Medichem
Medichem is a Tunisian manufacturer of adhesives, mastics, and dry mortars serving construction, woodworking, packaging, hardware/DIY, education, plumbing, mattress, and footwear industries across Africa and the Middle East, with a portfolio of vinyl, rubber, and polyurethane-based formulations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersSafaqis, Tunisia
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Medichem does
Medichem is a Tunisian manufacturer of industrial and consumer adhesives, mastics, and sealants, headquartered in Sfax, Tunisia. The company was founded in 1976 as Extra-Colle, originally producing vinyl adhesives for the wood and furniture industry, and was renamed Medichem to reflect its international ambitions following its 2013 spin-off from a long-standing partnership with German adhesives multinational Henkel KGaA.
The company operates a diversified formulation portfolio spanning vinyl-based adhesives, neoprene rubber adhesives, natural rubber adhesives, polyurethane resin adhesives, and dry mortars produced at its ACB unit established in 2017. Its manufacturing is fully powered by renewable (primarily solar) energy and it holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications. It markets multiple sub-brands including Geko, Ekols, Medikol, Mediseal, and Medifoam, and serves end-markets across construction, woodworking/furniture, packaging and carton, hardware/DIY retail, school/education, plumbing, mattress and upholstery, and leather and footwear. A commercial subsidiary, MEDITRADE, was established in 2017 to handle import activity and building chemistry distribution.
Medichem runs a sales-led, export-oriented go-to-market, distributing products via direct relationships with industrial distributors and hardware retailers across Africa, the Middle East, and other international regions. Revenue is generated through one-time sale of manufactured adhesives and mastics across both B2B industrial channels and B2C retail channels, with pricing handled on a quote basis rather than published list rates. The company operates as an independent private, family-run business with 51-100 employees and no disclosed parent entity.
Medichem firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Medichem
- Legal name
- Medichem
- Website
- https://medichem.tn
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Medichem is a Tunisian manufacturer of adhesives, mastics, and dry mortars serving construction, woodworking, packaging, hardware/DIY, education, plumbing, mattress, and footwear industries across Africa and the Middle East, with a portfolio of vinyl, rubber, and polyurethane-based formulations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Medichem industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Adhesives and Sealants
- NAICS
- Adhesive Manufacturing (32552), Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521)
- SIC
- Adhesives & Sealants (2891), Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Adhesives & Sealants Chemicals (IMAEABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Adhesives (Structural & Assembly) (IMAEAGAH)
Keywords
Where Medichem is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Safaqis
- HQ country
- Tunisia
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices2 records
Markets served
Medichem business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Adhesives and Mastics Sales: Manufacture and sale of industrial and consumer adhesives and mastics. Products include vinyl adhesives, rubber-based adhesives (neoprene, natural rubber, polyurethane), serving construction, woodworking, packaging, hardware, school, plumbing, DIY, mattress/upholstery, and leather/shoes sectors.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels2 records
Medichem product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Medichem manufactures and sells industrial and consumer adhesives, mastics, sealants, and dry mortars. Its product range spans vinyl adhesives for woodworking, neoprene and natural rubber adhesives, polyurethane resin adhesives, and a dedicated ACB dry mortar line, serving construction, woodworking/furniture, packaging/carton, hardware/retail DIY, school, plumbing, mattress/upholstery, and leather/footwear sectors across Tunisia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Product overview
Medichem is a Tunisian manufacturer of adhesives and mastics, founded in 1976 as Extra-Colle. The company produces a diverse portfolio including vinyl adhesives for wood and furniture, neoprene rubber adhesives, natural rubber adhesives, and polyurethane resin adhesives. Following its 2013 independence from Henkel, Medichem expanded into dry mortars via its ACB production unit and commercial operations through MEDITRADE. The product range serves multiple sectors including construction (Bâtiment), hardware (Quincaillerie), school (Scolaire), woodworking (Menuiserie), plumbing (Plomberie), DIY (Bricolage), mattress and upholstery, packaging and carton, and leather and footwear. The company markets multiple sub-brands including Geko, Ekols, Medikol, Mediseal, and Medifoam, and operates across Africa, Middle East, and other international regions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Geko: Brand of adhesives and sealants produced by Medichem.
Products and services
- Vinyl Adhesives (Extra-Colle line)
- Neoprene Rubber Adhesives
- Natural Rubber Adhesives
- Polyurethane Resin Adhesives
- Building Adhesives and Sealants (Mastics)
- ACB Dry Mortars
Companies that use Medichem
Customer profileSegments8 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Medichem technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Medichem partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Henkel KGaAcoreIn 1996, Extra-Colle partnered with German group Henkel KGaA, the world leader in adhesives and sealants, forming HENKEL EXTRA COLLE (HEC). In 2008, Henkel acquired total ownership of HEC and created Henkel Tunisie. Following Henkel's strategic simplification, production of Henkel Alki was transferred in September 2013 to newly created Medichem along with Henkel's manufacturing know-how.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Medichem competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- 3M: Diversified industrial conglomerate with a large adhesives and tapes division. Overlaps with Medichem in industrial adhesives and DIY/retail adhesive products, though 3M is a much broader player with a far larger product portfolio.
- RPM International: Holding company for specialty coatings, sealants, and adhesives brands serving construction and industrial markets. Comparable in sealants and construction adhesives segments (Mediseal-equivalent), but operates as a diversified portfolio rather than a single regional specialist.
Direct peers
- Soudal: Belgium-based manufacturer of sealants, polyurethane foams, and adhesives for construction, DIY, and industrial markets. Highly comparable business model and end-market mix to Medichem, including the Medifoam-equivalent foam products category.
- Henkel: Global leader in adhesives and sealants and Medichem's historical partner (1996-2013). Henkel's Adhesive Technologies business covers the exact industrial, construction, and consumer adhesive categories Medichem serves, including the vinyl, rubber, and polyurethane chemistries Medichem produces under transferred know-how.
- Mapei: Italian manufacturer of adhesives, sealants, and chemical products for the building industry, with a strong presence in Africa and the Middle East. Directly comparable to Medichem's construction adhesives and dry mortar (ACB) product lines.
- H.B. Fuller: Global industrial adhesives manufacturer with a portfolio covering packaging, construction, woodworking, hygiene, and footwear applications — overlapping with multiple Medichem segments including packaging/carton, woodworking, and leather/footwear.
- Bostik (Arkema): One of the largest global industrial adhesives and sealants manufacturers, offering products for construction, packaging, footwear, and DIY — a near-identical vertical mix to Medichem, including polyurethane, rubber-based, and hot-melt adhesive systems.
- Sika AG: Swiss specialty chemicals company with a strong portfolio in construction adhesives, sealants, and building chemistry including dry mortars and tile adhesives — directly overlapping Medichem's Construction and Building Chemistry segments.
Others
- Pattex (Henkel Consumer): Henkel's consumer/DIY adhesives brand, which historically shared product DNA with Medichem through the HEC joint venture. Relevant as a competitor in the DIY, school, and hardware channels Medichem serves.
- Colle Extra (Henkel Tunisia heritage): Reference to Medichem's historical 'Extra-Colle' brand and the Henkel Tunisie successor entity. While not a current independent competitor, it represents the legacy from which Medichem's current positioning was built and against which new entrants in the Tunisian adhesives market will be measured.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Medichem social profiles
Digital presenceMedichem compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Medichem financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Medichem leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Medichem subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Medichem funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Medichem M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Medichem
What does Medichem do?
Medichem manufactures and sells industrial and consumer adhesives, mastics, sealants, and dry mortars. Its product range spans vinyl adhesives for woodworking, neoprene and natural rubber adhesives, polyurethane resin adhesives, and a dedicated ACB dry mortar line, serving construction, woodworking/furniture, packaging/carton, hardware/retail DIY, school, plumbing, mattress/upholstery, and leather/footwear sectors across Tunisia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Is Medichem a public or private company?
Medichem is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Medichem founded?
Medichem was founded in 1976. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Medichem based?
Medichem is headquartered in Safaqis, Tunisia, in the Africa region.
How does Medichem make money?
One revenue line is on record: adhesives and Mastics Sales.
Who are Medichem's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are 3M and RPM International. Direct peers are Soudal, Henkel, Mapei, H.B. Fuller, Bostik (Arkema) and Sika AG. Others are Pattex (Henkel Consumer) and Colle Extra (Henkel Tunisia heritage).
Does Medichem have an API?
No public API is recorded for Medichem.
What industry is Medichem in?
Medichem's product category is Industrial Adhesives and Sealants. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEABAA, Adhesives & Sealants Chemicals, with a secondary code of IMAEAGAH, Adhesives (Structural & Assembly). Its NAICS code is 32552 and its SIC code is 2891.