07.14.11
30 Forbo
Baar, Switzerland
PUBLIC COMPANY
YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1928
REVENUE: $562 million
MARKETS SERVED
• Industrial adhesives
KEY EXECUTIVES
Albert Gnagi, chairman of the board of directors; Michel Riva, executive VP, bonding systems.
Forbo’s Bonding Systems business unit is among the world’s leading suppliers of industrial adhesives. The unit recorded sales of $562 million in 2010. The division installed a new production line for thermoplastic hotmelts for the packaging industry in Spain and built a new assembly line for parquet adhesives in its building and construction adhesives business in Germany. In fall 2010, Bonding Systems inaugurated its new production plant for industrial adhesives in Guangzhou, southern China, where there is also a new research and development center for the whole Asian region. Bonding Systems also developed a new generation of water-based adhesives for high-speed applications in processing folding cartons. Also a thermoplastic polyolefin hotmelt was developed for the packaging industry that adheres at lower temperatures than conventional adhesives. The building and construction adhesives business launched new applications with low-dust products for leveling compounds and ceramic tiles.