European Centre for Dispersion Technologies (EZD)

What European Centre for Dispersion Technologies (EZD) does

The European Centre for Dispersion Technologies (EZD) is a non-profit research and innovation center based in Selb (Upper Franconia), Germany, that began operations in January 2014 as a branch of SKZ - KFE gGmbH, Germany's largest plastics institute. EZD operates exclusively on dispersion technology - the formulation, manufacturing, coating, and analytical characterization of suspensions and emulsions - and serves industrial clients across seven primary segments: adhesives and resins, inks and paints, coatings, elastomers, battery materials, ceramics and porcelain, and cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Its activities are organized around five integrated service areas (Formulierung/Formulation, Dispergierung/Dispersion, Beschichtung/Coating, Analytik/Analytics, and Weiterbildung/Training), with the center functioning as an interdisciplinary referral point for dispersion-related problem solving in Europe.

Revenue is generated through four streams: fee-based contract research for industrial clients, public-funded collaborative research projects with industry partners, analytical services and material testing using state-of-the-art laboratory and pilot-plant equipment (dissolvers, three-roll mills, high-pressure homogenizers, rotor-stator dispersers, agitator ball mills, ultrasonic homogenizers, ultra-centrifugal mills), and standardized plus customized training courses. Publicly listed course pricing ranges from €775 for online courses to €1,315 for two-day specialty courses, with in-house training quote-based. EZD was capitalized by a €5.2 million start-up grant from the Free State of Bavaria and was co-initiated by founding industry partners NETZSCH, Dronco, and LAPP Insulators; it is operationally embedded in the SKZ network (additional training centers in Würzburg, Halle, Horb, Peine) and distributes services through six international channel partners (Italy, Romania, Poland, Turkey, Austria, UAE).

The center's value proposition rests on its positioning as a Europe-unique dedicated dispersion research facility, supported by an interdisciplinary team with over 90 years of combined professional experience and a curated equipment-manufacturer partner network of more than 20 specialists. Since 2014 EZD has executed over 700 industrial orders and research projects and has trained over 600 participants across more than 40 courses, working with both regional and international customers. Governance sits within SKZ - KFE gGmbH, with Dr. Thomas Hochrein as Managing Director of the parent and Dr.-Ing. Felipe Wolff-Fabris as Location Manager of EZD.

Name

European Centre for Dispersion Technologies (EZD)

Legal name

SKZ - KFE gGmbH

Website

https://ezd.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The European Centre for Dispersion Technologies (EZD) is a Selb-based, SKZ-affiliated non-profit research center founded in 2014 that provides contract research, analytics, and training in dispersion, formulation, and coating technologies to industrial clients across paints, adhesives, inks, batteries, ceramics, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Materials Research Services

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Education & Training Providers (EDABALAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Industry-Specific Technical & Certification Prep (e.g., Construction, Manufacturing, Energy) (EDAGANAN)

Keywords

• Dispersion technology research
• Contract research services
• Particle characterization analytics
• Formulation development services
• Industrial training courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Selb

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Research Services: Customized research and development projects for industrial clients on a fee-for-service basis
2. Analytical Services and Material Testing: Fee-based analytical testing and characterization services using advanced laboratory equipment
3. Training and Knowledge Transfer: Course fees for in-person and online training programs on dispersion technology, with individual in-house training offerings
4. Publicly Funded Projects: Government-funded research projects in partnership with industry

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

EZD is a non-profit research and innovation centre that provides contract research, analytical services, material testing, formulation development, dispersion processing, coating development, and professional training on dispersion technologies (suspensions and emulsions). It serves industrial clients in adhesives, resins, inks, paints, coatings, battery materials, ceramics, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and elastomers through five integrated service areas: Formulation, Dispersion, Coating, Analytics, and Training, delivered on-site in Selb, online, or at client premises.

Product overview

The European Centre for Dispersion Technologies (EZD) operates as a research and innovation center offering a portfolio of five interconnected service areas: Formulation, Dispersion, Coating, Analytics, and Training. The core offering centers on the development and characterization of dispersions (suspensions and emulsions) for industrial applications including paints, lacquers, adhesives, resins, inks, battery materials, ceramics, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. EZD provides contract research, analytical services, material testing, and professional education through both standardized courses and customized training modules. The five main service areas function as an integrated workflow—from initial formulation and dispersion processing through coating application and quality analytics, supported by training services for knowledge transfer. Additionally, EZD offers specific training courses on topics such as suspension characterization, filled resin systems, color/pigment dispersions, inkjet inks, and agitator ball mill optimization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Formulation Services (Formulierung) R&D services focused on formulation of functional systems including particle systems, dispersing media, and process additives for applications such as smart textiles, packaging, inkjet inks, and battery systems. Includes recipe development, product stabilization, and implementation of customer requirements.
• Dispersion Services (Dispergierung) Laboratory and pilot plant scale dispersion services including energy-efficient production of dispersions, process optimization, and process-accompanying characterization for suspensions and emulsions. Covers ideal dispersion of solids and process-accompanying characterization.
• Coating Services (Beschichtung) Services covering powder coating, wet painting, and inkjet/screen printing with focus on functional coatings (electrically conductive, superhydrophobic, scratch-resistant) and characterization of coating and surface properties. Includes material development and coating/surface property investigation.
• Analytical Services (Analytik) Particle and dispersion characterization services using modern analytical methods including particle size distribution, dispersion stability, rheological investigations, thermal analyses, mechanical analyses, and surface analyses. Covers particle characterization, particle measurement technology, rheology, and thermal/mechanical analyses.
• Professional Training Services (Weiterbildung) On-site and online professional training courses on dispersion-related topics offering a "theory meets practice" format, individual training modules, and consulting services. Includes individualized consulting, material research execution, and knowledge transfer.
• Grundkurs: Dispergierung und Charakterisierung von Suspensionen (Basic Course: Dispersion and Characterization of Suspensions) Basic course covering functional principles and applications of different dispersion processes and characterization methods for suspensions.
• Gefüllte Harzsysteme (Filled Resin Systems) Course Course on resin systems used as matrices in composite materials, covering formulation and processing of filled resin systems.
• Farb- und Pigmentdispersionen (Color and Pigment Dispersions) Course Course on how base components and dispersion processes influence final properties of color and pigment dispersions.
• Online-Kurs: Hochviskose Inkjet-Tinten (Online Course: High-Viscosity Inkjet Inks) Online course covering formulation and characterization of inkjet inks and their applications, priced at EUR 775 per participant.
• Herstellung und Optimierung von Dispersionen mit Rührwerkskugelmühlen (Production and Optimization of Dispersions with Agitator Ball Mills) Course Course on production and optimization of dispersions using agitator ball mills for applications including inks, coating systems, functional coatings, resin systems, ceramic slurries, and battery suspensions, priced at EUR 1,315 per participant.
• Customized In-House Training Customized training modules delivered at client premises or EZD facilities, tailored to specific organizational needs. Pricing is quotation-based on individual requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 700+ industrial orders and research projects completed since 2014
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered founding, core and minor.

• NETZSCHfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the original companies from the local economy that recognized the necessity and potential of an EZD facility in the Fichtelgebirge region
• DroncofoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the original companies from the local economy that contributed to the founding idea of EZD
• LAPP InsulatorsfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the original companies from the local economy that contributed to the founding idea of EZD
• SKZ - Das Kunststoff-ZentrumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGermany's largest plastics institute that established EZD in close cooperation with industry and continues as parent organization
• PROCHEMA S.r.l.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner in Italy (Monza) distributing SKZ and EZD services
• Plastics Bavaria Equipment & Systems srlminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner in Romania (Brașov) distributing SKZ and EZD services
• Dopak Sp. z o. ominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner in Poland (Wroclaw) distributing SKZ and EZD services
• Polmak PlastikminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner in Turkey (Istanbul) distributing SKZ and EZD services
• BZL - Bildungszentrum Lenzing GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner in Austria (Lenzing) distributing SKZ and EZD training services
• SKZ Training Center Middle EastminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining center in Dubai (UAE) extending SKZ and EZD training services in the Middle East region

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): Large Dutch applied research organization with materials and industrial applications divisions. Comparable contract research, testing, and training business model but at significantly greater scale across many domains.
• BYK (ALTANA Group): Global specialty chemicals company making additives for coatings and inks with deep in-house dispersion expertise and application technology services. Comparable end-market (paints, coatings, inks) and provides some customer-overlapping technical services.
• RISE Research Institutes of Sweden: Swedish state-owned research institute offering applied testing, materials characterization, and training services. Comparable mission and business model as a publicly-funded applied research and testing organization.

Direct peers

• NETZSCH Feinmahltechnik: Founding industry partner of EZD and a major manufacturer of grinding and dispersing equipment (agitator ball mills, homogenizers). Maintains its own application and test laboratories that overlap with EZD's dispersion testing service offering.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS): German non-university research institute conducting applied contract research in ceramic materials, dispersion, and coating technologies. Directly comparable as a publicly-funded applied R&D center serving industrial clients.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP): Fraunhofer institute focused on polymer research including functional coatings, dispersions, and formulation development. Comparable in mission and funding model as an applied polymer R&D service provider.
• Hosokawa Alpine: German equipment manufacturer of dispersion, classification, and coating systems. Operates a process technology center where customers can test formulations — competing with EZD's lab and pilot-plant dispersion services.
• IKA Werke: German lab equipment manufacturer offering dispersers, mixers, and homogenizers with an in-house application lab. Direct overlap with EZD's formulation and dispersion testing capabilities in a similar German industrial cluster.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Nordic contract research organization offering applied materials, coatings, and formulation research with industry clients. Comparable as a state-funded European applied research center providing paid R&D and analytical services.
• SKZ – Das Kunststoff-Zentrum: Parent organization of EZD and Germany's largest plastics institute. Operates adjacent testing, training, and contract research services for plastics and related materials, with multiple training centers (Würzburg, Halle, Horb, Peine).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ezd-europ%C3%A4isches-zentrum-f%C3%BCr-dispersionstechnologien

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 European Centre for Dispersion Technologies (EZD)