Grupo Cromotransfer

What Grupo Cromotransfer does

Grupo Cromotransfer (legal entity Cromotransfer, CNPJ 01.051.154/0006-80) is a privately held Brazilian B2B manufacturer specializing in thermo-transfer products for sports apparel customization, founded in 1996 in Joinville, Santa Catarina and led by CEO Bernard Schmidt. Its core technology is thermo-transfer printing, executed via three proprietary technology families: an Eco line of water-based screen-printing technologies (EcoTransfer, EcoFlex, EcoTouch, EcoFusion, Eco HDU); a TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) family including base, Metallic, NFC-integrated, Digital, and Transparent variants (manufactured in-house since 2017, when the company became a Latin American pioneer in TPU production); and effect transfers such as Holographic, FotoLux, UV, 3D Silicone, and Stretch Print for durability and tactile differentiation.

The company operates four manufacturing units across Latin America (Brazil and Argentina) and exports to 30+ countries, with a stated monthly capacity of 8+ million transfers and nearly 10 million transfers exported in 2024. Its primary customers are international sportswear brands (adidas, Nike, Puma, New Balance, Kappa, hummel, Diadora, ASICS, Charly, Fila, Le Coq Sportif, Umbro, Under Armour), major football clubs and federations (notably FIFA under a partnership established in 2022), and sports retailers (e.g., Netshoes). Revenue mechanics are B2B enterprise sales of custom-manufactured transfers and customization services on a quote-based, non-publicly-disclosed pricing model, delivered through direct field sales and a digital presence (website, LinkedIn, Instagram, WhatsApp Business). The company holds OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification (certificate 13103CIT) and maintains compliance infrastructure including a whistleblower hotline and salary transparency reporting, supporting qualification for ESG-conscious global buyers.

Name

Grupo Cromotransfer

Legal name

Cromotransfer

Website

https://cromotransfer.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Grupo Cromotransfer is a privately held Brazilian manufacturer founded in 1996 that produces thermo-transfer customizations (Eco water-based, TPU, and effect transfers) for global sportswear brands, football clubs, and federations including FIFA, operating four Latin American plants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Apparel Customization Transfers

NAICS

Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Licensing, Merchandising & Co-Branded Products (Sponsored Merchandise, Collabs) (MPAKALAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Team Sports & On-Field Performance Apparel (CRAAAEAE)

Keywords

• Thermo-transfer manufacturing
• Sports apparel customization
• Heat transfer printing
• TPU sports transfers
• Garment decoration

Headquarters

HQ city

Joinville

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Thermo-transfer Products: B2B sales of thermo-transfer products (transfers) for sports apparel including names, numbers, sponsorships, shields, patches, and brand applications. One-time product sales with customization services.
2. Customization Services: Custom design and development services for specialized transfers including FIFA shields, club uniforms, and global brand personalization projects.
3. Proprietary Technology Solutions: Sale of proprietary technology solutions including Eco technology, TPU, NFC-integrated transfers, and effect transfers (holographic, UV, metallic).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Grupo Cromotransfer manufactures and sells thermo-transfer products (transfers termo-transferíveis) used to personalize sports apparel. Its portfolio covers water-based Eco transfers, TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) transfers, and effect transfers (holographic, metallic, UV-reactive, 3D silicone, NFC-enabled) applied to uniforms for names, numbers, shields, patches, sponsorships, and brand applications. Production runs at more than 8 million transfers per month across four Latin American plants and is sold B2B to international sportswear brands, football clubs, federations, and tournament organizers.

Product overview

Cromotransfer is a thermo-transfer solutions provider specializing in sports apparel customization, founded in 1996. The product portfolio centers on three main technology families: (1) Eco line (EcoTransfer, EcoFlex, EcoTouch, EcoFusion, Eco HDU) featuring water-based screen printing technologies for sustainable, high-quality transfers; (2) TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) technology including base TPU, Metallic TPU, NFC TPU, Digital TPU, and Transparent TPU variants for durable, modern applications; and (3) Effect transfers including Stretch Print, Holographic, FotoLux, UV, SB Silicone, and 3D Silicone for visual and tactile customization. The company serves major global sports brands and clubs, producing millions of transfers monthly across manufacturing facilities in Brazil and Argentina.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Eco (Water-Based) Transfers Family of water-based screen printing transfers for synthetic sports fabrics, offering high performance with reduced environmental impact and vibrant, durable finish. Includes variants EcoTransfer, EcoFlex, EcoTouch, EcoFusion, and Eco HDU (holographic). Used for names, numbers, sponsorships, patches, and labels on sports apparel.
• TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) Transfers Durable thermoplastic polyurethane transfers with vivid textures and new relief and shine for shields, patches, and brand applications. Includes base TPU, Metallic TPU (gold/silver/graphite), Digital TPU (high-fidelity printing on textured film), Transparent TPU, and NFC TPU (with integrated chip for smartphone interaction). Pioneered in Latin America by Cromotransfer in 2017.
• Effect Transfers Family of visually and tactilely distinctive transfers for premium sports apparel personalization. Includes Stretch Print (elastic, high-fixation under tension), Holographic (multicolor light-reactive), FotoLux (UV-ink detail under specific light), UV (invisible authentication details), SB Silicone (borderless, high-density), and 3D Silicone (0.20 to 0.70 mm relief textures). Used for bold designs, anti-counterfeiting, and tactile brand differentiation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9 in 10 champions use Cromotransfer
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• FIFAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Established international partnership with FIFA in 2022, reinforcing Cromotransfer's position in the international market and providing high-quality products and technology for personalization at major global sporting events. The partnership enables delivery of products for global sporting events with FIFA quality standards.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• 3M: Global diversified materials company with apparel and graphics solutions including reflective, identification, and adhesive transfer films. Overlaps with Cromotransfer's branding and identification transfer applications as part of a much wider industrial, healthcare and consumer materials portfolio.
• Avery Dennison: Global, publicly listed materials science company with apparel identification, branding, and performance materials solutions, including heat-transfer labels and decorative films. Operates far broader than Cromotransfer but overlaps on branded apparel materials and sportswear branding categories.

Direct peers

• Siser: Italian-headquartered manufacturer of heat-transfer vinyl (HTV) and printable films for garment decoration, including sportswear applications. Closely comparable in product family (heat-transfer consumables), B2B model, and specialization in textile customization with global distribution.
• Dae Ha Co. Korean manufacturer of heat-transfer films, decorative films, and specialty transfer materials for apparel and sportswear. Directly comparable as a transfer-materials producer competing in the same global B2B sportswear-customization supply chain as Cromotransfer.
• Chemica: French manufacturer of heat-transfer films and printable media for textile decoration, including sportswear and team uniforms. Directly comparable to Cromotransfer as a specialty B2B transfer producer serving global sportswear brands with similar effect, TPU and water-based technologies.
• Coldenhove (Netherlands): Netherlands-based manufacturer of sublimation transfer papers and digital print media for sportswear and apparel decoration. Comparable to Cromotransfer as a specialty transfer-materials supplier serving the same sportswear-customization ecosystem.
• SEF (Société d'Étanchéité et de Fixation): French manufacturer of heat-seal (hot melt) adhesive films and transfer products for textile and technical applications, including sportswear. Comparable to Cromotransfer as a European/globally-distributing specialty transfer producer serving garment and branding applications.
• Poli-Tape: German manufacturer of thermal transfer films, flock, and specialty films for textile and apparel decoration. Directly competes with Cromotransfer in heat-transfer consumables for sportswear, performance wear, and promotional apparel with comparable product breadth and global distribution.
• Specialty Materials (Orafol Group): US-based thermo-transfer film manufacturer (now part of Orafol) producing heat-applied graphics for textile, military, and team-sports markets. Comparable to Cromotransfer in product family, B2B model, and customer base across sportswear, identification, and branded apparel.
• Stahls' (Groupe STAHL / Transfer Express): US-rooted, globally operating manufacturer and distributor of heat-transfer materials, equipment, and customization services for apparel decorators and sportswear producers. Directly comparable to Cromotransfer in heat-transfer product portfolio and B2B decoration-industry customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cromotransfer-ltda
• Instagraminstagram.com/cromotransfer

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Grupo Cromotransfer