ABENA

What ABENA does

ABENA is a family-owned Danish hygiene, medical, and foodservice consumables manufacturer-wholesaler founded in 1953, with the group parent ABENA A/S headquartered in Aabenraa, Denmark, and its Swedish subsidiary ABENA AB operating from Växjö with a production facility in Kisa. The company sells a catalog of more than 38,000 products across incontinence care, medical gloves, wound care, skin and body care, hygiene paper, protective clothing/PPE, medical devices, cleaning supplies, and disposable catering articles, serving healthcare providers, food service operators, cleaning contractors, manufacturers, and retailers in 90+ markets.

The product portfolio includes proprietary technology platforms — ABENA Nova, a digital incontinence-care system with sensor-equipped pads and a detachable Bluetooth/4G clip linked to the WetSens Monitor app; ABENA Antimicrobial Gloves, the world's first non-leaching photodynamic antimicrobial medical glove; and AquaTime, an intelligent drinking glass that automatically registers fluid intake for dehydration risk detection in care settings. The group operates own production in Sweden (Finess Hygiene, Kisa) and Denmark (ABENA Produktion A/S, Bambo Nature diapers), giving it control over quality, supply security, and production margins.

Revenue is generated through B2B one-time product sales distributed via direct field sales (Key Account Managers), inside sales, a B2B e-commerce platform, and the Nordic/European sister-company network, with quote-based negotiated pricing for enterprise and public-sector tenders and 14-day standard payment terms. Documented customer mix spans mid-market private buyers (Kavat Vård, Kvalitetsfisk, Solvang nursing home) and municipal/government accounts (Malmö Stad, Göteborg Stad).

Name

ABENA

Legal name

ABENA AB

Website

https://abena.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ABENA is a family-owned Danish manufacturer-wholesaler of healthcare, hygiene, foodservice, and protective consumables serving hospitals, municipalities, food producers, and cleaning contractors across 90+ markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical and Hygiene Consumables

NAICS

Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561)

SIC

Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840), Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAMAGAB

Away-from-Home (AFH) Tissue & Wipers (Commercial/Institutional)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Paper & Forest Products/Tissue & Hygiene Paper Products

SECONDARYIMAMAGAD

Feminine Hygiene Products (Sanitary Pads, Liners)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Paper & Forest Products/Tissue & Hygiene Paper Products

SECONDARYIMAMAGAJ

Hygiene Packaging & Dispensing Systems (Dispenser Systems, Packs)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Paper & Forest Products/Tissue & Hygiene Paper Products

SECONDARYIMAHALAH

Restroom & Hygiene Dispensing Systems (Commercial/Industrial)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Industrial Machinery & Heavy Equipment/Industrial Cleaning & Maintenance Equipment

Keywords

• Medical consumables
• Hygiene products
• Healthcare supplies
• Foodservice packaging
• Protective equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Växjö

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. B2B Product Sales: ABENA generates revenue primarily through the wholesale and distribution of hygiene, medical, and consumable products to businesses, healthcare facilities, food service companies, and public sector organizations. Revenue is derived from one-time product sales across a catalog of over 38,000 products. The company also manufactures a significant portion of its products in-house in Europe (Sweden, Denmark), giving it control over production margins.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ABENA manufactures and wholesales a comprehensive range of over 38,000 hygiene, medical, foodservice, cleaning, and protective products to B2B customers across healthcare facilities, food service operators, cleaning contractors, and public sector organizations. The company operates its own production facilities in Sweden and Denmark, complemented by a digital product line including ABENA Nova sensor-based incontinence care and AquaTime smart drinking glasses.

Product overview

ABENA is a comprehensive B2B supplier offering over 38,000 products across hygiene, healthcare, and food service sectors. The portfolio centers on the ABENA Nova digital incontinence care system (with sensor technology and monitoring app), ABENA Antimicrobial Gloves (world's first non-leaching antimicrobial glove), and Bambo Nature baby diapers (environmentally certified). The core product range includes incontinence products, medical gloves, wound care supplies, skin/body care products, hygiene paper, protective clothing/PPE, medical devices, wound care, cleaning/janitorial supplies, and disposable catering articles. The company operates its own manufacturing in Sweden (Kisa facility producing washcloths, bibs, protective sheets) and Denmark, offering one-stop-shop procurement for healthcare facilities, food service, industrial, and cleaning sectors. Solutions are organized by industry verticals: healthcare (hospitals, nursing homes, dental clinics), food service/hospitality, food production, construction, and cleaning services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bambo Nature: Nordic baby diapers and baby care products with environmental certifications (Nordic Swan Ecolabel, Asthma Allergy Nordic, FSC). Skin-friendly diapers made from soft, breathable materials.
• ABENA Nova
• ABENA Antimicrobial Gloves

Products and services

• ABENA Nova with MediSens Digital incontinence care system featuring incontinence products with built-in moisture sensors and a detachable clip that transmits data via Bluetooth and 4G to the WetSens Monitor app. Enables real-time monitoring of moisture levels and reduces manual checks by 84% on average. Designed for care facilities and home care services.
• ABENA Antimicrobial Gloves World's first non-leaching antimicrobial medical examination gloves with built-in antimicrobial technology activated by light and oxygen. Kills up to 99.999% of certain microorganisms within 5 minutes, effective against MRSA, VRE, Staphylococcus aureus, Human Coronavirus, and Streptococcus pyogenes. For healthcare and medical settings.
• AquaTime Smart Drinking Glass Intelligent drinking glass that automatically registers fluid intake and provides care staff with real-time data to detect dehydration risk. Uses automated registration technology via a monitoring system. Targeted at elderly care and home care services.
• Bambo Nature Baby Diapers Skin-friendly, environmentally certified baby diapers made from soft, breathable materials with quick-absorbing cores and moisture indicators. Certified with Nordic Swan Ecolabel and recommended by Asthma Allergy Nordic. For sensitive baby skin.
• Incontinence Products Wide range of incontinence care products including Abena incontinence protection, fixation pants, urine bags, and pumping/absorbent inserts. Includes both disposable and reusable options. For healthcare facilities and home care.
• Medical Gloves Comprehensive range of medical gloves including examination gloves, surgical gloves, disposable gloves, nitrile gloves (accelerator-free), and antimicrobial gloves for healthcare settings.
• Skin and Body Care Products Extensive range of skin and body care products including dispensers, razors, deodorants, towels, mouth care, hand disinfection, soaps, shampoos, creams, and wipes for healthcare and care settings.
• Hygiene Paper Products Hygiene paper products including paper towels (C-weight, interfold, multifold), paper napkins, toilet paper, hand towels, industrial rolls, jumbo rolls, and related dispensers.
• Wound Care and Compression Products Comprehensive wound care products including dressings (alginate, foam, hydrogel, hydrocolloid, silver, film, absorbent), bandages, burn treatment, compression therapy, suturing materials, syringes, and medical diagnostic tests.
• Disposable and Catering Articles Wide range of disposable products for food service including cutlery, cups (hot/cold beverages), plates, bowls, take-away packaging, aluminum trays, plastic wrap, foil, baking paper, and kitchen equipment.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Full range of PPE including workwear, hi-vis vests, hearing protection, eye protection, face shields, helmets, respirators (disposable and powered), fall protection, first aid kits, and safety harnesses.
• Medical Devices and Diagnostic Products Medical devices including gel products, drug management solutions, needles, blood pressure monitors, doctor/nurse bags, thermometers, otoscopes, ophthalmoscopes, and catheter fixation products.
• Urology and Catheter Products Urology products including fecal incontinence supplies, catheters (water-treated, latex, silicone), catheter accessories, urine bags and fixation, and collection bottles.
• Cleaning and Janitorial Products Cleaning supplies including cloths, sponges, mops, brushes, dusters, floor scrapers, cleaning carts, cleaning agents (glass, heavy-duty, floor, kitchen), odor control systems, laundry detergent, and disinfection products.
• Waste Management Products Waste management solutions including indoor bins, sack stands, ashtrays, and dispenser accessories for efficient waste handling in healthcare and commercial settings.
• Bed Protection Products Bed protection including disposable and washable underlays, protective sheets, drapes, briefs, disposable bedding, and kidney-shaped trays for healthcare settings.
• Finess Hygiene Manufactured Products Products manufactured by ABENA's Swedish subsidiary Finess Hygiene in Kisa, including washcloths (50%+ of production), bibs, wash mittens, and protective sheets. One of the largest manufacturers in Northern Europe.

Quantifiable outcome

• ABENA Nova reduces manual checks by 84% and reduces incontinence product usage by 28%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major, standard, minor and core.

• Malmö stadmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Malmö stad partnered with ABENA for a pilot project using AquaTime intelligent drinking glasses in home care services. ABENA delivers both the solution and implementation support. The goal is improved fluid intake monitoring, reduced administration, and increased safety for both users and staff.
• KvalitetsfiskstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023Kvalitetsfisk, a Stockholm-based fish and sushi producer supplying restaurants across Sweden, partnered with ABENA for a comprehensive hygiene supply solution. ABENA supplies food-safe gloves, hairnets, beard covers, aprons, waste bags, and cleaning supplies. Kvalitetsfisk is part of the Nordward Group with operations in Denmark as well.
• LinnéuniversitetetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerABENA collaborated with Linnaeus University in Växjö on Innovate ABENA, an innovation competition where design and product development students developed ideas for converting production waste into valuable resources. Winning team developed a smart packaging solution using paper to replace plastic in fruit and vegetable transport.
• Solvang vårdhemstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolvang nursing home in Denmark was an early adopter of ABENA Nova digital incontinence care solution. Case studies document significant improvements including fewer lifts, fewer manual checks, and fewer products used.
• Göteborg StadmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGöteborg Stad (Gothenburg Municipality) was the first in Sweden to pilot ABENA Nova within home care services. Three home care groups participated in training and seven users initially tested the system during a 3-month pilot with weekly follow-ups.
• Polsk-ukrainska handelskammarenminorOthersABENA Poland coordinated humanitarian aid to Ukraine in close collaboration with the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and the Ukrainian Embassy in Poland. Aid included gloves, wound care products, and personal protective equipment.
• Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABENA submitted a commitment letter to SBTi, committing to set science-based emissions reduction targets aligned with the 1.5°C pathway and net-zero by 2050. SBTi is a global partnership between CDP, UN Global Compact, We Mean Business Coalition, WRI, and WWF.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mölnlycke Health Care: Swedish-headquartered wound care and surgical solutions company with strong European presence. Comparable to ABENA's wound care, surgical gloves, and surgical instruments categories, serving overlapping hospital and clinical customers.
• Essity: Swedish hygiene and health company (Tena, Libresse, Libero brands) that directly competes with ABENA in incontinence care, feminine hygiene, baby diapers, hygiene paper, and tissue/wipers across European B2B and retail channels. Same Nordic origin, overlapping product categories, and similar healthcare/food service customer base.
• Paul Hartmann AG: German manufacturer of medical and hygiene products including wound care, incontinence, and surgical supplies. Directly comparable to ABENA in healthcare consumables with similar B2B distribution into hospitals, nursing homes, and home care across European markets.
• Onemed Group: Nordic medical supplies distributor serving hospitals, municipalities, and care homes across the Nordics. Directly competes with ABENA AB in Sweden on tendered consumables, medical devices, and healthcare procurement contracts.
• Mediq: European healthcare distributor and medical device supplier operating across multiple countries. Directly comparable to ABENA in B2B medical consumables, home care, and healthcare procurement contracts in European markets.

Broad incumbents

• Bunzl: Global distribution group providing hygiene, cleaning, catering, and PPE supplies to B2B customers. Overlaps with ABENA's broad consumables catalog across healthcare, food service, and cleaning verticals, though Bunzl operates at significantly larger scale with a pure distribution model.
• B. Braun: German medical device and consumables manufacturer with extensive hospital and clinical product range. Overlaps with ABENA on medical devices, surgical instruments, wound care, and gloves but operates at much greater scale and broader portfolio depth.
• Kimberly-Clark: Global hygiene products manufacturer (Huggies, Kotex, Depend, Scott). Competes with ABENA in incontinence, feminine hygiene, baby diapers, and AFH tissue products, though at global scale and with much heavier consumer-retail branding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AbenaSverige
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/abena-ab

Compliance15 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries4 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 ABENA