Allinova specializes in the formulation and production of water-based dispersions, polymer dispersions, wax emulsions and adhesives.

As converters and brand owners alike look to improving the sustainability of their packaging, ink manufacturers are developing ways of creating more functional inks and coatings. As a leader in the packaging ink segment, Siegwerk has put a major emphasis on the circular economy and sustainability with its dedicated Circular Economy Coatings(CEC) division driving innovation in recyclable, compostable, and reusable packaging solutions.

With the acquisition of Allinova in August 2025, Siegwerk has made a significant move to strengthen its capabilities in functional coatings and reinforce its commitment to scalable, sustainable solutions.

Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Hengelo, the Netherlands, Allinova is a specialty chemicals producer that specializes in the formulation and production of water-based dispersions, as well as polymer dispersions, wax emulsions and adhesives. This, says Gilles Le Moigne, Business Unit Head of Circular Economy Coatings (CEC) at Siegwerk, makes Allinova an ideal fit for Siegwerk.

“We were looking to accelerate our capabilities in functional coatings, especially in areas like water-based dispersions, wax emulsions, and specialty additives” says Le Moigne. “Allinova stood out for its technical depth, entrepreneurial spirit, and proven track record in developing high-performance specialty components. Their portfolio complements ours perfectly and strengthens our ability to deliver circular packaging solutions at scale.”

“By acquiring Allinova, Siegwerk is doubling down on our global expertise in the area of functional coatings and therefore strengthening our position to serve our customers even better as an enabler of circular packaging solutions across all applications and technologies,” says Nicolas Wiedmann, CEO of Siegwerk. “This acquisition directly enhances the capabilities of our Circular Economy Coatings division, enabling faster innovation and broader application of sustainable technologies.”

“We are delighted to have found a great partner and new shareholder for Allinova. Siegwerk will integrate our expertise into a significantly larger organization, thus advancing our products in the global market,” says Gijs Elfrink, founder and owner of Allinova.

Le Moigne notes that this acquisition was the result of months of strategic dialogue and mutual alignment.

“We have been partnering with Allinova for several years already on specialized coatings solutions for barrier and heat-sealing applications,” Le Moigne says. “This pre-existing collaboration validated the strength of their technology and the clear cultural fit between our teams.

“Building on that successful foundation, we began exploring synergies with Allinova in early 2025, and the formal agreement was signed in August 2025,” he adds. “From the start, it was clear that our shared commitment to innovation and sustainability made this a natural fit.”

Le Moigne observes that the addition of Allinova is a win-win for Siegwerk and its customers.

“For Siegwerk, Allinova brings formulation expertise and a mature portfolio of raw materials that expands our innovation pipeline,” Le Moigne continues. “For our customers, it means faster access to advanced coatings that support recyclability, compostability, and reuse.  Allinova’s broad portfolio, and particularly their specialty additives, gives us a distinct competitive advantage in offering tailored solutions to both paper producers and film manufacturers, allowing us to serve not only converters but also those key players at the start of the value chain with end-to-end solutions.”

As for benefits for Allinova’s customers, Siegwerk offers global reach, industrial scale, and regulatory expertise.

“Allinova’s customers will benefit from our application support, testing infrastructure, and sustainability leadership,” says Le Moigne. “We’re also committed to maintaining continuity – Allinova’s team will remain part of the team and production footprint won’t change – so customers can expect the same technical excellence, now backed by greater resources and reach.”

Functional coatings are a fascinating area of opportunity, and Siegwerk’s Circular Economy Coatings division is at the forefront of this transformation. Siegwerk has recently launched some key initiatives, with more developments on the way.

“Our recent focus has been twofold: product innovation and strategic economic value,” Le Moigne notes. “On the product side, our most significant launch has been CIRKIT NATUBAR, a fully biobased and home compostable certified grease barrier. This product directly addresses the QSR market’s need to meet stringent sustainability demands without compromising technical protection. We’ve also been advancing our heat-sealing coating technology across the CIRKIT portfolio to ensure faster processing speeds and superior seal integrity for our customers.

“Looking ahead, our strategy is to accelerate economic value,” he notes. “We are dedicated to improving not only the technical performance of our products but also their economic profile by combining multiple functions. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components and process steps required, which delivers a substantial improvement in the overall cost-in-use for our customers while accelerating their shift to fully sustainable packaging. This approach, amplified by the expertise gained through the Allinova acquisition, is how we plan to lead the functional coatings market.”

Le Moigne says that Gijs Elfrink and Bob Horsthuis, who joined Allinova as the second owner in 2016, are continuing on with Siegwerk.

“Gijs and Bob, and the entire Allinova team, bring deep formulation knowledge and a culture of innovation,” Le Moigne adds. “They’ll be instrumental in co-developing new coating systems, especially for challenging applications like high-barrier paper packaging and recyclable multilayer films. Their continued involvement ensures that we retain agility and technical excellence, even as we scale globally.

“This acquisition is more than a business transaction,” Le Moigne concludes. “Our goal is to make circularity practical, scalable, and profitable for every stakeholder in the value chain.”