Henkel has acquired Stahl Group of the Netherlands, which offers high-performance specialty coatings for flexible substrates. After all the necessary regulatory approvals and closing conditions have been met, Stahl was added to Henkel from 1st October 2026.
This move will improve Henkel’s Adhesive Technologies segment and expand into the market of specialty coatings. Stahl caters to global leading brands in the mobility, fashion & lifestyle, luxury, and packaging segments.
Stahl extends Henkel’s portfolio of specialty coatings:
The portfolio of Stahl includes leather finishing products, performance coatings and packaging coatings that provide certain properties. Stahl’s products offer improved consumer experiences in various end markets.
Stahl has 1,800 employees globally and reported adjusted sales of €725 million in fiscal year 2025. Henkel highlighted the acquisition will open growth opportunities in current and adjacent markets.
Carsten Knobel, CEO, Henkel, stated, “The successful acquisition of Stahl is another significant step in the implementation of our growth strategy and in developing Henkel’s Adhesive Technologies business. With access to an extremely attractive adjacent market of specialty coatings, we will be able to open up new growth prospects and add to our technology portfolio with products in existing and new markets. Along with ATP Adhesive Systems and Wetherby Laroc, we were able to successfully close three transactions within our Adhesive Technologies business unit in this year. With more than one billion euros in joint sales, we create the basis for future profitable growth.”
Acquisition enhances customer solutions:
Mark Dorn, Executive Vice President and responsible for Henkel’s Adhesive Technologies business unit, explained why the acquisition of Stahl is highly beneficial for Henkel.
He stated, “The asset-light, know-how-oriented, and service-focused business model of Stahl, along with its high level of customization and sustainability orientation, makes it a perfect strategic fit for us.”
“We have created a broader solutions offering through the combination of Stahl’s specialty coatings leadership with Henkel’s global adhesives expertise. This offering will enable us to innovate even faster and support our customers in meeting their sustainability aspirations. We are thrilled to have our new colleagues join our Adhesive Technologies team.”
The purchase is the result of previous deals entered into by Henkel, ATP Adhesive Systems, and Wetherby Laroc. The company claims that “the three deals increase sales of approximately €1 billion in aggregate for our Adhesive Technologies business.”
