Zator

What Zator does

Zator is an Italian privately held industrial equipment manufacturer (ZATOR Srl), founded in 1998 and headquartered in Cusano Milanino (Milan), Italy, that designs and produces precision valves and complete gluing systems for industrial adhesive and fluid application. The company's core technology spans electromagnetic, pneumatic, and electropneumatic valves for dispensing, coating, spray, nebulization, and extrusion of glues, adhesives, and fluids, with proprietary platforms such as the VH2 electromagnetic valve series (direct electromagnetic drive, ceramic ball needle, up to 500 points/sec), the SPL snuff-back coating valve family, and the MMF1 micro-nebulization valve. Supporting components include diaphragm and piston feed units, microprocessor controls (LMZ/LMZR), pressure regulators, filters, and glue distributors, enabling complete system integration for OEM machine builders and end-user manufacturers.

Zator serves a diversified set of industrial verticals, primarily paper converting and packaging (folder-gluer, collator, carton forming, roto-offset printing) and secondarily wood/furniture, automotive, tobacco, and food packaging, with documented use cases covering machines such as piegatrici, piega-incolla, formatrici, and roto-offset lines. Its go-to-market combines direct sales in Italy with regional distributors in international markets (Tonyco Packing Enterprise in Taiwan, PPEM India as exclusive Indian distributor), supported by active participation in niche industrial trade fairs (LIGNA, Xylexpo, Printpack India, CCE International, TIGAX, Printech Vietnam, RosuPack).

The business model is hardware sales of valves, components, and integrated systems sold via quote-based B2B engagement, complemented by technical documentation, manuals, and 3D models for engineering integration. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company has no disclosed external funding, remains independently owned, and in 2026 underwent a brand refresh to 'Gluing and Fluid Solutions' alongside an EUIPO trademark filing, signaling intent to broaden its positioning beyond its historical adhesives-application niche.

Name

Zator

Legal name

ZATOR Srl

Website

https://zator.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zator is an Italian privately held industrial OEM founded in 1998 that designs and manufactures precision electromagnetic, pneumatic, and electropneumatic valves and complete gluing systems for adhesive and fluid dispensing, serving paper converting, packaging, wood, automotive, tobacco, and food manufacturers across Europe and parts of Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Adhesive Application Equipment

NAICS

Fluid Power Valve and Hose Fitting Manufacturing (332912), Pump and Compressor Manufacturing (33391)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Valves & Cartridge Valves (Directional, Pressure, Flow Control) (IMAHAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Pneumatic Components (FRLs, Cylinders, Valves) (IMAHAGAC)

Keywords

• Industrial adhesive valves
• Gluing systems
• Electromagnetic coating valves
• Pneumatic spray valves
• Fluid application equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Cusano Milanino

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Valve Sales: Zator manufactures and sells industrial valves and systems for adhesive application including electromagnetic valves, pneumatic valves, electropneumatic valves, spray valves, coating valves, and extrusion valves. Products are sold as individual components or complete integrated systems for industrial manufacturing processes.
2. System Integration and Components: Sale of complete gluing systems including feed units (diaphragm pumps, piston pumps), microprocessor controls, filters, pressure regulators, and glue distributors. Components designed for integration into customer manufacturing equipment.
3. Technical Documentation and Services: Technical support, datasheets, manuals, and product documentation available through download area. 3D models available in reserved area for engineering integration.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Zator designs and manufactures industrial valves and complete gluing systems for precision adhesive and fluid application in manufacturing environments. Its offering spans electromagnetic, pneumatic, electropneumatic, and nebulization valves, together with cold glue, hot glue, and two-component application systems, complemented by filters, pressure regulators, and glue distributors.

Product overview

Zator is an Italian industrial company specializing in gluing and fluid application systems. The product portfolio centers on cold glue application systems (the largest category), supplemented by hot glue systems and two-component systems. Core products are precision valves for dispensing, coating, and nebulizing adhesives and fluids, categorized as: electromagnetic valves (VH2 series), pneumatic valves (MV1, M250, MZV), electropneumatic valves (MK1, MZK, MZD100, MZB200, SB), nebulization/spray valves (MMF1, MF1, MZF, MZF360, MZS, MZS360), and coating valves (SPL, MZL100, VH2 SPL series). These are complemented by supporting components including pressure regulators, filters, and glue distributors. All products are designed and manufactured in Italy with strict quality control standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cold Glue Systems Complete cold adhesive application systems designed for industrial manufacturers requiring precision cold-glue dispensing on production lines across packaging, paper converting, woodworking, and similar industries.
• Hot Glue Systems Hot melt adhesive application systems for industrial production environments requiring heated glue dispensing with consistent flow and temperature handling.
• Two-Component Glue Systems Two-component adhesive application systems that mix and dispense two-part glues for industrial bonding applications that require controlled ratio mixing at point of use.
• VH2 Electromagnetic Valve Electromagnetic valve on the modular VH2 platform for industrial adhesive and fluid application, designed as a base configuration that can be extended into application-specific variants.
• VH2 SPL 30 Electromagnetic Coating Valve VH2-platform electromagnetic valve configured for coating applications requiring controlled adhesive deposition, with snuff-back-style cutoff behavior.
• VH2 SPL 100 Electromagnetic Coating Valve Larger-capacity VH2-platform electromagnetic valve configured for coating applications with higher adhesive flow requirements.
• MMF1 Pneumatic Spray Valve Pneumatic spray valve for industrial adhesive and fluid spraying applications on production lines.
• MV1 Pneumatic Valve Pneumatic valve model for industrial fluid and adhesive handling on production equipment.
• MV1 AIRLESS Pneumatic Valve Airless pneumatic valve designed to apply adhesives or fluids without compressed-air assistance, for production-line applications that require drip-free or contact-free dispensing.
• MZV Pneumatic Valve Pneumatic valve model for industrial adhesive and fluid handling.
• M250 Pneumatic Valve Pneumatic valve model for industrial fluid and adhesive application.
• SB Electropneumatic Valve Electropneumatic valve combining electrical control with pneumatic actuation for industrial adhesive and fluid application.
• MK1 Electropneumatic Valve Electropneumatic valve model for industrial adhesive and fluid application, with electrical control and pneumatic actuation.
• MZK Electropneumatic Valve Electropneumatic valve model for industrial fluid and adhesive application.
• MZD100 Electropneumatic Valve Electropneumatic valve model designed for industrial adhesive and fluid application requiring controlled dispensing.
• MZB200 Electropneumatic Valve Electropneumatic valve model designed for industrial adhesive and fluid application.
• MZL100 Electropneumatic Coating Valve Electropneumatic valve configured for industrial coating applications requiring controlled adhesive film deposition.
• MZF Nebulization Valve Nebulization valve that atomizes fluids or adhesives for fine-spray industrial application.
• MZF360 Nebulization Valve 360-degree variant of the MZF nebulization valve for full-coverage atomized application of fluids or adhesives.
• MZS Nebulization Valve Nebulization valve for fine-spray industrial application of fluids or adhesives.
• MZS360 Nebulization Valve 360-degree variant of the MZS nebulization valve for full-coverage atomized application of fluids or adhesives.
• MF1 Nebulization Valve Nebulization valve for atomized industrial application of fluids or adhesives.
• Filters Industrial filters designed to protect downstream valves and applicators by removing contaminants from adhesive and fluid lines in production systems.
• Pressure Regulators Industrial pressure regulators for adhesive and fluid lines, used to maintain stable pressure upstream of Zator valves and applicators.
• Glue Distributors Industrial glue distribution components that split and route adhesive from a single source to multiple application points on a production line.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PPEM IndiacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2019Exclusive distributor for India, representing Zator at Printpack India 2019 trade fair. Partnership enables Zator's market penetration in the Indian subcontinent for printing, packaging, and converting industry equipment sales.
• Walther-PilotminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommercial partnership where Walther-Pilot is listed as a business partner on Zator's website. Walther-Pilot is a manufacturer of industrial equipment. Nature of partnership appears commercial, potentially involving product distribution or technology collaboration.
• Tonyco Packing EnterprisecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTaiwan-based distributor partner representing Zator at TIGAX 2018 trade fair in Taipei. Partner enables Zator's market presence in Taiwan and surrounding regions for industrial adhesive application systems.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sulzer Ltd. Swiss industrial flow and pumping specialist; overlaps with Zator at the component level through pumps and fluid handling equipment used in industrial adhesive feed systems.
• Graco Inc. US fluid handling equipment manufacturer; competes in industrial dispensing and metering pumps relevant to Zator's system integration components (diaphragm pumps, piston pumps, regulators).
• Festo: German global pneumatics and automation leader; supplies pneumatic valves and dispensing components used in industrial adhesive applications adjacent to Zator's portfolio.
• SMC Corporation: World's largest pneumatic components manufacturer; overlaps with Zator's pneumatic and electropneumatic valve lines as part of a much broader automation portfolio serving industrial customers.

Direct peers

• Baumer hhs: German manufacturer of industrial gluing and adhesive application systems for packaging, graphic arts and woodworking; offers cold-glue and hot-melt valve and nozzle technology that overlaps with Zator's product range.
• Robatech: Swiss manufacturer of industrial adhesive application systems including hot melt, cold glue, and PUR systems for packaging, woodworking and converting—the closest head-to-head competitor to Zator's product portfolio and customer verticals.
• Bühnen: German specialist in industrial hot-melt and dispersion adhesive application systems with comparable valve, nozzle and pattern-control offerings to Zator, focused on packaging and bookbinding.
• Valco Melton: US-headquartered manufacturer of adhesive application systems, valves and inspection equipment for converting and packaging—a direct peer to Zator in folder-gluer, corrugating and paper-converting applications.
• Nordson Corporation: US-based global leader in precision dispensing and adhesive equipment for packaging, product assembly and nonwovens; competes with Zator in industrial adhesive valve and dispensing systems across the same OEM and end-user customers.
• ITW Dynatec: Division of Illinois Tool Works producing hot-melt and cold-glue adhesive application equipment, valves and pattern controls; competes in the same packaging and converting OEM channel as Zator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ZatorGlueSystems
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zatorsrl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Zator