents (Pectin, Xanthan, Carrageenan, Gelatin) (CRADAOAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fertilizer Production & Granulation Services (Tolling, Compaction, Prilling) (AFABABAI), NPK & Compound/Blended Fertilizers (IMAEAEAD), Micronutrient & Secondary-Nutrient Fertilizers (IMAEAEAE)

Keywords

• Specialty crop nutrients
• Gelatin and collagen peptides
• Plastic piping systems
• Water treatment chemicals
• Industrial weaving machinery

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices30 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. Agro Segment: Production, sales and marketing of crop nutrients (liquid fertilizers, potassium sulfate fertilizers based on sulfur) and crop protection products through Tessenderlo Kerley, Tiger-Sul, and Violleau business units.
2. Bio-valorization Segment: Animal by-product processing including PB Leiner (gelatin and collagen peptides) and Akiolis (rendering, proteins and fats). Revenue from sale of gelatin, collagen peptides, proteins, and fats to food, pharmaceutical, and industrial customers.
3. Industrial Solutions Segment: Products, systems and solutions for processing and treatment of water including flocculation and precipitation. Includes DYKA Group (plastic piping systems), Kuhlmann Europe, and moleko for water management applications.
4. Machines & Technologies Segment: Picanol Group activities including high-tech weaving machines (Picanol), foundry and mechanical finishing (Proferro), electronics development (Psicontrol), and high-tech precision parts and 3D metal printing (Melotte).
5. T-Power Segment: Electricity production through 425 MW CCGT gas-fired power plant. Revenue generated through 15-year gas-to-electricity tolling agreement with RWE group.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Tessenderlo Group manufactures and sells specialty crop nutrients and crop protection products (Tessenderlo Kerley, Tiger-Sul, Violleau), gelatin and collagen peptides from animal by-products (PB Leiner, Akiolis), plastic piping systems and specialty chemicals for water treatment (DYKA Group, Kuhlmann Europe, moleko), high-tech weaving machines, electronics, foundry and 3D metal printing (Picanol Group), and electricity from a 425 MW combined cycle gas turbine (T-Power). Customers span agriculture, food, pharmaceutical, construction, water management, textile, and energy sectors across 100+ countries.

Product overview

Tessenderlo Group is a diversified Belgian industrial group organized into five operating segments: Agro (crop nutrition and protection via Tessenderlo Kerley, Tiger-Sul, Violleau), Bio-valorization (PB Leiner for gelatin and collagen peptides including SOLUGEL BD SERIES, SOLUGEL Ultra BD, INSTAGEL, CRYOGEL; Akiolis for rendering/proteins/fats), Industrial Solutions (DYKA Group plastic piping systems, Kuhlmann Europe, moleko), Machines & Technologies (Picanol Group weaving machines, Proferro foundry, Psicontrol electronics, Melotte 3D metal printing), and T-Power (425 MW gas-fired power plant). In 2025, Tessenderlo announced a joint venture with Darling Ingredients to combine collagen/gelatin units (Rousselot and PB Leiner) into a new company (Nexida/Nextida) with ~$1.5B revenue target. The company also invested $400M in FMC Corporation for a 20% minority stake.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Crop Vitality: Brand for Tessenderlo Kerley's fertilizer products including SoluPotasse, K-Leaf, Thio-Sul, KTS, CaTs
• PB Leiner
• Akiolis
• DYKA Group
• Kuhlmann Europe
• Picanol
• T-Power
• NovaSource
• SOLUGEL
• CRYOGEL
• TEXTURA

Products and services

• Tessenderlo Kerley (Agro Segment) Production, sales and marketing of specialty crop nutrients and crop protection products including SoluPotasse, K-Leaf, Thio-Sul, KTS, and CaTs. Customers are farmers and growers worldwide served through Tessenderlo Kerley International with the Crop Vitality brand promise.
• PB Leiner (Gelatin and Collagen Peptides) Global production, trading and sale of gelatin and collagen peptides including SOLUGEL, CRYOGEL, INSTAGEL, TEXTURA, and Claro Bio-Ink product lines for food, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and technical applications. Production sites in Belgium, Germany, China, Argentina, Brazil and the United States.
• Akiolis (Rendering and Proteins/Fats) Rendering, production, trading and sale of proteins and fats from animal by-products. Operates from Le Mans, France, serving customers across Europe and supporting PB Leiner's raw material supply.
• Kuhlmann Europe (Specialty Chemicals) Specialty chemicals and water treatment solutions including coagulants and flocculation/precipitation chemicals for municipal sewage treatment, drinking water purification, and industrial process water. Serves utilities in Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Geneva.
• DYKA Group (Plastic Piping Systems) Plastic piping systems under DYKA, JDP, and BT Nyloplast brands for sewer systems, water management, gas and water distribution, and storm water management. Operates 20+ branches across Belgium, Netherlands, France, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and the UK, with BT Nyloplast facilities in Germany, Netherlands, and Hungary.
• Picanol Group (Machines & Technologies) Development, production and sale of high-tech weaving machines (Picanol), foundry and mechanical finishing (Proferro), electronics development and production (Psicontrol), and high-tech precision parts and 3D metal printing (Melotte). Operations span Belgium, China, India, Indonesia, Türkiye, Brazil, Mexico, the United States, and Romania.
• T-Power 425 MW CCGT Power Plant Gas-fired combined cycle power plant (CCGT) with 425 MW capacity located in Tessenderlo, Belgium. Operates under a 15-year gas-to-electricity tolling agreement with the RWE group and is one of the most competitive gas-fired power plants in Belgium and the broader interconnected electricity trading area.
• Thio-Sul Ammonium thiosulphate (ATS) specialty fertilizer and the only ATS product designed and manufactured exclusively for the agricultural sector. Marketed by Tessenderlo Kerley as the company's leading agricultural innovation product.
• SoluPotasse Specialty potassium sulfate fertilizer product marketed by Tessenderlo Kerley for use in chloride-sensitive crops. Tessenderlo Kerley celebrated 30 years of SoluPotasse in 2023.
• SOLUGEL BD SERIES Collagen Peptides Premium agglomerated collagen peptides with excellent dissolution properties, neutral odor and flavor, suitable for instant applications and clean label innovations. Produced from high quality bovine materials with over 91% protein content. Includes SOLUGEL Ultra BD which can be consumed directly after dissolving in pure water without adding flavors.
• INSTAGEL Instant Gelatin Instant gelatin leaf powder from PB Leiner — the most convenient ready-to-use cold soluble gelatin product that requires neither heating nor cooking. Equivalent to one gelatin leaf with 4 grams.
• TEXTURA Tempo Ready Texturizer Patent-pending premium texturizer — 100% pure gelatin requiring no high shear, broad temperature range, no reagents needed, that saves producers up to 50% of their time. Nominated for the 2019 Food Innovation Awards.
• Claro Bio-Ink (ClaroBGI600) Revolutionary tissue-engineering product for 3D bio-printing. ClaroBGI600 is the first product in the Claro range, combining the advantages of gelatin with previously unseen levels of flow for 3D bio-printing applications.
• Nexida Collagen and Gelatin Joint Venture Joint venture between Darling Ingredients (85%) and Tessenderlo Group (15%) combining their collagen and gelatin businesses. Expected to control roughly 30% of global collagen supply, operate 22 facilities across four continents, and generate approximately $1.5 billion in annual revenue. Pending regulatory approvals, expected to close in 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced Lost Time Injuries and Medical Treatment Injuries by 30% in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered support and core.

• Akiolis St-Langis-lès-Mortagne (Biomass Cogeneration)supportStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026Akiolis inaugurated the first biomass cogeneration facility in France powered by animal by-products at its St-Langis-lès-Mortagne site, reducing fossil energy consumption by 80% and producing renewable electricity.
• Solvay Lifelong LearningsupportStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2026Tessenderlo Group partnered with Solvay Lifelong Learning to develop a Leadership Academy that supports the next generation of leaders across the group. The initiative is part of Tessenderlo Group's strategic pillar 'Growing Our People', focusing on continuous learning as a foundation for long-term value creation.
• Darling IngredientscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2025Darling Ingredients and Tessenderlo Group signed definitive agreement to combine their collagen and gelatin businesses into a new joint venture company. Darling holds 85% ownership and Tessenderlo retains 15%. The new company integrates Darling's Rousselot with Tessenderlo's PB Leiner, generating approximately $1.5 billion in annual revenue with about 200,000 metric tons of production capacity across 22 facilities spanning South America, North America, Europe, and Asia. Pending regulatory approvals, expected to close in 2026.
• RWE GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerT-Power operates under a 15-year gas-to-electricity tolling agreement with the RWE group, generating revenues through this structured power purchase arrangement for the 425 MW CCGT power plant in Tessenderlo.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Darling Ingredients: Global rendering and collagen/gelatin producer (Rousselot) that is Tessenderlo's JV partner in the Nexida collagen joint venture; directly competes with PB Leiner in gelatin/collagen peptides and animal protein processing.
• ICL Group: Specialty fertilizer and specialty chemicals producer (potash, phosphate, water treatment); directly comparable to Tessenderlo Kerley's specialty crop nutrition segment and Kuhlmann Europe's water treatment chemicals.
• Gelita: World-leading manufacturer of gelatin and collagen peptides for food, pharma, and nutraceutical applications; closest direct competitor to PB Leiner's SOLUGEL/CRYOGEL product lines.

Broad incumbents

• Solvay: Belgian specialty chemicals group with overlapping activities in soda ash, water treatment, and industrial chemicals; close geographic and segment peer for Kuhlmann Europe and Industrial Solutions.
• LANXESS: German specialty chemicals company with activities in water treatment, rubber chemicals, and industrial intermediates; broad incumbent peer for Kuhlmann Europe's water management business.
• Nouryon: Global specialty chemicals producer serving agriculture, food, pharma, and water treatment end markets; comparable to Tessenderlo's specialty chemicals and bio-valorization offerings.
• Wienerberger: European building materials leader with plastic piping systems (FloPlast, Pipelife stake); competing/overlapping peer for Tessenderlo's DYKA Group plastic pipe segment serving construction/infrastructure markets.
• DSM-Firmenich: Global nutrition, health and specialty ingredients group; comparable to PB Leiner in food ingredients, collagen, and pharma-grade gelatin markets.
• Yara International: Global nitrogen fertilizer and crop nutrition leader; competes broadly with Tessenderlo Kerley's crop nutrient portfolio through its specialty fertilizer and crop solution offerings.

Emerging players

• Tessenderlo Kerley竞争对手 — Haarslev Industries: Rendering and protein processing equipment/processor with comparable animal by-product valorization capabilities to Akiolis (Tessenderlo's rendering, proteins and fats business).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TessGroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTv7iWVr73hppkcDnJRWsAg
• Facebookfacebook.com/tessenderlogroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tessenderlo-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A3 records

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Tessenderlo