What Planol does

Planol is a German manufacturer of cleaning chemistry headquartered in Hanau-Steinheim, founded in 1963 by Friedrich-Karl and Christel Tuschy and operating as Planol GmbH + Co. KG. The company produces approximately 50 liquid cleaning agents, care products, and floor coatings organized into three branded families — Ecoplan and Ecoplan PLUS (plant-based, PFAS-free, microplastic-free, EU Ecolabel-certified), Planomat (industrial and machine cleaners including the Planomat R cleanroom variant for ISO 8/9 environments), and the Plano line (Plano CLEAR, Plano SOFT, Plano FORTE, Plano SHINE, Plano FLEX DUO). Production is carried out at two sites — the primary Hanau facility (since 1977) and a second facility in Berlin-Reinickendorf (since 1984) — supported by an in-house laboratory modernized in 2007 and a fully automated multifunctional filling line commissioned in 2021 capable of handling containers from 500 ml to 10,000 ml.

The core technology stack centers on water-soluble liquid formulations using plant-based surfactants and solvents, with over 95% of production avoiding additional heating energy input. A 254 kWp photovoltaic installation (748 modules) and a BAFA-subsidized compressor system installed in July 2022 that saves approximately 56,000 kWh annually underpin an energy-efficient production footprint. Certifications include ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 (DEKRA), EU Ecolabel, Sentinel Haus, RKI-List, DIN 18032 Part II, Ö-Norm B 5105, FSC Mix packaging, Dual System Germany participation since 2009, and an EcoVadis Gold Seal awarded in August 2025 placing Planol in the top 5% of rated companies.

Planol's business model combines branded product sales with contract manufacturing services. Revenue is generated through (1) sale of own-brand cleaning and care products to commercial buyers, (2) private-label contract filling (Lohnabfüllung) using the automated filling line, and (3) full private-label job-order production (Lohnfertigung) including formulation, raw-material sourcing, manufacturing, filling, packaging, and consignment under DIN ISO 9001:2015 quality assurance. Go-to-market is sales-led and B2B, targeting four customer categories — building service providers (Gebäudedienstleister), specialist wholesalers (Fachgroßhändler), corporate customers (Großabnehmer), and resellers (Wiederverkäufer) — with primary distribution through the IGEFA commercial wholesale network across Germany, complemented by direct pickup at Hanau and direct truck delivery for larger orders. Since 1978 Planol has operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Piepenbrock, a major German facility-management group that provides strategic direction, customer reach, and representation in the European Cleaning and Hygiene Technology Research Association (FRT).

Name

Planol

Legal name

Planol GmbH + Co. KG

Website

https://planol.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Planol is a German specialty-chemical manufacturer of cleaning agents, care products, and floor coatings for professional building cleaning, serving building service providers, specialist wholesalers, corporate customers, and resellers, plus private-label contract manufacturing, wholly owned by Piepenbrock since 1978.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Cleaning Chemicals

NAICS

Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Chemical Manufacturing (325), Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510)

akta.pro primary industry

Hard Surface & Multi-Purpose Cleaners (All-purpose, Floor, Bathroom, Kitchen) (CRADAKAG)

Keywords

• Industrial cleaning chemicals
• Floor care products
• Private label manufacturing
• Professional building cleaning
• Biodegradable cleaning agents

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanau

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Own Brand Cleaning Products: Sale of proprietary cleaning agents, care products, and floor coatings under Planol brand for commercial building cleaning.
2. Private Label - Contract Filling: Filling customer cleaning products in desired containers, packaging and staging for collection. Uses automated multifunctional filling line for containers 500ml to 10 liters.
3. Private Label - Job Order Production: Complete production process including product development in in-house laboratory, manufacturing, filling, packaging and consignment. Customers include retailers/wholesalers selling under their own brands.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Planol manufactures liquid cleaning agents, care products, and floor coatings for professional building cleaning applications. The company produces approximately 50 SKUs under its own brands (Ecoplan, Ecoplan PLUS, Planomat, Plano) and also offers private label contract manufacturing and contract filling services for retailers and wholesalers that sell products under their own brand names. Production is carried out at facilities in Hanau and Berlin-Reinickendorf, Germany.

Product overview

Planol is a manufacturer of cleaning chemistry products offering a broad portfolio of around 50 different liquid cleaning and care products for professional building cleaning. The core product lines are organized into three main brands: the Ecoplan and Ecoplan PLUS sub-brands (ecological, plant-based, biodegradable, EU Ecolabel-certified products including surface cleaners, industrial cleaners, and floor care), the Planomat sub-brand (specialized machine and industrial cleaners including Planomat A, Planomat I, Planomat N, and Planomat R for cleanrooms), and the Plano sub-brand (standard cleaning agents including Plano CLEAR, Plano SOFT, Plano FORTE, Plano SHINE, Plano FLEX DUO). Additional specialist products include WPC-Reiniger, Entschäumer, Ultrasonic cleaner, Screen cleaner, Solvedoplan, Soda Multi-Clean, Neutraler Kraftreiniger, and Spülmittel Neutralreiniger. The portfolio also encompasses care products (Pflegemittel) and floor coatings (Bodenbeschichtungen), complemented by private label services including contract filling (Lohnabfüllung) and job order production (Lohnfertigung). All products are PFAS-free and free of microplastics, many are vegan, and the range serves both commercial and private end users through specialist wholesalers, building service providers, and resellers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ecoplan: Ecological cleaning and care product line made from plant-based ingredients, biodegradable and certified with EU Ecolabel
• Ecoplan PLUS
• Planomat
• Plano CLEAR
• Plano SOFT
• Plano FORTE
• Plano SHINE
• Plano FLEX DUO++
• Ultraplan
• Uniplan
• Solvedoplan

Quantifiable outcome

• One liter of highly concentrated cleaning agent covers at least 5,000 sqm for wet cleaning or 10,000 sqm for damp cleaning
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Christeyns NV: Belgian manufacturer of professional cleaning chemicals, laundry, and disinfection products with pan-European presence. Comparable to Planol in industrial/institutional cleaning chemistry focus and B2B/wholesale distribution model.
• Dr. Schnell Chemie GmbH: German manufacturer of professional cleaning and care products for building cleaning, sanitary, kitchen, and industry. Closely comparable to Planol in target customers (Gebäudedienstleister), product mix, and B2B/wholesale distribution.
• Tana Professional (Werner & Mertz): German professional cleaning brand of Werner & Mertz, focused on sustainable institutional and industrial cleaning chemistry. Comparable to Planol in ecological certification positioning (e.g., Cradle to Cradle) and B2B building cleaning customers.
• Hagleitner Hygiene International: Austrian manufacturer of professional hygiene, cleaning, and disinfection products, including dosing systems. Directly comparable in product portfolio (cleaning chemistry + dosing), DACH-market focus, and B2B sales to facility managers.
• Kiehl Group: German manufacturer of professional cleaning, care, and disinfection products, owned by Hagleitner. Directly comparable in professional cleaning chemistry, ecological product lines, and German/DACH-focused distribution.
• Buzil-Werk Wagner GmbH & Co. KG: German family-owned manufacturer of cleaning agents, disinfectants, and floor care products for professional use. Directly comparable to Planol in product range, customer base (commercial cleaning companies and wholesalers), and sustainability positioning.
• Sutter Professional: Italian manufacturer of professional cleaning and hygiene products (part of Sutter Industries). Comparable to Planol in professional cleaning chemistry portfolio and European institutional customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Ecolab Inc. Global leader in water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions, including institutional cleaning chemistry and dosing service. Broad incumbent that competes with Planol in German B2B tenders but operates at vastly larger scale across many geographies.
• Henkel AG & Co. KGaA: German multinational whose Professional / Laundry & Home Care businesses include institutional cleaning products and private-label contract manufacturing. Comparable to Planol via private-label/contract manufacturing overlap and German industrial customer overlap, but operates at consumer-goods multinational scale.
• Solenis (formerly Diversey): Global provider of cleaning chemistry and hygiene solutions (Diversey business acquired by Solenis). Broad incumbent competing with Planol in institutional and industrial cleaning chemistry across Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/planol-gmbh

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Planol