30 | Focus on Germany: Kleiberit
HOTCOATING POWERS ON
WBPI’s Focus on Germany tour visited Kleiberit’s Weingarten base to hear
the latest company developments and progress on the innovative HotCoating technology. Stephen Powney reports from Kleiberit
G
lobal adhesives specialist Kleiberit has a history of laying down markers in the
wood-based sector. Across its product portfolio including hotmelts, adhesives, epoxies and sealants, it has built a comprehensive expertise and a global reputation across the wood product manufacturing sector, including manufacturers of panel products, and the furniture and surfacing industries. WBPI’s visit to the company’s production facility in Weingarten in southern Germany came after a big focus on innovations at the LIGNA fair earlier in the year. Our main topic of discussion centred on HotCoating, the successful surface finishing technology that involves applying a hot reactive PUR mass, with market-leading performance in scratch- resistance, surface finish and durability. It was also a chance to catch up with managing director Dr Helmut Meffert about how markets are performing and the latest development plans from Kleiberit. Mr Meffert, who has a polymer chemist
background and formerly worked at BASF, assumed the role of the managing director in 2022, reported that Kleiberit had bucked the trend in the 2025 by increasing its annual
volumes, even the relevant markets for adhesives are under price pressure, also for Kleiberit.
“The increase in volume is a good signal that means customers like our products,” he said. “We are at the same volume level in 2025 as 2022, which was a record year for volume.”
He sees an increasing trend of Chinese manufacturers exporting final products as their own market cools, creating additional price pressure issues.
This is where Kleiberit has major
development news – the establishment of a factory to produce PUR Hotmelts in China, which will be Kleiberit’s second global production site after Germany. This decision allows Kleiberit to have local production closer to customers in the region and will target the Asian market first. Mr Meffert said North American tariffs had
created uncertainty but was not a problem now, as prices could be increased to match the 15% tariffs. Exports to the US were complicated due to packaging in steel drums, as metals were also subject to tax. Price pressure is most prevalent in Europe
and Asia.
The removal of markets in Russia and Belarus because of final sanctions causes cost efficiency measures. “The market is not easy at the moment,” he said. “The long-term strategy is to see future growth in Europe again and plan to expand production here in Weingarten.”
HOTCOATING Kleiberit’s Jens Fandrey, Technical Director, HotCoating and Surface Technology and Rainer Kampwerth, Director Sales, PUR HotCoating & Industrial Coatings, both updated on important trends with HotCoating. HotCoating, of course, has had a
revolutionary impact since its market introduction in 2008. The reactive PUR technology’s impact on surface finishing has been evident across a wide range of applications for years, including furniture and flooring industries to outdoor applications such as facades, decking, and outdoor furniture. Its properties of scratch, UV, and weather resistance, combined with easy processing and high-gloss and super-matte finishes, have a legion of followers globally. The
Above: Kleiberit HotCoating roll-to-roll 1600mm wide technology © HUSER MASCHINENBAU GMBH WBPI | December 2025/January 2026 |
www.wbpionline.com
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