KRAHN Chemie - Adding value since 1909

That's us

KRAHN Chemie brings together all the elements designed to create strong added value partnerships: markets with innovations, processors with producers and questions with answers.

We are a leading independent chemical business providing sales, marketing and distribution services and are recognized world-wide for our technical expertise and high-quality product portfolio. Everything we do is with passion and commitment and always with an eye on the best possible outcome.

Bring it together!

Our corporate ideals

Our corporate ideals demonstrate what cooperation at KRAHN Chemie is all about. This is our DNA, it characterizes our daily actions and is the context in which we aim to achieve shared growth.

KRAHN Chemie shapes its environment.

We actively shape an empowering culture for all.
We put decisions into practice.
We develop solutions.

KRAHN Chemie takes pleasure in what it does.

We offer room for creativity.
We are friendly towards one another.
We are enthusiastic.

KRAHN Chemie develops itself.

We want to achieve more.
We demand and promote.
We learn together and learn from each other.

1909

is when it all started.

6,000

products from more than 50 producers from our complementary product portfolio.

€

A turnover of about > EUR 300 million in 2024.

Vision

We want to give rise to something concrete and good by merging knowledge, experience and competence. A positive attitude and a healthy disrespect towards challenges is our permanent companion and beloved friend.

283

employees.

5,000

customers.

5

fully equipped laboratories in Germany, Poland, Italy and Sweden.

14

subsidiaries and local sales teams.

Your high-performance partner for specialty chemicals.

History

1972

Otto Krahn lays the foundation for the KRAHN Chemie Group, headquartered in Hamburg since 1909, with the founding of the eponymous trading house for raw rubber, rubber products, heavy fabrics and related products. As part of the restructuring of OTTO KRAHN into a managerial holding company, the commercial trade with chemical raw materials is handed over to the new subsidiary KRAHN Chemie GmbH, established on June 23.

1989

KRAHN Chemie introduces a new business unit. Technical Ceramics validates zirconium dioxide powder as a raw material for use in dentistry.

1997

KRAHN Chemie builds up another business unit for the distribution of chemical raw materials within the lubricant industry. The focus is now strongly shifting to the distribution of sophisticated products. The company reorganizes its business activities, introducing industry-specific distribution sectors.

2009

KRAHN Chemie Polska Sp. z.o.o. based in Poznań in Poland is established on July 27.

2013

KRAHN Chemie acquires ICH Benelux BV in Amsterdam (established in 1979), including the subsidiary Technoplan Farbtechnik GmbH & Co. KG in Bottrop (Germany) and ICH POLAND SP. z.o.o. in Poznań (Poland).

2014

In April, KRAHN Chemie secures a majority shareholding in the successful Italian distributor Pietro Carini S.p.A, located in Milan (Italy) thus further strengthening its presence in Europe.

2016

Effective January 01, KRAHN Chemie GmbH acquires the distribution activities of the Dutch company Lapis Minerals & Chemicals BV (Lapis) as part of an asset deal. The focus of the Lapis business is on the distribution of construction chemicals in the Benelux countries. The acquisition reflects KRAHN Chemie’s strategy to further strengthen its core segments in Europe.

2018

On February 1, the KRAHN Group acquires the distribution business of Memolex SAS, a French company, established in 1986 and specializing in the sales and distribution of plastic additives in the French market. KRAHN France SAS is established, the acquisition further strengthens the company’s Europe-wide business operation.

2019

On May 1, KRAHN Chemie acquires eMBe Products & Service GmbH, one of the leading additive manufacturers for the ceramics and powder metal industry in Europe.

Exactly five years after securing Pietro Carini, the Italian subsidiary becomes KRAHN Italia S.p.A.

2020

In January, KRAHN Chemie acquires a majority share of Athens-based InterActive S.A. Founded in 1990, InterActive S.A. specializes in the distribution of lubricant additives in the Israeli, Greek and Cypriot markets, as well as scientific instruments for R&D and QC laboratories in oil, pharma & chemical industries.

At the same time, eMBe Products & Service GmbH, a project partner for the processing of ceramic and metal powders, is renamed KRAHN Ceramics GmbH.

2021

The majority of Swedish-based AmphoChem AB, Pemco Additives AB, Temper Technology AB and BGM Logistics AB in Sweden are acquired and KRAHN Nordics AB is established. In addition, Petrico Limited UK and Pemco Trigueros Spain SL are acquired.

2022

The KRAHN Chemie subsidiary Interactive S.A. in Greece is renamed KRAHN Hellas S.A. This continues the path towards a uniform brand identity for the KRAHN Chemie Group in Europe. In addition, AmphoChem AB and Pemco Additives AB are merged into KRAHN Nordics AB in order to wrap-up the operating business in one company. Furthermore, in 2022 Petrico Limited UK is renamed KRAHN UK Limited, and Pemco Trigueros Spain SL is renamed KRAHN Iberia SL whilst Temper Technology AB becomes KRAHN Specialty Fluids

2023

KRAHN Chemie acquires shares of Italian SPECIALITIES s.r.l., a distributor of specialty chemicals for the homecare, personal care, industrial and institutional cleaning market.

2024

Via the newly founded subsidiary KRAHN Central & Eastern Europe GmbH, KRAHN Chemie creates a new hub to bundle activities in the CEE region (except for Poland, which continues to be serviced by KRAHN Chemie Polska). The new entity is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, and will initially focus on the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia by optimizing logistics and adding sales resources.