Forbo Holding AG

Forbo Holding AG is a Swiss manufacturing group headquartered in Baar in the canton of Zug. Its businesses center on two operating divisions: Flooring Systems and Movement Systems. Flooring Systems supplies resilient and textile floor coverings, entrance systems, installation products, and construction-related adhesives, while Movement Systems produces power-transmission belts and conveyor and processing belts for industrial, commercial, logistics, food-processing, airport, and fitness applications. The company traces its origins to 1928, when three linoleum producers in Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland combined to form Continentale Linoleum Union. The group subsequently expanded through additional European participants and developed from a concentrated linoleum business into a broader materials manufacturer. From the 1950s onward, it diversified into carpets and vinyl floor coverings. In the early 1970s, the adhesives business was separated from the original linoleum activity, and the corporate name was changed to Forbo. Forbo’s later development was shaped by international expansion and portfolio restructuring. It acquired the German belt manufacturer Siegling in 1994, adding power-transmission and light conveyor-belt technologies to its flooring and adhesives activities. During the 1990s and 2000s, the group exited or reduced exposure to wall coverings, high-pressure laminates, decorative products, coated textiles, extrusion profiles, and other non-core activities. It also sold its carpet activity through a management buyout. The company consequently concentrated resources on flooring, adhesives, and synthetic belt technologies. The group strengthened its adhesives business through acquisitions, including Swift, which had operations in the United States, Europe, and Asia, and Victa Technologies in China in 2006. In 2007, Forbo introduced a revised brand architecture and renamed its principal activities Flooring Systems, Bonding Systems, and Movement Systems. This placed the divisions under a more unified Forbo identity while retaining specialist product brands. A further strategic change came in 2012, when Forbo focused on the market positions of Flooring Systems and Movement Systems and sold its industrial adhesives activities, including synthetic-polymer adhesives. Building and construction adhesives were retained as part of Flooring Systems. This portfolio decision left Forbo with a more focused combination of interior-surface solutions and industrial movement technologies. Forbo Flooring Systems is associated with linoleum, vinyl flooring, entrance flooring, carpet tiles, needle-felt products, and Flotex textile floor coverings. Its Marmoleum brand is particularly important, and Forbo describes itself as the global market leader in linoleum. The division also markets Eurocol adhesives, primers, fillers, and leveling compounds for flooring and ceramic-tile installation and for construction applications. Movement Systems operates principally through the Siegling brand. Its products include conveyor and processing belts, plastic modular belts, flat belts, and toothed belts. These systems are used in manufacturing and distribution, food processing, airport baggage handling, postal and parcel operations, retail, and fitness equipment. Forbo’s manufacturing and sales network spans multiple continents, supplemented by country sales organizations. The group remains an active Swiss-listed industrial company and presents itself as a specialist supplier built around technically differentiated, internationally sold product categories.

Forbo was established in 1928 through the merger of three linoleum manufacturers: Deutsche Linoleum-Werke in Berlin, Linoleum Aktiebolaget Forshaga in Sweden, and Linoleum AG Giubiasco in Switzerland. The resulting company was called Continentale Linoleum Union. A Dutch linoleum manufacturer joined the combination in 1929, and companies from Austria, France, and Latvia were subsequently associated with the group. The organization became one of the major continental European linoleum producers. Political and economic conditions in the late 1930s led Deutsche Linoleum-Werke to leave the union. During the postwar period, the company broadened its product portfolio. From the 1950s, it added carpet and vinyl flooring to its traditional linoleum base. In the early 1970s, the adhesives activity was separated from the linoleum business and operated independently. At approximately the same time, the corporate name changed from Continentale Linoleum Union to Forbo. Over the following two decades, Forbo expanded internationally across all five continents and acquired or developed activities in adjacent materials markets, including wall coverings and high-pressure laminates. Forbo’s acquisition of Siegling in 1994 marked a major change in its industrial profile. Based in Hanover, Germany, Siegling specialized in power-transmission belts and light conveyor belts. The acquisition added a business serving manufacturing, logistics, food processing, airport, and other industrial markets. During the second half of the 1990s, Forbo began withdrawing from wall coverings and laminate products. In 2000, the group reorganized around four principal areas: linoleum, vinyl, synthetic belts, and adhesives. It also discontinued industrial activities such as extrusion profiles, decoration products, and coated textiles, while its carpet business was sold through a management buyout. In the first half of the 2000s, Forbo continued to expand adhesives internationally. The acquisition of Swift added operations in the United States, Europe, and Asia, while expansion in the United Kingdom strengthened the plastic-belts business. Linoleum and vinyl activities were brought together under Forbo Flooring, and the group organized its activities into flooring, adhesives, and plastic belts. Production associated with the flooring and adhesives portfolio included sites in Krommenie in the Netherlands and Kirkcaldy in Scotland. Forbo acquired Victa Technologies in China in 2006. Victa specialized in hot-melt and water-based adhesives, supporting Forbo’s presence in Asian adhesives markets. In 2007, the company introduced a revised brand and growth strategy. The three principal divisions became Flooring Systems, Bonding Systems, and Movement Systems, and the divisions were presented under the common Forbo corporate brand. In 2012, Forbo narrowed its strategic focus to Flooring Systems and Movement Systems. It sold Bonding Systems’ industrial adhesives activities, including synthetic-polymer adhesives, while retaining building and construction adhesives within Flooring Systems. This decision simplified the group’s portfolio and aligned it around two areas where it held strong specialist positions: floor-covering and installation solutions, and belt technologies for moving and processing goods. Today, Flooring Systems covers linoleum, vinyl, entrance flooring, carpet tiles, needle-felt products, Flotex, and installation materials sold under brands including Marmoleum and Eurocol. Movement Systems operates primarily through Siegling and supplies belts for industrial conveying, food production, mail and parcel distribution, airports, retail, and fitness equipment. Forbo combines manufacturing and sales locations with country-level sales organizations across a broad international network. It remains listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and operates as an active Swiss industrial group.

1. 2012Focus on Flooring Systems and Movement Systems

   Forbo sold its industrial adhesives activities and retained building and construction adhesives within Flooring Systems.

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2. 2007New division and brand structure

   The group introduced a revised identity and organized its businesses as Flooring Systems, Bonding Systems, and Movement Systems.

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3. 2006Acquisition of Victa Technologies

   Forbo acquired Chinese adhesives manufacturer Victa Technologies, which specialized in hot-melt and water-based products.

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4. 2000Portfolio realignment

   Forbo reorganized around linoleum, vinyl, synthetic belts, and adhesives while exiting several industrial and decorative activities.

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5. 1994Acquisition of Siegling

   Forbo acquired German belt specialist Siegling, establishing the foundation of its Movement Systems business.

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6. 1970Corporate name becomes Forbo

   During the early 1970s, the group separated its adhesives activity from the linoleum business and adopted the Forbo name.

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7. 1929Dutch linoleum producer joins

   The Nederlandsche Linoleumfabriek joined the newly formed European linoleum group.

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8. 1928Formation of Continentale Linoleum Union

   Three linoleum manufacturers from Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland merged to form the organization that became Forbo.

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A specialist, internationally operating manufacturer of flooring, installation, and building-surface solutions together with industrial conveyor and power-transmission technologies.

• MarmoleumLinoleum flooring

  Marmoleum is Forbo Flooring Systems’ principal linoleum flooring brand. The range is used in public buildings, healthcare facilities, schools, offices, retail environments, and homes. It forms a central part of Forbo’s flooring portfolio and supports the company’s position as a leading global linoleum supplier.

• EurocolFlooring and construction installation materials

  Eurocol comprises ready-to-use adhesives for floor coverings and ceramic tiles, together with primers, fillers, and leveling compounds. The products support the preparation and installation stages of flooring and construction projects and are marketed through Forbo Flooring Systems.

• Forbo Flooring SystemsFloor coverings and flooring systems

  Forbo Flooring Systems supplies linoleum, vinyl, entrance matting, carpet tiles, needle-felt coverings, Flotex textile flooring, and related installation products. Its customers include public-sector buildings, hospitals, schools, commercial premises, retailers, and residential projects.

• SieglingConveyor and power-transmission belts

  Siegling is Forbo Movement Systems’ specialist belt brand. Its portfolio includes conveyor and processing belts, power-transmission belts, plastic modular belts, flat belts, and toothed belts. Applications range from food processing and manufacturing to airport baggage handling, postal distribution, retail, and fitness equipment.

• 2012Sale of industrial adhesives activitiesStrategy

  Forbo reviewed its portfolio and chose to concentrate on Flooring Systems and Movement Systems.

  What changed. The company sold Bonding Systems’ industrial adhesives activities, including synthetic-polymer adhesives, while keeping building and construction adhesives within Flooring Systems.

  Aftermath. Forbo’s remaining operations were centered on flooring and installation solutions and on conveyor and power-transmission belt technologies.

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• 2007Integrated Forbo brand and divisional structureStrategy

  Forbo sought to present its flooring, adhesives, and belt businesses through a clearer common identity.

  What changed. The company introduced a new branding and growth strategy and renamed the core activities Flooring Systems, Bonding Systems, and Movement Systems.

  Aftermath. The divisions continued to operate as specialist businesses under the umbrella Forbo brand.

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• 2000Concentration on four strategic activitiesStrategy

  Forbo operated a wider portfolio that included flooring, adhesives, synthetic belts, and several industrial or decorative activities.

  What changed. The group reorganized around linoleum, vinyl, synthetic belts, and adhesives, while beginning to phase out extrusion profiles, decoration products, coated textiles, wall coverings, laminates, and other non-core operations.

  Aftermath. The restructuring established the basis for a more focused materials and industrial-technology group.

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1. Forbo Holding AG
2. Forbo official website