Follmann Management Holding

Follmann Management Holding — today operating as Follmann Chemie GmbH, the parent of the Follmann-Gruppe — is a German family-owned specialty chemicals group headquartered in Minden, North Rhine-Westphalia. The group develops, produces and distributes specialty products for the manufacturing industry as well as sealing and marking systems for the construction sector. It describes itself as a family business and reliable partner combining decades of experience, deep in-house development and clear customer orientation, and it groups its activities under the brands Follmann and Triflex, complemented by the British subsidiary Sealock. The group was founded in Minden in 1977 by the Follmann family, initially focusing on construction chemicals. In 1980 it broadened its portfolio to include printing and coating materials for decorative and industrial end products, and in 1984 it created Triflex to bundle construction-chemical activities and liquid-plastic-based sealing systems. In 1998 the Follmann Management Holding was established as the parent company of the group; this entity is today known as Follmann Chemie GmbH. The family remains the owner and is actively involved in managing the business. Operationally the group is organized around four companies: Follmann Chemie GmbH acts as the holding company and provides central services such as IT, human resources and raw-material purchasing; Follmann GmbH & Co. KG supplies adhesive systems, water-based printing inks and coatings; Triflex GmbH & Co. KG markets liquid plastics for sealing, marking and coating systems used on roofs, balconies, parking decks and infrastructure; and Sealock Ltd. in the United Kingdom produces adhesive systems. International subsidiaries include Follmann Chemia Polska in Poland, Follmann (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd in China and Follmann, Inc. in the United States, with further offices in Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Singapore. According to the group, around 1,000 employees work worldwide on innovative and sustainable solutions, with annual production of more than 60,000 tonnes and revenue of roughly EUR 260 million. The German Wikipedia entry reports that in the 2024 financial year the group employed an average of 942 people and generated revenue of EUR 252.1 million, and that it serves around 8,000 customers directly (as of 2026), positioning itself as a developer and supplier of niche products. Sustainability and environmental management have been part of the company's identity since the 1980s, when Rainer Follmann introduced environmental management; the group is certified to DIN EN ISO 9001, DIN EN ISO 14001 and DIN EN ISO 50001 and is a member of initiatives such as Chemistry4Climate, Chemie3 and Responsible Care. Since 2022 the group has operated a technology and knowledge centre of 12,000 square metres used for training, examination rooms and events.

The Follmann-Gruppe traces its origins to 1977, when the Follmann family founded the company in Minden, in the East Westphalian region of North Rhine-Westphalia. The initial focus was on construction-chemical products. In 1980 the company expanded its portfolio to include printing and coating materials for decorative and industrial end products, broadening its reach into the manufacturing industry. In 1984 the group established Triflex to bundle its construction-chemical activities and sealing systems based on liquid plastics. This created a dedicated brand for sealing, marking and coating systems used on roofs, balconies, parking decks and infrastructure. In 1998 the Follmann Management Holding was created as the parent company of the Follmann-Gruppe; this holding entity is known today as Follmann Chemie GmbH. The holding provides central services to the operating companies, including IT services, human resources and raw-material purchasing. Over the decades the group expanded internationally. Outside Germany it established Sealock Ltd. in the United Kingdom, Follmann Chemia Polska in Poland, Follmann (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd in China and Follmann, Inc. in the United States, with additional offices in Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Singapore. The group's product range grew to include adhesive systems, water-based printing inks and coatings under the Follmann brand, liquid-plastic sealing and marking systems under Triflex, and specialty adhesives for industrial applications under Sealock. These products are used in applications such as wallpaper, wood and furniture, plastic packaging and microcapsules. Environmental management became part of the company's identity in the 1980s, when Rainer Follmann introduced an environmental management system. He was a founding member in 1986 of the Förderkreis Umwelt future e. V., and five years later initiated the environmental initiative of business in the Minden-Lübbecke district; both activities received the German Federal Environmental Prize. The group is also a founding member of the initiative "Wissensfabrik – Unternehmen für Deutschland e. V." and a member of Chemistry4Climate, Chemie3 and Responsible Care. It is certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001, DIN EN ISO 14001 and DIN EN ISO 50001. Since 2022 the group has operated a technology and knowledge centre with a total area of 12,000 square metres, used for training, examination rooms and events with visitor groups or employees. In the 2024 financial year the group, headquartered in Minden, employed an average of 942 people and generated revenue of EUR 252.1 million. According to the group's own description, around 1,000 employees work worldwide, annual production exceeds 60,000 tonnes and revenue is roughly EUR 260 million. The group serves around 8,000 customers directly (as of 2026) and sees itself as a developer and supplier of niche products. Ownership remains with the Follmann family, which is actively involved in the management of the company.

• 2024

  The group employs an average of 942 people and generates revenue of EUR 252.1 million.

• 2022

  The group begins operating a technology and knowledge centre with 12,000 square metres for training, examinations and events.

• 1998

  Follmann Management Holding (today Follmann Chemie GmbH) is established as the parent company of the Follmann-Gruppe.

• 1986

  Rainer Follmann becomes a founding member of the Förderkreis Umwelt future e. V.

• 1984

  Triflex is founded to bundle construction-chemical activities and liquid-plastic-based sealing systems.

• 1980

  Portfolio expanded to include printing and coating materials for decorative and industrial end products.

• 1977

  Follmann family founds the company in Minden, initially focused on construction-chemical products.

Family-owned specialty chemicals group focused on niche products, deep development capability and customer-oriented solutions for manufacturing industry and construction.

• Follmann adhesives, printing inks and coatings

  Adhesive systems, water-based printing inks and coatings for applications such as wallpaper, wood and furniture, plastic packaging and microcapsules.

• Triflex liquid-plastic sealing, marking and coating systems

  Sealing, marking and coating systems based on liquid plastics for roofs, balconies, parking decks and infrastructure.

• Sealock specialty adhesives

  Specialty adhesives for industrial applications produced by the British subsidiary Sealock Ltd.

1. 1Follmann Chemie Homefollmann-chemie.de
2. 2Follmann Management Holding – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Follmann-Gruppe – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org