AG Cilander

What AG Cilander does

AG Cilander, operating commercially as Senfa Cilander, is a privately held Swiss-headquartered textile finishing and coating company tracing its origins to 1673 in Herisau, Switzerland. The firm is the product of a strategic alliance between AG Cilander (Swiss finishing heritage, est. 1673) and Senfa (French coating pioneer, est. 1973), operating through six specialized divisions: SAFLEX (technical sport and fire and rescue apparel), Signage (digital printing textiles), Military (camouflage and uniform components), Marine (Planofil nautical textiles), Architecture (interior and acoustic textiles), and Commission Coating (third-party contract coating). Headcount is reported at 251-500 employees.

The core technology platform centers on wide-width advanced textile processing capabilities up to 540cm across coating, washing, dyeing, heatsetting, soft-touch finishing, and functionalization (including blackout, fireproofing, impermeability, light diffusion, and acoustic treatments). AG Cilander invented the transparent process for Swiss organdy cotton in 1912 and in 1993 became the first textile finisher globally to receive OEKO-TEX 100 certification; ISO 9001:2015 certification is in progress. End markets span building envelopes, marine environments, interior architecture, military and defense, technical sportswear, fire and rescue apparel, digital printing signage, and traditional wear.

The business model is B2B direct sales, serving large-scale enterprise projects in interior design, visual communication, and protective clothing through direct engagement. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company monetizes through (1) branded and OEM sales of finished technical textiles via its divisions and sub-brands (SAFLEX, Planofil) and (2) contract commission coating services that leverage installed capacity for third-party clients. The firm is privately held, with no disclosed funding rounds, investors, or revenue figures, and no indication of public listing intent.

Name

AG Cilander

Legal name

Senfa Cilander

Website

https://cilander.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1814

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technical Textile Finishing

NAICS

Fabric Coating Mills (313320), Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills (3133)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470), Textile Mill Products (2200)

akta.pro primary industry

Coating & Finishing Chemicals Application (Resins/Softening/Water-Repellent/FR/Antimicrobial) (IMAOACAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Protective & Safety Textiles (FR/Arc/Heat/Cut/Chemical) (IMAOADAA)

Keywords

• Technical textile finishing
• Textile coating services
• Functional fabric finishing
• Protective textile manufacturing
• Industrial textile processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Herisau

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

AG Cilander provides industrial-scale textile finishing services including precision coating (up to 540cm width), functionalization (blackout, fireproofing, impermeability, acoustic, light diffusion), dyeing (up to 360cm width), heatsetting, Soft Touch finishing, washing, and quality control. It also manufactures branded technical textile products (SAFLEX® sport/fire & rescue apparel, Planofil marine textiles, military camouflage and uniform components, architectural textiles, and signage substrates) sold through dedicated divisions for enterprise customers in building, marine, military, protective clothing, sports, architecture, and visual communication industries.

Product overview

Senfa Cilander is a unified platform combining two companies: Senfa (French pioneer in technical textile coatings, founded 1973) and AG Cilander (Swiss textile finishing leader founded in 1673). The company operates through six specialized divisions: SAFLEX® (technical sport garments and fire & rescue apparel), Senfa Cilander Signage (digital printing), Senfa Cilander Military (army and camouflage textiles), Senfa Cilander Marine (marine and outdoor solutions including Planofil brand), Senfa Cilander Architecture (interior architecture), and Senfa Cilander Commission Coating (contract coating services). Core services include coating, washing, quality control, soft touch finishing, heatsetting, functionalization (blackout, fireproofing, impermeability, diffusion, printability, water repellency, acoustic), dyeing, and end finishing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SAFLEX: Technical sport garments, fire and rescue apparel, and hoods for lifeguards and professional use
• Planofil

Products and services

• Technical Textiles for Building and Marine High-performance technical fabrics engineered for building and marine applications, offering durability, weather resistance, and versatility for architectural facades and maritime environments. Sold to construction, architecture, and marine industry customers.
• Digital Printing Application Textiles Technical textiles optimized for digital printing with enhanced printability and image quality for visual communication, signage, and large-format printed substrates. Sold to signage producers and visual communication companies.
• Fire & Rescue Apparel High-performance fire and rescue garments combining heat resistance, safety, comfort, and durability, designed for firefighters, rescue teams, and emergency responders. Sold to fire departments, rescue services, and protective clothing distributors.
• SAFLEX® Technical Sport Garments SAFLEX® branded high-performance technical sportswear engineered for athletic activities, combining performance, comfort, and durability for sports applications. Sold to sportswear brands and athletic apparel distributors.
• Military Clothing and Camouflage Systems High-performance military uniform components, camouflage systems, and textiles for military accessories providing structure, durability, functionality, comfort, and field performance. Sold to military procurement agencies and defense apparel manufacturers.
• Technical Hoods Technical hoods designed for protective and performance applications, used in fire & rescue and other protective apparel contexts. Sold to protective apparel manufacturers and distributors.
• Clothing for Lifeguards Specialized performance apparel designed for lifeguard professionals, combining protection, comfort, and durability for aquatic rescue operations. Sold to lifeguard services, beach safety operators, and protective apparel distributors.
• Interior Architecture Textiles Technical textiles for interior architecture applications including wall coverings, ceilings, facades, and acoustic solutions combining aesthetics, functionality, and acoustic properties. Sold to interior architects, designers, and construction firms.
• Marine and Outdoor Textiles (Planofil brand) Planofil branded marine and outdoor textiles for boat interiors, yacht upholstery, boat covers, biminis, and marine outdoor equipment, providing weather resistance, durability, and aesthetics. Sold to boat builders, marine outfitters, and yacht manufacturers.
• Commission Textile Coating Services Contract coating services for external clients using state-of-the-art facilities for precision textile coating up to 540cm width with customized processes for various industries. Sold to textile manufacturers, brands, and converters needing outsourced coating capacity.

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Dimension-Polyant: German manufacturer of sailcloth and reinforcement fabrics for marine, sports, and industrial applications. Comparable as a specialty technical textile producer focused on marine/sports overlap with Planofil and SAFLEX divisions.
• Contender Sailcloth: Netherlands-based manufacturer of sailcloth and marine technical fabrics. Comparable in marine technical textiles and overlap with Senfa Cilander's Marine/Planofil division for nautical applications.

Broad incumbents

• Milliken & Company: Large US-based diversified textile manufacturer producing performance, protective, and specialty fabrics across many end markets. Broad incumbent with overlap in technical textiles, performance fabrics, and protective applications.

Direct peers

• Carrington Textiles: UK-based manufacturer of workwear and protective fabrics serving European and international markets. Comparable in technical fabric finishing for workwear, flame retardant, and protective clothing segments.
• Serge Ferrari: French manufacturer of flexible composite textiles serving architecture, marine, and industrial markets. Directly comparable in technical textile coating, functional finishes, and overlap with Senfa Cilander's Architecture and Marine divisions.
• Sefar Group: Swiss-headquartered technical textiles manufacturer producing woven precision fabrics for industrial, architectural, and filtration applications. Highly comparable as a European specialty textile finisher with heritage, B2B industrial focus, and overlapping customer base in architecture and industrial filtration.
• Schoeller Textil: Swiss-based textile manufacturer specializing in technical finishing, functional fabrics, and protective textiles for sport, workwear, and outdoor use. Comparable as a heritage Swiss technical finisher serving similar performance apparel and protective clothing end markets.
• Heathcoat Fabrics: UK-based technical textile manufacturer producing coated, laminated, and woven fabrics for industrial, defense, and aerospace end uses. Comparable in advanced fabric coating, finishing, and serving defense/protective segments.
• Concordia Textiles: Belgian manufacturer of technical and protective textiles for workwear, defense, and industrial applications. Comparable as a European technical textile finisher serving overlapping protective apparel and military customers.
• TenCate Protective Fabrics (Toray Group): Netherlands-based manufacturer of protective and technical fabrics for fire, military, and industrial safety apparel, now part of Toray. Directly comparable to AG Cilander's fire and rescue, military, and protective clothing offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ag-cilander

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries7 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 AG Cilander