Siegwerk, a global supplier of printing inks and coatings for packaging applications and labels, has signed a contract to purchase Allinova, a specialty chemicals company with coating expertise located in Hengelo, the Netherlands. The company boasts a high technical competence, especially in the formulation and production of water-based dispersions.

Siegwerk’s globally established product portfolio ranges from polymer dispersions to wax emulsions and adhesives. Therefore, the move marks an excellent addition to Siegwerk’s portfolio of packaging coatings.

“Allinova’s solutions fit perfectly into our product portfolio and accelerate our mission to provide innovative and sustainable coating solutions for the global packaging market,” says Gilles Le Moigne, business head of Circular Economy Coatings (CEC), Siegwerk. “The acquisition will enable us to combine Allinova’s technical capabilities and expertise with our global reach and in-depth market knowledge.”

Milestone acquisition

This represents a significant milestone in Siegwerk’s global growth strategy. The acquisition extends Siegwerk’s expertise beyond converters into paper mill and film manufacturing operations. By integrating Allinova’s high-performance coating technologies and deep technical knowledge, Siegwerk is positioned to deliver advanced, application-specific solutions that meet the evolving demands of these industries.

“We are delighted to have found a great partner and new shareholder for Allinova. Siegwerk will integrate our expertise into a significantly larger organization, thus advancing our products in the global market,” says Gijs Elfrink, founder and owner of Allinova.

After its founding in 2005, the company initially focused on the development and sale of flame retardants and wax emulsions. With Bob Horsthuis joining as the second owner in 2016, business development was further accelerated. Allinova’s portfolio has expanded over the last decade into a mix of high-quality dispersions and wax emulsions for packaging, too. Plus, other products, such as flame retardants, repellents, crosslinkers, and other specialties, round out the portfolio. Following the completion of the acquisition, Gijs Elfrink and Bob Horsthuis will continue to remain part of the team.

Growth plan

In April 2024, Siegwerk established a new global business unit dedicated to functional coatings to promote a circular economy. “By acquiring Allinova, Siegwerk is doubling down on our global expertise in the area of functional coatings and  therefore strengthening our position to serve our customers even better as an enabler of circular packaging solutions across all applications and technologies,” explains Nicolas Wiedmann, CEO, Siegwerk.

Today, the CEC unit serves as a cross-divisional hub of excellence for circular solutions. It adds specialized functional coating technologies to the company’s conventional coating offerings. “With the acquisition of Allinova, we are now further expanding this technological expertise in the field of functional coatings, paving the way for even more packaging innovations in the future,” adds Wiedmann.

The latest acquisition follows other strategic investments that Siegwerk has already completed during recent years. The goal is to strengthen Siegwerk’s position as a full-range provider of inks and coatings for the packaging market. In 2022, Siegwerk acquired La Sorgente, one of the most important ink suppliers for flexographic printing in Italy, especially for flexible packaging as well as paper and board applications. Through these and other acquisitions, Siegwerk has made targeted investments that have enabled the company to expand its global footprint and enhance its core business in package printing.

Both parties have agreed not to disclose any financial details.