HOBUM Oleochemicals

What HOBUM Oleochemicals does

HOBUM Oleochemicals GmbH is a fourth-generation, family-owned specialty chemicals manufacturer headquartered in Hamburg-Harburg, Germany, producing bio-based oleochemicals from renewable plant oils for industrial customers. The company's product portfolio centers on eight branded lines: Mergisol (bio-based reactive diluents for epoxy systems), Merginamid (polyaminoamide epoxy hardeners), Merginol (vegetable-oil-based polyols for polyurethanes), Merginat (epoxidized vegetable oils for PVC plasticization), IBERO-TEC (adhesion promoters for PVC plastisols), Isomerginsäure (conjugated fatty acids), Admerginic Acid (maleic anhydride adducts for hot-curing epoxies), and UV-curable Merginat binders. Underlying technology is the proprietary conversion of epoxidized vegetable oils and conjugated fatty acids into high-performance intermediates for epoxy and polyurethane systems, with select grades reaching 100% biobased carbon content.

The company sells B2B via direct technical sales to industrial manufacturers supplemented by a network of distribution partners, operating in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. End markets include automotive (underbody coatings, seam sealants, composite lightweighting), aviation and shipping (corrosion protection, composites), construction (floor coatings, crack-bridging systems), adhesives, coatings, electronics, packaging, railways, and wood/furniture. Pricing follows a quotation-based model with order confirmations and a raw-material-linked price adjustment clause. HOBUM supplements its commercial offering with Tailormade product development and externally funded R&D collaborations (Fraunhofer WKI for BioResinProcess natural-fiber car doors; University of Kassel for AlgoForm algae-derived epoxies), and validates its sustainability positioning through EcoVadis Gold (2025, 97th percentile in Germany), UN Global Compact membership, and CSRD-aligned reporting.

The business is privately held with no disclosed revenue, no external funding rounds, and headcount stated as 11-50 employees in a "middle-sized" (mittelständisch) configuration. Management consists of Arnold G. Mergell and John-Philip Mergell (fourth-generation owners) alongside Dr. René Manski as Head of R&D. Growth signals are present but qualitative: new product variants, R&D partnerships opening automotive composites and algae chemistry, regulatory positioning as a REACH/EUDR-compliant European alternative, and active industry-association engagement.

Name

HOBUM Oleochemicals

Legal name

HOBUM Oleochemicals GmbH

Website

https://hobum.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1896

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HOBUM Oleochemicals GmbH is a fourth-generation, family-owned German specialty chemicals manufacturer producing bio-based epoxy and polyurethane intermediates (reactive diluents, hardeners, polyols, plasticizers) from renewable plant oils for industrial customers in automotive, coatings, construction, adhesives, and marine applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Oleochemicals

NAICS

Cyclic Crude, Intermediate, and Gum and Wood Chemical Manufacturing (325194)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800)

akta.pro primary industry

Bio-based Surfactants, Detergent Ingredients & Oleochemicals (EUAAAIAE)

Keywords

• Bio-based specialty chemicals
• Epoxidized vegetable oils
• Epoxy resin systems
• Polyurethane polyols
• Oleochemical manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Specialty Chemicals B2B Sales: HOBUM generates revenue through the sale of bio-based specialty chemical products to industrial customers. Products include epoxidized vegetable oils, epoxy hardeners, reactive diluents, polyols, and specialty additives sold directly to manufacturers in coatings, adhesives, construction, automotive, and other industrial sectors. Pricing follows quotation-based model with order confirmations specifying terms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

HOBUM Oleochemicals GmbH develops and manufactures bio-based specialty chemicals derived from renewable plant oils, producing epoxidized vegetable oils, conjugated fatty acids, polyaminoamide epoxy hardeners, bio-based polyols, and specialty additives. These products serve as reactive diluents, hardeners, plasticizers, adhesion promoters, and binders for epoxy and polyurethane systems used in industrial coatings, adhesives, construction materials, automotive, aviation, and shipping applications.

Product overview

HOBUM Oleochemicals is a fourth-generation family-run company that develops, manufactures, and distributes specialty chemicals based on renewable plant oils. The product portfolio centers on epoxidized vegetable oils, epoxy hardeners, conjugated fatty acids, and polyols. The main product lines include: Mergisol (bio-based reactive diluents for epoxy systems), Merginamid (epoxy hardeners for corrosion protection), Merginol (bio-based polyols for PU formulations), Merginat (epoxidized esters and oils for PVC plasticizers), Isomergin acids (conjugated fatty acids), IBERO-TEC (adhesion promoters for PVC plastisols), and various specialty products including Admerginsäure, Merginat UV products. These products serve diverse industries including automotive, aviation, shipping, construction, adhesives, and coatings, with applications spanning adhesives, lacquers, corrosion protection, composites, elastomers, and synthesis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mergisol: Bio-based diluents for epoxy resin systems, serving as healthier and more sustainable alternatives to conventional reactive diluents.
• Merginamid
• Merginol
• Merginat
• Isomergin Acids
• IBERO-TEC
• Admerginic Acid C 21/T

Products and services

• Mergisol Bio-based reactive diluents for epoxy resin systems. Reduces viscosity of high-viscosity epoxy systems while serving as a sustainable, health-conscious alternative to conventional reactive diluents.
• Merginamid Polyaminoamide adduct epoxy hardeners for corrosion protection and construction applications, providing good adhesion to metallic and mineral substrates.
• Merginol Bio-based polyols derived from various plant oils, tailored to specific applications for polyurethane systems including coatings, adhesives, sealants, foams, and composite materials.
• Merginat Epoxidized vegetable oil esters and oils (e.g., from soybean oil) used as plasticizers and co-stabilizers for PVC, as well as reactive diluents and components in composite material production.
• Isomerginsäure (Isomergin acids) Conjugated fatty acids used as intermediates for the synthesis of alkyd resins and other chemical derivatives.
• IBERO-TEC Specialty adhesion promoters for PVC plastisols, used in seam sealants and underbody coatings for vehicles to enhance bonding of PVC plastisols to metal substrates.
• Admerginsäure (Admerginic Acid) Adduct of maleic anhydride on conjugated unsaturated fatty acids; trifunctional carboxylic acid anhydride with 82% biobased carbon content used for hot curing of epoxy resins.
• Merginat UV T Reactive diluent modified, radiation-curable, solvent-free binder based on vegetable oil, free of water and VOCs, contains no acrylates, used in wood coatings and industrial coatings.
• Merginat UV 8107 Radiation-curable binder based on vegetable oil with 98% biobased carbon content, contains no solvents, used in wood coatings and industrial coatings.
• Admerginic Acid C 21/T European alternative developed to replace single-source import risks, offering secure local supply for adhesive solutions.
• Tailormade Product Development Customer-specific product development service offering customized bio-based specialty chemical formulations and application consulting for industrial customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) data available for products to support customer sustainability claims
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fraunhofer Institute WKIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on development of bio-based epoxy systems for sustainable car door manufacturing in the BioResinProcess project. Fraunhofer WKI chemists and engineers worked with HOBUM on epoxy system development and paint formulation using renewable raw materials. Project resulted in natural fiber composite car doors Ready To Race for 2024 racing season.
• University of KasselcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research partnership in AlgoForm project: Converting algae (bladderwrack) into BPA-free epoxy resins. HOBUM extracts natural phlorotannins from dried algae and transforms them into epoxy resins. Project funded by German Federal Government and accompanied by FNR (Agency for Renewable Resources).
• Manthey-RacingminorOthersAutomotive racing team using natural fiber composite body parts developed in BioResinProcess project. Components manufactured by Manthey-Racing using Bcomp materials and HOBUM epoxy systems.
• German Chemical Industry Association (VCI)coreOthersMember of VCI and specifically the VCI North Sustainability Network. Network meets four times yearly to exchange experiences on sustainability, particularly in chemical SME sector in northern Germany. Also participates in Responsible Care initiative under Chemie3 sustainability initiative.
• OVID (Association of the Oilseed Processing Industry in Germany)coreOthersMember of OVID, committed to ethical principles, transparent processes, environmental protection, and health. Association positions support sustainable supply chains.
• UN Global CompactcoreOthersSignatory to UN Global Compact, committed to ten universal principles and Sustainable Development Goals. Annual Communication on Progress reporting demonstrates commitment to sustainability.
• Distribution PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of distribution partners extends market reach for HOBUM products. Listed on company website under cooperation/distribution partners section.
• Farbe & Lack (European Coatings)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry publication partner. HOBUM executives interviewed for articles on bio-based diluents and regulatory requirements. Interview published in Farbe & Lack and European Coatings Journal.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Croda International: UK-listed specialty chemical company with a sizable bio-based oleochemicals and additives business serving personal care, coatings, polymers and industrial customers — overlapping directly with HOBUM's bio-based raw materials for epoxy/PU systems.
• Oleon: Belgian-headquartered (part of Avril Group) oleochemicals producer with a European manufacturing base making fatty acids, esters, and epoxidized oils for industrial applications — a close regional competitor in HOBUM's core categories.
• KLK OLEO: Malaysia-based integrated oleochemicals manufacturer producing fatty acids, fatty alcohols, glycerin and specialty esters — directly competing in the global oleochemical supply chain that HOBUM serves with its specialty intermediates.
• IOI Corporation: Malaysian palm-oil-based oleochemicals producer with fatty acid and ester capacity used in plastics, coatings and industrial chemistry — a vertically integrated competitor in the same raw material space as HOBUM.
• Emery Oleochemicals: Global oleochemicals manufacturer producing epoxidized vegetable oils, fatty acids, and bio-based polyols used in plastics, coatings, and adhesives — directly competing with HOBUM's Merginat and Merginol lines.

Broad incumbents

• Corbion: Dutch bio-based specialty ingredients company with lactic acid and bio-based polymer platforms serving industrial customers — adjacent competitor in the broader bio-based specialty chemicals landscape relevant to HOBUM's bio-polyols and resins.
• Stepan Company: US specialty chemical manufacturer producing surfactants, polymers and specialty intermediates including products used in coatings, adhesives and plastics — competing with HOBUM in select industrial specialty chemistry applications.
• BASF: World's largest chemical company offering bio-based epoxy, polyol and additives lines that overlap with HOBUM's portfolio, alongside vastly broader product breadth, R&D resources, and global customer relationships in automotive, coatings and construction.
• Evonik: German specialty chemicals incumbent producing epoxy curing agents, polyols, and additives with overlapping applications in coatings, adhesives and composites — competing with HOBUM in the European specialty intermediate market.
• Cargill Bio Industrial: Diversified agricultural processor with a Bio Industrial segment producing bio-based chemicals (including vegetable-oil-derived intermediates) for industrial customers — competing with HOBUM across multiple plant-oil-based specialty chemical applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 HOBUM Oleochemicals