knauf industries automotive

What knauf industries automotive does

Knauf Industries Automotive is the automotive plastics processing division of the Knauf Group, headquartered in Wolfgantzen, France, with primary legal incorporation as Knauf Industries Polska Sp. z o.o. in Poland. Founded in 1982 and operating for over 40 years, the company manufactures Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) and Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam components as well as thermoplastic injection-molded parts for the global automotive industry. Core products include interior components (dashboard, door panels, flooring, trunk elements, cockpit parts, sun visors), seating foam, exterior shock absorbers and pedestrian protection elements, EV battery pack insulation and structural components, hydrogen storage tank shock absorbers, and the Komebac® branded returnable transport packaging line.

The business operates through a global manufacturing footprint of 36 production locations across Europe, North Africa, and South America, including 38 dedicated EPP/EPS processing plants and a major injection molding facility in Wrocław, Poland equipped with 17 presses ranging from 40T to 2000T. Manufacturing is co-located with customer facilities to support just-in-time delivery, flexible production, and local engineering service. Proprietary technology includes a double-action foam molding process for thin-walled precision sun visors, overmolding for child safety seats, EPP texturing, and 3D scanning-based quality control.

Revenue is generated through B2B direct sales of hardware to automotive OEMs (Toyota, Renault, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Nissan, Hyundai, Stellantis, VW, Seat, Dacia) and Tier 1 suppliers (Adient, Forvia, CIE Automotive, Autoneum, Harman, Toyota Boshoku Europe) under multi-year supply contracts and program-level engineering engagements spanning design, industrialization, production, and end-of-supply support. The company markets via content-driven digital channels, an ID Lab® innovation center for R&D, and IATF 16949 quality certification, supported by an EcoVadis sustainability score of 75/100 (top 15%).

Name

knauf industries automotive

Legal name

Knauf Industries Polska Sp. z o.o.

Website

https://knaufautomotive.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Knauf Industries Automotive is the plastics processing division of Knauf Group, manufacturing EPP/EPS foam and injection-molded components — interiors, exteriors, seating, battery pack insulation, and returnable packaging — for global automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers across 36 production sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Plastic Components

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing (3363), Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (326)

SIC

Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714), Plastics Foam Products (3086)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive & Transportation Injection Molded Parts (IMANAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Automotive Interior Comfort & Convenience Components Manufacturing (Armrests/Cupholders/Storage/Interior Hardware) (IMACAKAJ)

Keywords

• Automotive plastic components
• Foam molding technology
• Plastic injection molding
• Transport packaging containers
• Battery pack insulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Wolfgantzen

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Automotive Components Manufacturing: B2B manufacturing and supply of plastic automotive components including EPP/EPS foam parts, injection molded parts, and specialized solutions to OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. Revenue generated through long-term supply contracts and project-based engagements with automotive manufacturers.
2. Transport Packaging Solutions: Design and manufacture of Komebac® returnable transport packaging containers for automotive logistics, sold to automotive manufacturers and their supply chain partners.
3. Battery Pack Components: Specialized foam components for electric vehicle battery packs including insulation, shock absorption, and structural elements, supplied to EV battery manufacturers and automotive OEMs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Knauf Industries Automotive manufactures plastic automotive components and transport packaging for OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers using foam molding (EPP/EPS) and plastic injection molding technologies. The company produces interior and exterior car components, sun visors, battery pack insulation, and returnable transport packaging containers (Komebac®) across 36 production locations in Europe, North Africa, and South America.

Product overview

Knauf Industries Automotive is a plastics processing company offering a comprehensive portfolio of automotive components through foam molding and injection molding technologies. The core product lines include EPP (Expanded Polypropylene) and EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) Car Components, which encompass interior parts (dashboard, door panels, sun visors, seating), exterior components, and structural elements. The company also provides Automotive Injection Molded Parts for exterior and interior applications, Transport Packaging solutions including the branded Komebac® returnable containers, and Car Battery Pack components for electric vehicles featuring thermal insulation and shock management. These products are manufactured across 38 production facilities in Europe, North Africa, and South America, serving major automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Komebac®: Ultralight returnable transport and storage containers made from expanded polypropylene (EPP) for automotive logistics.
• ID Lab®

Products and services

• EPP and EPS Car Components Expanded Polypropylene and Expanded Polystyrene automotive components manufactured to strict tolerances, including dashboard parts, door panels, flooring components, trunk elements, and cockpit parts. Designed for automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers requiring lightweight, durable components.
• Automotive Injection Molded Parts Plastic parts manufactured by thermoplastic injection molding technology, including exterior and interior car parts, produced at the Wrocław plant with 17 machines ranging from 40T to 2000T equipped with SEPRO manipulators and ABB six-axis robots. Targets automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.
• Transport Packaging Returnable and one-way transport packaging solutions for automotive industry logistics, including Komebac® brand containers made from EPP expanded polypropylene. Designed for automotive manufacturers and their supply chain partners.
• Car Battery Pack Components Expanded foam components for automotive battery packs providing thermal insulation, electrical insulation, shock absorption, and fixing/guiding functions for battery cells, cooling pipes, and electric cables. Targets EV battery manufacturers and automotive OEMs.
• Sun Visors EPP sun visors for cars and trucks featuring thin-walled, flat design with double action foam molding technology, available with and without mirrors. Enables complex shapes and surface textures with superior aesthetic appeal.
• Seating Foam Components EPP car seat components including seat bases, backrests, and headrest cores with high mechanical resistance and impact dampening properties. EPP components can constitute up to 40% of car seat volume while providing impact resistance and weight reduction.
• Child Safety Seats Child safety seats made from EPP using over-moulding technology, featuring the lightest child seat design in the market.
• Exterior EPP Components Exterior automotive components made from expanded polypropylene including bumper shock absorbers, front-end modules, and pedestrian protection elements.
• Hydrogen Storage Protection Shock absorbers for automotive hydrogen storage tanks made from EPP foam, providing protection and impact absorption for hydrogen fuel systems.
• Komebac® Returnable Packaging Containers Ultralight returnable transport and storage containers made from EPP expanded polypropylene, 62% lighter than standard plastic industrial packaging. Requires 60% less raw material than standard KLT containers, made of 95% air-filled cellular material. Designed for automotive logistics and production.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% less raw material required for Komebac® containers compared to standard KLT containers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Automotive OEMs (Toyota, Renault, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Nissan, Hyundai, Stellantis, VW, Seat, Dacia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term supply relationships with major automotive OEMs for development and production of EPP/EPS components, injection molded parts, battery pack solutions, and transport packaging. Customers for over 20 years with engineering collaboration from design through production.
• Tier 1 Suppliers (Adient, Forvia, CIE Automotive, Autoneum, Harman, Toyota Boshoku Europe, and others)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect supply partnerships with major Tier 1 automotive suppliers for seating, interior, exterior, and module components. Program Management System provides engineering support throughout product lifecycle.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• JSP Corporation: Japanese-headquartered global leader in expanded polypropylene (EPP) and other plastic foam products with deep automotive applications including bumper cores, seat components, and sun visors. Directly comparable to Knauf's EPP automotive foam molding business and competes head-to-head on OEM platform nominations.
• NEVEON (Metzeler Schaum): European polyurethane and specialty foam manufacturer serving automotive seating, interior, and acoustic applications. Comparable to Knauf as a foam-based automotive components specialist with European OEM exposure.
• Trocellen: European manufacturer of cross-linked polyolefin foams and EPP/EPE products used in automotive interior, sealing, and NVH applications. Closely overlaps with Knauf's foam component portfolio and serves similar European OEM and Tier 1 customers.
• Storopack: German-headquartered specialist in protective packaging and technical molded parts, including EPP-based returnable transport packaging for automotive and industrial logistics. Directly comparable to Knauf's Komebac® returnable packaging business and competes on the same automotive logistics use case.

Broad incumbents

• OPmobility (formerly Plastic Omnium): Global Tier 1 automotive supplier of plastic exterior and energy storage systems, with growing presence in battery-pack components and hydrogen tanks. Operates at broader scale and module level, but overlaps with Knauf in plastic automotive components and battery-pack adjacencies.
• Forvia (Faurecia): One of the world's largest automotive Tier 1 suppliers, focused on seating, interiors, clean mobility (including hydrogen storage), and electronics. Knauf supplies Forvia as a Tier 2, while Forvia competes in adjacent component categories and increasingly pushes module-level integration.
• Magna International: Large global automotive Tier 1 supplier with broad plastics, seating, exterior, and powertrain capabilities, including battery enclosures and EV components. Overlaps with Knauf in automotive plastic component manufacturing and EV-adjacent content, but at vastly larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Sonoco Products: Global diversified packaging manufacturer with growing automotive and industrial protective packaging exposure. Overlaps with Knauf's transport packaging business at broader portfolio scale, though Knauf's EPP-based returnable containers are a more specialised offering.

Others

• Adient: World's largest pure-play automotive seating Tier 1 supplier and a current Knauf customer. Relevant peer because Adient both buys EPP seating foam components from Knauf and competes for in-house foam/component production on next-generation seat programs.
• SABIC: Global chemicals and plastics producer supplying polypropylene, polystyrene, and engineering resins to automotive molders including Knauf. Relevant as an upstream material supplier and competitor in certain specialty automotive plastic applications, particularly for EV battery enclosures and lightweight structures.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/knauf-industries-automotive

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 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 knauf industries automotive